High Tensile Electric Fence Layout & Design

Описание: In this video, we walk through the first steps of building a straight, high-tensile electric fence from the ground up — starting with layout, corner post placement, and tying off wires properly.

The old barbed wire fence on this stretch was removed, and we’re replacing it with a purpose-built high-tensile system. This section is approximately 280 feet long with no changes in direction, and we’ve chosen 40-foot line post spacing for this build.

Step 1: Choose Corner Locations First

Before building braces or setting line posts, the first step is always:

Select your corner post locations

Drive corner posts and any change-of-direction posts

Establish a straight reference line

In this case, we reused one existing corner post and drove a new one on the opposite end.

Getting corners correct is critical. Everything else in your fence depends on these locations being straight, square, and well set.

Step 2: Pull a Guide Wire

Once corners are installed, we pull a guide wire from corner to corner. This guide wire will eventually become one of the fence wires, but initially it serves to:

Establish a straight line

Remove bends or irregularities

Help determine accurate line post placement

Ensure brace posts are positioned correctly

Lightly tension the guide wire just enough to remove sag and create a clean visual reference.

Step 3: Mark Wire Locations on Corner Posts

After braces are built, mark your wire heights directly on the corner post. This ensures:

Consistent spacing

Accurate installation

Clean alignment across the entire fence

We use:

X marks for hot wires

Line marks for ground wires

Additionally:

Hot wires are marked with red tape

Ground wires are marked with white tape

This makes identification easy during installation and future maintenance.

Fence Configuration

In this build, we are alternating wires from the ground up:

Ground – Hot – Hot – Ground – Hot – Hot

Hot wires require insulators to prevent current leakage.
Ground wires can be tied directly to the post.

Tying Off with a Termination Knot

For both insulators and ground wires, we use a termination knot, a strong, reliable method for securing high-tensile wire to posts.

The process includes:

Biasing the insulator slightly toward the fence line

Using a chain strainer to remove slack

Leaving enough tail to complete the knot properly

Installing an inline strainer later for final tension

When tying off:

Cross the wire cleanly through the insulator

Maintain control of the insulator so it doesn’t rotate

Make five tight wraps to secure the knot

Leave a tail when necessary to connect adjacent hot wires without additional insulated jumper wire

The termination knot is a foundational skill in high-tensile fence construction and ensures a secure, long-lasting connection at every corner.

Why This Matters

Proper layout and termination determine:

Fence longevity

Consistent wire tension

Electrical performance

Ease of future maintenance

Taking the time to establish straight lines, consistent spacing, and clean tie-offs makes the entire fence stronger and more professional.

If you’re building permanent electric fencing, mastering corner layout and termination knots is essential. Start with solid corners, pull a clean guide line, and build from there.

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