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Types of fence posts
There are several types of posts commonly used for electric fences. Choose the one that suits your need.
Wooden posts
About the best all-around post to use is the pressure-treated hardwood type, which can be used without insulators (see About uninsulated fences).
Softwood posts are also available in many shapes, both treated and untreated. These have a tendency to conduct electricity when they are wet and require insulators.
When used with high-tensile fences, there is an additional factor to be considered: strength. A six-wire fence applies 1,200 to 1,500 pounds of pull to a corner post. The chart below shows the approximate force necessary to break various diameters of pressure-treated pine.
Fibreglass posts (permanent)
Although relatively expensive, fibreglass posts are extremely strong and durable, lasting many years. They are usually T-shaped in cross-section and come in five, six, seven, and eight-foot lengths.
Fibreglass posts do not require insulators and are notched to accept the fence wire, which is usually retained with small spring-wire clips.
Some makes of posts are only notched in larger fixed increments such as six inches. In situations requiring special wire spacing, such as predator control, fixed notching would have to be altered by hand.
Fibreglass posts (temporary)
Temporary fibreglass posts are generally for strip-grazing applications and come in several shapes, such as 'T', oval, flat, and round. Some makes have some sort of device at the lower end to make it easier to push them into the ground and to prevent turning after they are installed.
Lengths vary typically from three to four feet. Some are notched while others have adjustable wire-holding clips (like the example to the left).
Temporary fibreglass rods do not require insulators and are much lighter than metal posts, making them easier to work with during temporary fence making.
Metal posts (permanent)
Metal posts come in 'U', 'T', and 'L'-shapes, at lengths of five to eight feet. They are available in galvanized steel and aluminum alloy.
Because metal posts conduct electricity, they always require insulators, which must be purchased to fit the particular shape of post.
Metal posts (temporary)
As with the temporary fibreglass posts, temporary metal posts are generally for strip-grazing uses. They are usually made of round galvanized (the higher quality ones) steel rod and have some sort of device on the lower end to make them easier to push into the ground and to prevent turning after they are installed.
Lengths are short—usually three to four feet. Unlike the temporary fibreglass rods, metal rods must have insulators.
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