We’ve all heard the time-old lesson that there’s more to something than meets the eye, but the electric fence insulator brings that theoretical adage to life. Although electric fence insulators look like small components in the framework of an entire electric fence system, these little pieces of equipment are the key to keeping your farm residents in their home fields.
We hear you: when you’re dealing with wooden posts, electric fence tape, and steel wires all in one system, it can be daunting to set about finding the perfect insulator. We’re up for the challenge, though, with our stock of solutions at prices so cheap they’ll electrify you (we couldn’t help it!).
Our favourite manufacturer, Hotline Electric Fencing, offers high-quality insulators in bulk at prices you cannot find anywhere else in the UK. They come in a variety of styles ranging from pigtail to offset, colours spanning black to yellow, and set-ups accommodating fence posts made of both metal and wood.
And your electric fence isn’t the only thing sizzling - our added postage bonus will give those lines some bang for their pop. Why? Because when you buy from us, we’ll deliver your insulators to you for free anywhere in the mainland UK.
So, prefer not to chase your livestock back to your time and time again? Read on to learn how to invest in the best types of insulators on the market.
Type of Insulators
Insulators differ according to what material your fence is made of, what types of posts you’re using and what part of the line you’re dealing with - a corner, a standard type or the end of the line.Adjustable insulators make your life easier by adapting to post height and where the transmission lines fall in relation to the posts. Simply loosening and tightening the nut will take your insulator where it needs to go and ensure it stays put. Multi-wire electric fencing will never be the same again, especially when it comes to keeping those pigs and sheep with their own!
Then there are types of insulators that accommodate a certain type of live material. For example, electro-tape insulators cater only to, you guessed it, electro-tape! But that’s not all: depending on what you need it for, these insulators can also double as joiners, tensioners, and corners. Yes, you’re not the only multitasker around here - your insulators are perfect little minions!
Then there are insulators that are put in place by being stapled away, nailed in, or screwed on - the possibilities abound. Depending on their size and shape, these variations accommodate both temporary fences and permanent structures. Clearly, one of the most important factors when choosing insulators is what type of fence you’re investing in, so always take that into consideration before you buy. Now, let’s explore a few more of the most common insulator types and what you might need them for.
Pigtail
The tails of pigs are the namesake of more than just a 7-year-old girl’s hairstyle. They’re one of the best insulator types on the market, and here’s why: these guys are a great standard insulator type ideal for complementing one of our favourite fence types. The pigtail electric fence posts are long lasting, resilient and prevent animals from pushing the posts down. Pigtail insulators complement P2 Pigtail electric fence posts perfectly -- see, matching isn’t just for the ladies!
Pick up a replacement insulator in a batch of five or go all out by opting for a bulk purchase of 50. Whatever you choose, you won’t regret it - this is one of the best insulators and fence types around, and it’s not just for the pigs…this option is perfect for strip grazing dairy cattle!
Offset
An offset insulator simply means ones that offset livestock from approaching it. Simple, right? By acting as quasi-outliers to your fence, these bad boys will stick out like not just any sore thumb - but an electric sore thumb. Ouch!
Bolt-on offset insulators accommodate every kind of live material - various wires, polywire, rope, tape are all up for consideration if you know you want to go for this insulator type.
But if you want to get real serious, double offset insulators are versatile instruments that, by fastening onto fencing and extending 300 millimetres on either side of the post, encourage animals - especially horses - on opposite sides to not get too cuddly with one another.
Screw-in insulators specifically adapted to tape and rope offer the same encouragement but do not necessarily provide the double duty that the two-loop insulators ensure. Outrigger offset insulators are also one-sided instruments, but they stick out 350 millimetres from the fence, promising that your much-loved livestock won’t mistake that fence post for a back scratcher.
In sum, whatever kind of offset insulator you opt-in for, you can rest assured that your animals won’t get too cosy with your fence line.
Corners
Ah, corners. These insulators speak for themselves, and they sure are necessary. We’ve barely heard of an electric fence that didn’t involve corners - most would stretch on forever, and we don’t think that’s exactly what you have in mind when it comes to containing your cattle!
Bolt-on corner insulators can, conveniently, be used for ends of the fence line as well, and these studs are suitable for a wide variety of fencing: wire, polywire, and electro-rope can all buzz on securely and for eternity (well, maybe not that long…) when equipped with of these attached to a steel post. Screw-on insulators can likewise be used for both corners and ends, but these are ideal for posts made of wood instead of steel.
Quick release corner insulators are designed for posts that make use of electro-tape, and they deliver on their promise - in the event of an emergency or need for fast action, you can ensure that these options will allow that tape to slide right through. If you’re looking for a general use plastic insulator for corners or end of line, we highly recommend Hotline Electric’s large plastic insulator ideal for both temporary and permanent fences. Whatever kind you opt for, your corners are covered!
Best Electric Fence Insulators for Wooden Posts
Wooden posts pose a different challenge than your typical metal post, so they, therefore, require a whole other set of considerations when it comes to insulators. We’ve already mentioned a few insulators that differ a little from their metal-friendly peers (for example, screw-on corner insulators are intended for a wooden post, while their bolt-on counterparts are just for metal), but let’s dive into this matter with a little more intention.
In general, screw-in insulators involve (try to say that fast!) metal screws attached to each insulator that easily screw into the fence. Offset insulators (also called stand-off insulators) simple stick out 150 millimetres from the wooden post, while other heavy duty screw-in ring insulators for wire, rope and tape are intended to lie just against the post.
There are so many other types of insulators intended for wooden posts. If you’re interested in a temporary fence line, a bobbin butterfly insulator is an ideal choice for live wire, while reinforced fibreglass end insulators provide a great anchor point for your fence. Whatever you opt for, just make sure that it’s intended for or at least accommodating towards the fence posts and live material of your choice, and your livestock won’t be roaming the range any time soon!
Overview
Electric fence insulators are key to an efficient stock system, without them, the electrical current leaches out into the ground meaning that your perimeter is not nearly as secure as it could be. Once your residents realise this, it can lead to some wandering. We stock a range of different insulators such as corner insulators for when the run changes direction - a really good straining point - clamp insulators with an added buckle for tape runs, ring insulators for rope, mini bobbin insulators and a variety of offset insulators, designed to keep stock away from the fence or from post and rail wooden fencing which needs protection.
Parcelled in quantities of anything upwards of twenty, these insulators are a key feature of your stock fencing and will ensure that the run is as efficient and as tight as possible.