Electric Fence Twine works on the same principle as electric fence tape, rope or wire.  It has metal conductors (usually stainless steel, but some times copper)  that run through the twine, allowing electrical current to pass along the fence.  Electric fence twine is tough and durable.  It is not quite as strong as electric fencing rope of tape, but it is flexible, lightweight, conductive and every easy to use.  It is also less expensive than electric fence tape and rope.

There are a variety of types of electric fence twine.

Electric Fence Standard Twine:

This twine is designed for short distances of up to 500 m and also for temporary fences where a high break strain is not a critical factor.  It has a diameter of 1-2mm and there are 3 stainless steel conductors of 0.15 mm diameter.  This gives the twine a break strain of 30 kg.  This twine is inexpensive and will work perfectly well for many electric fence applications, such as running along the top of a permanent fence.  However, it is important to note that due to having 3 stainless steel conductors (rather than 6 conductors in our other twines) it is the least conductive of the twines and should not be used for long fences.

200 m roll:  £6.25

Electric Fence Heavy Duty Twine:

This twine is deigned for longer fences and, due to it’s strength, is very popular for use with sheep, goats and cattle as well as many other general electric fencing applications.  It is 2 mm in diameter and has 6 stainless steel conductors of 0.2 mm diameter and an impressive 100 kg break strain.  Due to the 6 conductors, this twine is highly effective and will give a good shock, ensuring even your wooliest or most challenging animals are kept safe.

We do NOT recommend using Heavy Duty Twine with horses because it does not easily break and can harm the horse should it try to run through the fence.  We recommend rope or tape for horses.

200 m roll: £11.99

X Large 500 m roll: £24.00

Electric Fence Braid Twine:

This twine is braided, which makes it stronger and thicker than the regular ‘twisted’ twine.  It will not untwist of kink making it ideal for use with reel systems.  It has 6 stainless steel conductors of 0.2 mm diameter, meaning it is highly conductive and will give your animals a good shock.  It is suitable for long fences.

200 m roll: £12.45

Electric Fence Maxi Twine:

This twine is called ‘Maxi Twine’ because it is suited to long fences and is capable of giving good shocks due to its 9 stainless steel conductors of 0.2 mm diameter.  The extra steel makes it the most conductive of our twines and also makes it very strong, with a break strain of an impressive 120 kg.  This comes in 400 m rolls.

400 m: £31.99

Electric Fence Green Twine:

This twine has 6 stainless steel conductors of 0.2 mm diameter.  The green colour makes it blend into the countryside, and is often requested in national parks or very scenic spots.  It gives a good shock and has a break strain of 100 kg.  This twine is often used for rabbit and deer fences, and is also frequently run accross the top of post and rail horse fencing to stop the horses chewing the expensive fence.

Large (400 m) roll :  £20.50

Once you have selected the twine that is suitable for your application, it is important to ensure that you select the right insulators.  The twine must not directly touch a wooden post, the ground or any leaves, trees or foliage of the electricity will run off the fence and straight to the earth weakening your fence or stopping it from working all together.  You can use either ring insulators or staple insulators that screw into the fence and hold the twine.  If you want a little extra distance from the fence, you can use distance ring insulators – these are often useful if you have a horse that is rubbing up against the fence or trying to bite another animal on the other side!

When installing your twine, it is best to avoid tying knots – even though it is very tempting and you will see many others who use knots.  If you tie knots, the stainless steel conductors cross over and this can create heat and sparks that will reduce the effectiveness and lifespan of your twine.  It could also have the opposite problem whereby the stainless steel conductors do not meet properly, making it hard for the electrical current to pass along the twine thus making the fence less effective.  It is best to use twine connectors to attach two pieces of twine.

If twine does not seem suitable for your application, electric fence rope or tape may be your solution.

Of course, you also need to select the right energiser for your fence.  If you have any questions about energiser, please refer to our other blog articles or give us a call.  The energiser is the most expensive and most important part of any electric fence.

If you have any questions about electric fencing, please don’t hesitate to give us a call.  We are a family run business and are always happy to help our customers set up a system perfectly suited to their needs.

FarmCare UK

Electric Fencing and Clipper Specialist

01323 406212