How to Splice Electric Fence Wires

You can splice(join) or tie your fence wires by making knots. However, using crimping sleeves, you can join fence wires much more professionally, and it is safer for your animals.

This post will discuss how to splice or join electric fence wires, hard metal(high tensile) or polywire.

Table of Contents

How to splice electric fence wires?

To tie electric fence wire together:

First, measure how much extra wire you’ll need to join fence wires.
Get cable crimps, use atleast 3, pass both wires in the crimp sleeve holes through opposite sides, and press the sleeve using a crimping tool.
Splice electric fence wires by making a knot. You can make a simple knot or figure ‘8’ type knot.

Follow the easy and step-by-step guide below to splice fence wires.

1: Using crimp sleeves:

To splice poly wires, you’ll need an extra wire to join both fence wires.

Use crimp sleeves especially made for high tensile or high gauge metal wires such as nicopress sleeves.

For heavy metal wires, it’s better to use atleast 2-3 crimp sleeves to securely splice(join) the fence.
Pass wires through the crimp sleeve holes from opposite sides.
Press the crimp sleeves with the swagging or crimping tool.
After pressing the crimp sleeves, pull both wires to check if the joint is tight and solid.
After making a joint, don’t spare excess wire to hang, as it may wound your animals and create a short circuit.
After joining wires using crimping sleeves, bend the extra wires to the fence wires at 90°(degree). Rotate the wires to 360°, and the additional wires will be terminated.

If your fence wire breaks or you have to extend fence wires from the centre, you’ll have to make two knots. You can also extend wires from the corner post.

Make sure the joint is strong because a loose connection hinders the current flow and reduces power in your fence.

2: Join wires by making a knot:

Another commonly used technique to join heavy fencing metal wires is making a knot such as a termination knot, figure 8 or a simple knot. A termination knot is used to tie fence wires to posts, while 8 figure knot is used for joining fence wires to corner posts.

Bend any of both wires and make a small loop(eye).
Pass the second wire through the loop, rotate it below the wires(wind), and then pass it through the loop again.
This way, pass the wire through the loop, rotate it from the top or bottom, and then pass it again through the loop.
Make the knot tight by pulling both ends of the wires because a secure connection in both wires is necessary.
A poor connection increases wires’ resistance, resulting in low current flow and voltage drop in fences.
In the end, twist the extra wires tightly around the fence wires. After making 4-5 winds, terminate the knot by rotating the excess wires 360 degrees(not around the fence), and it will break off.

Tip: Sharp(pointy) ends of the heavy metal wires knot may harm your animals. So use a hand file tool to rub the sharp ends of the fence wires or knots.

After splicing the fence, make sure the fence wires are tight. You can also use a daisy wheel (wire strainer) to tension the fence wires. However, tightening the loose fence wire at the corner posts is better, so you don’t require extra tools.

This way, you can attach any heavy metal fence wire.

How to make a figure 8 knot?

The benefit of the figure 8 knot is that it’s technically secure, and the knot never unties.

To tie a figure eight knot, bend one wire and make a small loop (eye).
The second wire should be passed through the loop from the bottom to the top.
Then take it down from left or right and pass it below the first wire. There will be space between both wires.
Take the wire upward, and pass it between the space downward; hence another loop(eye) will be formed.
Pull both loops toward each other, and a knot, like in figure 8, will be formed.
Pull both wire ends apart and tighten the knot.
Tightly wind the spare wires 3-4 turns around the fence wires.
Then rotate the wires anticlockwise(360 degrees) to terminate the extra wire.

How to splice polywire electric fence?

To splice polywire electric fences, use crimp sleeves, make knots, or burn polyethene fibres and twist the metal ends.

Joining the metal strands of both wires after burning the plastic will improve current conductivity as conductors directly contact each other.

Follow the steps to join polywire together:

Normal crimp sleeves are ideal for polywire. Choose sleeves that are made of highly conductive metals. Pass wires through both ends of the crimp sleeve. Use a crimper tool to press the sleeves and join the wires tightly.
You can also splice polywire, making a knot. Make sure that the knot is sturdy and wires don’t slip out. Burn the ends of excess wires after making a knot and twist the bot ends to create a secure conductor connection.
It’s better to knot the metal strands after burning the plastic(insulator rope). You can also use crimping sleeves over the bare metal ends to join them firmly.

Conclusion

Using crimp sleeves won’t require excessive energy; you’ll need to pull wires while making knots in the heavy gauge metal wires.

You can use crimp sleeves and knots to tie(splice) any fence wires together(metal, fibre, etc). In the case of polywire, burn the wire ends and twist the metal strands(conductors).

Ask us in the comments if you need guidance for joining your fence wires.