Insulators are designed to fasten electrified wire to posts without losing energy through the post. They come in either plastic or porcelain and should be purchased according to the type of post and the type of wire being used.Using a good insulator is important to maintain the performance of your fence. Insulators prevent electrical shorts between the electrified wire and the fence posts. Insulators are made from materials that do not conduct electricity, most commonly plastic or ceramic. They are a critical component of a properly functioning electric fence.

In this section, we will discuss the various types of insulators available for electric fencing. In addition, we will also cover alternative components for fastening non-electrified wire to fence posts.

Plastic

Plastic insulators are molded from polyethylene, polycarbonate, or nylon and are designed to hold electrified wire near a variety of posts without losing energy through the post.

There are several styles to choose from because the insulator must match both the type of wire and the type of fence post being used. Plastic insulators include round post insulators, T-post insulators, wood post insulators, corner post insulators, end post insulators, and chain link fence insulators.

Make sure the plastic insulator you choose is molded from heavy-duty, high-density polyethylene (or harder plastic) with UV inhibitors. This prevents arcing and provides long life with all-weather performance, protecting it from the elements. Most insulators are available in yellow, black and white.

Specialized Insulators

Tube Insulators

The tube clamp insulator attaches to standard tube-type stock and corral panels. Tube insulators are also used in high-tensile fencing to insulate wire at corner posts and allow staples to be used to attach electrified wire to wooden line posts.

Corner Insulators

Corner post insulators are designed to withstand fence line tension generated by the fence line pulling from the anchor point or changing directions. Corner insulators should also be used at fence line termination points and are available in plastic and ceramic to accommodate steel wire, polywire, polytape and polyrope.