Batteries for leccy fencing sheep

[It was already broken.]

I need to get new batteries sorted now all the sheep are behind three lines of electric fencing. These are the batteries I have at present. What size are they? I don't understand these things. And is there a better option?

 

[cotswoldcs]

I now use leisure batteries. Either 70-85ah for small runs (<1000m or 10 acres) or 110ah for larger runs on stubble turnips 25acre + fields. Something like this:

Amazon.co.uk : hankook leisure battery

My only recommendation is to buy 2 and rotate them regularly. You can damage a battery quickly by letting them discharge too far. Keeping them charged regularly is a faff but key to them lasting.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Tayna batteries online have been recommended on here before (initially by @neilo I think) and are way cheaper than MVF for us. About 2/3 the price for exactly the same battery.

 

[neilo]

I need to get new batteries sorted now all the sheep are behind three lines of electric fencing. These are the batteries I have at present. What size are they? I don't understand these things. And is there a better option?

If you browse the Tanya site and search out batteries with those specs, you will normally find plenty of options. They have consistently been the cheapest when I’ve looked, and are usually delivered by 10am here, even if only ordered at 3pm the previous afternoon!

Leisure batteries will supposedly stand being run down more, but I agree with comment above about changing & recharging on a rotation so that they never go flat. I had several (non-leisure) batteries fail last year, all from a batch that were bought new 6-7 years previously and which had been on leccy fences or charging pretty well constantly in that time. I was very happy with that longevity tbh.
All were cashed in at the scrappy at about a tenner each and replaced with similar spec new ones from above company for £60 or so.

 

[unlacedgecko]

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www.ebay.co.uk

 

[crazy_bull]

Find a local car breakers and buy some off them, they are usually happy to swap your dead ones for good ones, with a bit of folding money to lubricate the deal.

We get charged £6/battery to change them (similar sizes), as she knows they will come back to them when they die to get cashed in.

Very important with non leisure batteries as said above, don't let them fully discharge, they don't like it. Also get a decent modern charger, like a c-tek or similar, it has increased the life of the batteries no end, and has a recondition setting that has revived many a dud battery.

We have 10 batteries on rotation, aiming to swap batteries on a unit every 4-5 days, so as they don't discharge too much.

Some batteries from the breakers last a year, others are still going after 3 years, of near continuos use.

C B

 

[Estate fencing.]

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www.ebay.co.uk

There the ones I buy off eBay , the110ah ones. Iv got 14 out at the moment and I change them every week so change 2 every morning, put them on slow charge and take them off when I get home at night. Fences are always full powered and sheep never look at getting out.

 

[Northern territory]

Is it any good buying correct spec solar panel for trickle charging while the battery is on the unit or would it be a waste of time in winter, someone I know swears by it. We have a remote unit where you have to carry battery a long way to swap.

 

[goodevans]

Find a local car breakers and buy some off them, they are usually happy to swap your dead ones for good ones, with a bit of folding money to lubricate the deal.

We get charged £6/battery to change them (similar sizes), as she knows they will come back to them when they die to get cashed in.

Very important with non leisure batteries as said above, don't let them fully discharge, they don't like it. Also get a decent modern charger, like a c-tek or similar, it has increased the life of the batteries no end, and has a recondition setting that has revived many a dud battery.

We have 10 batteries on rotation, aiming to swap batteries on a unit every 4-5 days, so as they don't discharge too much.

Some batteries from the breakers last a year, others are still going after 3 years, of near continuos use.

C B

exactly the same here

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Is it any good buying correct spec solar panel for trickle charging while the battery is on the unit or would it be a waste of time in winter, someone I know swears by it. We have a remote unit where you have to carry battery a long way to swap.

Yes very much so.
I have a 40w panel with regulator on 1 which will extend battery life to months at a time.

 

[milkloss]

20 odd quid will get you a decent drop tested battery from the scrappy. Some are even brand new from when someone's put a new battery on a vehicle to drive it into the scrapyard.

 

[Boydvalley]

Find a local car breakers and buy some off them, they are usually happy to swap your dead ones for good ones, with a bit of folding money to lubricate the deal.

We get charged £6/battery to change them (similar sizes), as she knows they will come back to them when they die to get cashed in.

Very important with non leisure batteries as said above, don't let them fully discharge, they don't like it. Also get a decent modern charger, like a c-tek or similar, it has increased the life of the batteries no end, and has a recondition setting that has revived many a dud battery.

We have 10 batteries on rotation, aiming to swap batteries on a unit every 4-5 days, so as they don't discharge too much.

Some batteries from the breakers last a year, others are still going after 3 years, of near continuos use.

C B

As above but you might not be so lucky to get them for £6, £10 around here, horse types pay more.

Get one of these to test the battery from The scrappy. Soon won’t give you rubbish plus useful to have to know when to give up on a battery.

one of these are brilliant to carry around to check battery voltage. About £16 on Amazon. No batteries in them and crocodile clips easier than multimeter. Try not to let the voltage drop below 12.4v

I use 20/25w solar panels straight onto battery with no voltage controller. Must disconnect them if the fencer is not on as they will overcharge the battery.

With scrap batteries you can afford to have more and you can change the batteries when they need changing not when you’ve wait for a battery to charge. All batteries last a lot longer then.

 

[Coximus]

I've been using an 80h batt on rotation for two years with a 25watt solar attached. It's never run below 80% which helps the life span. Every two weeks it's swapped and charged fully and usually the charger reads it as 90% charged still.
I've just set up another system with a 50watt charger and two batteries on parralele and will check with the voltmeter weekly.
The key really is avoiding a full discharge

 

[twizzel]

We get ours from scrapyard, normally take back 3 or 4 dead batteries and get a couple of decent ones in return.

 

[Al R]

Local garage gives me 5-6, I charge them up then check them a week later and If they’ve held charge not in use they go to use, if their buggered they go back to them. 2-3 batteries only last 48 hours but it’s fine as long as it’s enough time to charge another..

 

[Northern territory]

I've been using an 80h batt on rotation for two years with a 25watt solar attached. It's never run below 80% which helps the life span. Every two weeks it's swapped and charged fully and usually the charger reads it as 90% charged still.
I've just set up another system with a 50watt charger and two batteries on parralele and will check with the voltmeter weekly.
The key really is avoiding a full discharge

Is that this time of year

 

[Deutzdx3]

I need to get new batteries sorted now all the sheep are behind three lines of electric fencing. These are the batteries I have at present. What size are they? I don't understand these things. And is there a better option?

That’s a 110ah battery. The rating below is how much draw it can handle with out damage. C100 is 100 hours it can discharge 100ah over that time and C20 will put out 85ah draw for 20 hours.

Leisure batteries are the way forward. Tanya are good on price. Go onto their deep cycle leisure section. They are made with larger plates to take a constant draw over long periods compared to car batteries.

 

[cowboysupper]

Is it any good buying correct spec solar panel for trickle charging while the battery is on the unit or would it be a waste of time in winter, someone I know swears by it. We have a remote unit where you have to carry battery a long way to swap.

Yeh definitely. I bought one off Rappa....extends the battery life by weeks in the summer. Even during winter an extra week-10 days.

 

[Coximus]

Is that this time of year

Yea in summer the output of the solar is more than double the draw so its only uses batt at night. Make sure the solar panel has over charge protection circuit.

 

[Partstech]

12.5 volts is the critical reading, once you keep using the battery below that figure you are literally killing the battery. A cheap multi meter and a good smarcharger will both be a good investment.?