Electric fence battery

[The Ruminant]

Having knackered three car batteries in a short space of time, whilst powering an energiser, yet having other batteries last and last, I was wondering whether I've been buying the wrong type of battery. Is there a right and wrong type?

I've seen deep cycle batteries, marine batteries, car, tractor etc. Any suggestions for what I'm doing wrong that makes them last for only a few weeks on occasion, before they simply won't take a charge! I always trickle charge them, I've a small solar panel which charges them in the field too. Help!

 

[Lincs Lass]

Leisure batteries from caravans ,,they hold their charge for much longer or better still ,,big old lorry batteries

 

[Greenbeast]

leisure batteries can go deeper, but i find energisers are rubbish at battery protection, and let the SOC go too low before stopping
you could put one of these in:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Low-Volta...hash=item25ceec1ac9:m:my8W03nPJauIfekgL8Yv2uw

 

[neilo]

Leisure/deep cycle batteries will handle being run down to nothing better than a normal battery. However, that's hardly good for keeping livestock in, so you shouldn't be doing it anyway IMO. I use 'normal' 96Ah tractor batteries and change them on a cycle, so that nothing is left on the (2J) fencer for more than a fortnight. Mine were all new when I moved here, and have all done 4 winters so far without loss. I don't have any solar panels to help out.

A solar panel 'should' save them from running down so fast, so odd that yours have been dieing so quickly.

 

[Greenbeast]

yeah i missed the bit about the panel, i have a couple on solar (small panel/big battery as well) and they never need touching, even through this last winter

 

[Blod]

Go here http://www.kiwikit.co.uk buy a solar energiser and save your back.

 

[Tonym]

Regular charging before they get too low is the secret. I used to get my batteries from the local tyre centre on the first cold snap of the winter and they would easily power the fencer if they were charged regularly.
Without fail I always changed the battery for a freshly charged one every Saturday morning and even these recycled batteries would last for years.

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

If you let them go too deep then they will sulphate. Whether they can be properly recovered is then debatable.

 

[neilo]

Go here http://www.kiwikit.co.uk buy a solar energiser and save your back.

Their biggest solar energiser (£289) is only 0.5J though. Far to low output to reliably keep sheep behind electric IMO. Probably OK for cows though, without any foliage touching the wire anywhere....

 

[mushnt grummmble]

If you let them go too deep then they will sulphate. Whether they can be properly recovered is then debatable.

Regular charging before they get too low is the secret. I used to get my batteries from the local tyre centre on the first cold snap of the winter and they would easily power the fencer if they were charged regularly.
Without fail I always changed the battery for a freshly charged one every Saturday morning and even these recycled batteries would last for years.

THIS^^^as soon as a battery reads 12v it is technically flat
plenty of people charge a battery and leave it on till it stops working the fence before charging it again then wonder why they dont last
i got 3 batteries here on 2 fencers,so there's always 1 on charge and each fence never more than 2 days before a fresh battery

 

[Greenbeast]

THIS^^^as soon as a battery reads 12v it is technically flat
plenty of people charge a battery and leave it on till it stops working the fence before charging it again then wonder why they dont last
i got 3 batteries here on 2 fencers,so there's always 1 on charge and each fence never more than 2 days before a fresh battery

My non-solar batteries usually last a couple or more weeks but i have relatively short runs compared to sheep/cattle farms

 

[milkloss]

I'll add my pennies worth: don't go buying a smart fencer that supposedly prevents battery damage by switching off when battery voltage goes down to 10.?v. Reason is that if a cell goes or the battery appears to charge and loses voltage over half hour or so then the fencer will switch off as soon as you walk away.

I agree with all posts above but would add that your local scrappy is a good place for batteries. 15 quid for a drop tested battery and some are new as some people buy a new battery to get the car to the scrap yard

 

[milkloss]

Oh, and does your solar panel have a volt regulator on it? If not it may reach 19 volts in full sun and boile the battery dry. Been there myself. Get a pwm charge controller off eBay.

 

[TheTallGuy]

+1 for the charge controller, although an mppt type would be better. If you've got the solar panel direct across the battery without a charge controller then the panel may well be discharging the battery. Also worth keeping the battery wrapped up - the cold doesn't do them a lot of good.

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

I got shot down last time I suggested an MPPT charge controller for a fencer. How utterly extravagant!!

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

I have a leisure battery powering 3 acres worth of double strand horse tape, linked to a small PV unit (which cost about £80).

The tape is not touching any vegetation, but clicks where the tape has been tied in knots

We never need to charge the battery, Winter or Summer

 

[Tarw Coch]

Go here http://www.kiwikit.co.uk buy a solar energiser and save your back.

Best fencer I've got, I have some land next to the river we graze heifers on, we have an electric fence along the river bank so they can only get down to drink at the water hole but have always struggled with fencers due to the vegetation. The last 2 years we have had a kiwi kit solar powered one and have had no bother. Unfortunately we've had 2 fencers as someone else took a fancy to the first when it was back home last winter along with a new geared reeler and wire.....coconuts!

 

[Pasty]

Deffo leisure battery. Numax are good but I find Lucas to be better. I think Mole Valley do Numax, I got mine on eBay. The LX one I have lasts for ever and seems to charge faster too! You'll need an 'intelligent' charger too, not a standard car one. Mine are Clarke ones and seem to do the job well. I have a couple leisure batteries that went so flat I can't charge them but I'm told that a standard charger on for a couple hours may recover them. Oh and go for 100ah or more. The smaller 90ah ones don't seem to last half the time for some reason.

 

[Cowcalf]

I have a leisure battery powering 3 acres worth of double strand horse tape, linked to a small PV unit (which cost about £80).

The tape is not touching any vegetation, but clicks where the tape has been tied in knots

We never need to charge the battery, Winter or Summer

its clicking because you have poor connection and its jumping.

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

Yes, because the tape is made up of lots of shorter lengths tied together.