electric fence energiser

[Generally01]

Remember. A solar panel I see only an aid . It will help but you can't leave them alone all summer without using a really big panel and they are exorbitant in price.

Oops we always thought that the all-in-one we had would run off of the solar panel. we thought th battery was junk and no longer holding charge whenever it died. i think dad got it about 16 yrs ago for about $100

 

[Fencerfixer]

So like i would still need to charge the battery in an all-in-one fencer that we have?

Yes, but with these it's more like giving them a rest, four or five days in the sunshine turned off would do it. You can use a charger but it must have a setting for gel batteries and you will have to take the battery out of the device. They are the sealed type that Are common in the large torches and alarm systems. Clulight 12v chargers work (as will other torch chargers) but you will need to cut off the plug and crimp on a couple of spade connectors.

 

[Fencerfixer]

Oops we always thought that the all-in-one we had would run off of the solar panel. we thought th battery was junk and no longer holding charge whenever it died. i think dad got it about 16 yrs ago for about $100

The batteries in these units do regularly fail if the charge goes all the way to 0, you may not notice during the day time as the battery starts to work a little like a capacitor and with the sun shining you can still get a pulse but as soon as the sun goes down it stops.

 

[Generally01]

Yes, but with these it's more like giving them a rest, four or five days in the sunshine turned off would do it. You can use a charger but it must have a setting for gel batteries and you will have to take the battery out of the device. They are the sealed type that Are common in the large torches and alarm systems. Clulight 12v chargers work (as will other torch chargers) but you will need to cut off the plug and crimp on a couple of spade connectors.

We have already replaced a the battery multiple times and i think it is a lead acid battery.

 

[Cow1]

I’ve run 2 Gallagher S100 solars since probably last December. I’ve no particular allegiance to a brand or model but so far I’ve not had to touch these energisers once even during periods of low sunlight. This might change but so far so good and I don’t miss charging and changing batteries all the time.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Remember. A solar panel I see only an aid . It will help but you can't leave them alone all summer without using a really big panel and they are exorbitant in price.

I have a 40w panel with charge controller built in which keeps a falcon going all summer, and 1, occasionally 2 battery changes during winter.
It was £91 which I thought expensive at the time (2015) but it has paid for itself in saving the life of batteries, besides saving the hassle of having to keep batteries swapped, or sheep getting out due to flat battery.

 

[exmoor dave]

Got a strainrite s500, it's ok for cattle,
but except for a good sunny day, I wouldn't use it for sheep, the time between pulses drops to very slow as soon as it's overcast or gets dark.
Couldn't keep it running for long over last winters dull wet weather, with out taking back the yard periodically to charge.

Reading some of the above advice, prehaps I need to try a fresh battery

 

[Bury the Trash]

Remember. A solar panel I see only an aid . It will help but you can't leave them alone all summer without using a really big panel and they are exorbitant in price.

Nonsense.

60w here and 100w panels running seperate fence runs all summer less than approx.£250 and the includes charge controllers.
Added Big 100 plus amp/hour batteries and we never touched all summer even now they are fine.
The charge controllers with them actually will charge 2 batteries so there is a lot of capacity potential.

I only buy an energiser on power these days, 7 joule output was the last one , there is a hotline , infact two hotlines down in the shed one mains one battery ....that yes are so long lasting they are years old and still working order but they arent used because they dont do the job, sheep laugh at them and step over.

Funny thing is all that's written about earthing well etc etc.. well if there isn't the power in the unit not even the best earthing in the world will improve it ..but even without perfect earthing these modern energisers we have still pack a fearsome punch.

Just my experience over the years in a real farm situation

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Nonsense.

60w here and 100w panels running seperate fence runs all summer less than approx.£250 and the includes charge controllers.
Added Big 100 plus amp/hour batteries and we never touched all summer even now they are fine.
The charge controllers with them actually will charge 2 batteries so there is a lot of capacity potential.

I only buy an energiser on power these days, 7 joule output was the last one , there is a hotline , infact two hotlines down in the shed one mains one battery ....that yes are so long lasting they are years old and still working order but they arent used because they dont do the job, sheep laugh at them and step over.

Funny thing is all that's written about earthing well etc etc.. well if there isn't the power in the unit not even the best earthing in the world will improve it ..but even without perfect earthing these modern energisers we have still pack a fearsome punch.

Just my experience over the years in a real farm situation

What brand fencers are you buying?

 

[Timbo]

Also have 2 x 100w panel on stands with charge controllers which when combined with a 644 type battery on a 3joule fencer (rutland esb 325) will run all summer easily, and go 3 - 4 weeks over winter before needing a full recharge. Obviously with the line not shorted and the unit set to eco (slow pulse at night, fast in day) .

The little units with built in ~10w solar panel are next to useless IME - they might keep a retired horse in a paddock over summer but they're no good for for farm use.

 

[Bury the Trash]

What brand fencers are you buying?

Most recent is approx .18 month old voss but also biggest mvf dual one (which I think is the same sort of some of the innards as them, maybe German? ) and 2 black box Gallagher's which are few yrs older

 

[Crex]

I’ve run 2 Gallagher S100 solars since probably last December. I’ve no particular allegiance to a brand or model but so far I’ve not had to touch these energisers once even during periods of low sunlight. This might change but so far so good and I don’t miss charging and changing batteries all the time.

I have the same energiser, and the same experience. Haven't needed to touch the battery all summer. 7 year guarantee also I think.

 

[Woolless]

The batteries in these units do regularly fail if the charge goes all the way to 0, you may not notice during the day time as the battery starts to work a little like a capacitor and with the sun shining you can still get a pulse but as soon as the sun goes down it stops.

Does it need to be a specialist solar compatible energiser/integrated solar panel?

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Most recent is approx .18 month old voss but also biggest mvf dual one (which I think is the same sort of some of the innards as them, maybe German? ) and 2 black box Gallagher's which are few yrs older

Yes I have 3 of the mvf bigger ones. Not a huge kick at only 2.5j output but seem to have been reliable. I guess the oldest is maybe 10 years old?
Cabling is very poor/ minimal on them though.
Thinking about it its 1 of these I have on the 40w panel

 

[Generally01]

There are very few things worse than having your fencer stop working(almost stop working), right now we are having problems with our two fencers and our calves keep coming out. we have an all-in-one and it seems to have a dead battery then we have a very similar one without the battery or solar it will just clip onto a 12volt battery, neither give anything more than a small snap when fence comes in contact with the ground.

 

[Bury the Trash]

Does it need to be a specialist solar compatible energiser/integrated solar panel?

No, just an ordinary common or garden energiser that will run on 12v dc quite simply.
what is it that you want to do ? .....
....then i'll explain what you might need for a simple system.

 

[Woolless]

No, just an ordinary common or garden energiser that will run on 12v dc quite simply.
what is it that you want to do ? .....
....then i'll explain what you might need for a simple system.

I'll need to have a look again at the energisers I have but I'm pretty sure some can run on mains as well as battery. I was just wondering if a cheap solar panel would work as an addition.

 

[Bury the Trash]

I'll need to have a look again at the energisers I have but I'm pretty sure some can run on mains as well as battery. I was just wondering if a cheap solar panel would work as an addition.

for single strand cattle fence this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Photonic-U...+universe&qid=1603890985&s=electronics&sr=1-3
would do, you would need your own 12v energiser and a car /tractor battery or the like .
Thats everything you need bar a bit of a box or frame to hold the panel up and at an angle, plus bit of weather protection for the charge controller that comes with it and your energiser . keep it dry .
bit of elementary wire joining to do (would also need a pair of crocodile clips to connect tothe battery from the charge controller wires.
oh i see that one above even has croc. clips included.


not quite the same /brand as above but heres representative pic of how it looks set up very simple and straight forward .just remember that when light is hitting the panel its producing electric so the wires from it will be live.

when i get chance ill get a pic of ours but its bigger panels for bigger output energiser and for sheep multi wire fence. not quite so portable tbf.

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

I have run a 12v machine off the mains by wiring it up to a little transformer off something else. Make sure it's 12 volts though. I'm sure it's against the rules but I've never had a problem with it.

Mains fencers seem to last longer. I have 2 that are at least 25 years old. I think it may be because they don't get thrown around the place, in and out of the truck/ quad/ fencing trailer. Power cuts are their Achilles heel

 

[betternextyear]

There is no point in buying an expensive fencer ,unless you take steps to stop it being stolen. I have experience.
I now put decent fencers in old boxes.