Electric fence standard/spacers

[TreefarmerNN]

We run solar powered electric fence for our cattle, both permanent and temporary.  Along the woods edge of one pasture we have a combo fence with high tensile electric and a strand of barbed wire, not electrified.  Because of roots and the difficulty of getting posts in the ground, the span between posts is sometimes 30'. 

That pasture is also a favorite for deer.  If they jump over the fence- it's not a big problem. When they go through the fence, they sometimes flip the electrified wire over the grounded barbed wire shorting the fence out.  We used to be able to get wood spacers made from some wood in New Zealand that had minimal conductivity but our source has dried up for that. 

Has anyone used eastern red cedar or black locust for something like that?  Information on conductivity is scant especially for conductivity along the grain rather than cross grain.  The wood needs to be relatively water repellent as free water will surely conduct so I thought of those two options or possibly black walnut.  I have all three available.

If there are other ideas, I'd like to hear them.

[beenthere]

Seems any material with insulators installed would hold the lateral wires apart. Could be wood or steel, as long as it would hold an insulator to clip to the electrified wire.

[doc henderson]

are you wanting the wood for the barbed wire, so it is not grounded?  or for the electric.  water does not conduct unless there is sugar or electrolytes.  are the plastic ones expensive or fragile?  that is what is used here.  wood is a relatively poor conductor unless high voltage and amps, like lightning.   If it was a great conductor, voltage would go to ground and not damage the tree.  but it generates heat, and water expands in an instant and part of the tree blows off.  as an example, the copper wire does not explode.

[TreefarmerNN]

The spacers from New Zealand did not require insulators.  They had holes drilled in them and essentially the wires, both hot and ground we attached with basically large cotter pins.  Two versions- one just a spacer and a 2"x2" longer version that actually was a post you could drive into the ground. 

If cedar could work for the spacers, that would be good enough.

The plastic posts are ok but are subject to damage both from sunlight and impact.  While our cows are trained for electric fence, the deer aren't and cause the problems.  While we've used a lot of steel posts and insulators in the woods, all it takes is one cracked or missing insulator and the fence shorts out against the steel.  Plus, like much else the price of steel and insulators is quite a bit higher than if I just cut some cedar or locust which basically only costs my mill time.

Thanks for all the comments- keep them coming.

[beenthere]

Cedar will work. 

[doc henderson]

got it so a wooden post, not an insulator.

[doc henderson]

would little red flags on the wire help the deer to see it and clear it?