Electric fence indicators

[milkloss]

OK, so I'm a cheap skate (actually just spent £300 odd quid on tractor batteries!) and I'm looking for a way of making some neon indicators to show the fence is on. Hoping to make a few actually so you don't have to walk all round the yard to see if nobby has remembered to turn it on . The indicators are Usually just neon lights but I presume there's a resistor in there too so I was hoping there's someone that knows....... @Pheasant Surprise usually knows his stuff but testing the knowledge of the TFF massiv!

And, no I'm not grabbing hold of it to make sure it's on, done that too many times with a cracked plastic handle today!

 

[Dry Rot]

Watching with interest as the LED/neon on my fencer unit died years ago and I am finding it difficult to hear the ticking. Should be easy to replace but there's a few other jobs I need to do first.

 

[hendrebc]

Carry a tester?

 

[milkloss]

Carry a tester?

it's cows and calves at a self feed clamp. The calves can be a bit jittery and set the cows off too and they all pile in the yard at speed If you spook them. I'd like to just do a visual from the truck at the last drive by in the evening.

 

[HarryB97]

Havn't used one but have been meaning to get one

Fence Alert Detect Electric Fence Problems in a Flash

We offer everything you need to install and maintain electric fencing for all kinds of stock and situations.

www.rappa.co.uk

 

[milkloss]

Havn't used one but have been meaning to get one

Fence Alert Detect Electric Fence Problems in a Flash

We offer everything you need to install and maintain electric fencing for all kinds of stock and situations.

www.rappa.co.uk

that's the one. So who's going to buy one and take it apart for research purposes?

 

[neilo]

that's the one. So who's going to buy one and take it apart for research purposes?

Does that one not flash when the power is off/reduced? In which case it would flash when ‘nobby’ Turns it off to do whatever, running the battery down.

Would something like this be another option, flashing with each pulse so you could see on your drive past? https://www.electricfence-online.co...MI_e6spPLW5gIVS7TtCh1GdAu8EAQYBSABEgKY3PD_BwE

Or one powered by the fencer itself (presumably):

Electric Fencing | High Quality | electric-fence.co.uk

Professional electric fencing equipment with high quality. A large product range and save £££. Save even more on bundles and B-stock. Over 1500 electric f…

www.electric-fence.co.uk

 

[Dry Rot]

Being a cheapskate, I saw rhis at a tenner.

Electric Fence Tester To Measure Fence Current - 10,000V (10KV) - DIY 6 Lights | eBay

A must for anyone with electric fencing. If all 6 lights are showing then this indicates a very healthy fence. An essential tool to help maintain an effective electric fence. Simple and easy way to test your fence, with the added bonus of no batteries required.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Gulli]

I reckon you could probably rig up a cheapo fence tester so it's always on the fence.
Probably cheaper than making your own.

Or you might be able to find a bulb that's low enough voltage and just connect it into the fence so it switches on and off with the pulse

 

[milkloss]

Being a cheapskate, I saw rhis at a tenner.

Electric Fence Tester To Measure Fence Current - 10,000V (10KV) - DIY 6 Lights | eBay

A must for anyone with electric fencing. If all 6 lights are showing then this indicates a very healthy fence. An essential tool to help maintain an effective electric fence. Simple and easy way to test your fence, with the added bonus of no batteries required.

www.ebay.co.uk

nice and cheap but hard to see 30yards away in daylight.

Does that one not flash when the power is off/reduced? In which case it would flash when ‘nobby’ Turns it off to do whatever, running the battery down.

Would something like this be another option, flashing with each pulse so you could see on your drive past? https://www.electricfence-online.co...MI_e6spPLW5gIVS7TtCh1GdAu8EAQYBSABEgKY3PD_BwE

Or one powered by the fencer itself (presumably):

Electric Fencing | High Quality | electric-fence.co.uk

Professional electric fencing equipment with high quality. A large product range and save £££. Save even more on bundles and B-stock. Over 1500 electric f…

www.electric-fence.co.uk

Hmm, yes, want to see it fire in sync with the fencer. I’m thinking a mosfet fired using inductance from the fence which switches on a high output led using a little 3v lithium battery. It means no draw on the fence and bright enough to see at a distance.

 

[som farmer]

just grab hold of the fence, the higher you jump, the better the kick.

 

[Dry Rot]

There's quite a lot on Google if you get your search terms right. I tried phrases like "DIY electric fence indicator". One that came up was https://www.electroschematics.com/cordless-live-fence-tester/ -- far too technical for me! And this thread started by another dairy farmer -- https://www.electro-tech-online.com/threads/led-electric-fence-monitor.97422/

I think I'll leave it to you guys!

 

[Gulli]

Electric Fence Control Unit "Signal Light", Fence Monitor Light: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

Free delivery and returns on all eligible orders. Shop Electric Fence Control Unit "Signal Light", Fence Monitor Light.

www.amazon.co.uk

Just stumbled across this while looking for something else

 

[milkloss]

Electric Fence Control Unit "Signal Light", Fence Monitor Light: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

Free delivery and returns on all eligible orders. Shop Electric Fence Control Unit "Signal Light", Fence Monitor Light.

www.amazon.co.uk

Just stumbled across this while looking for something else

well done, just bought it. By the time I've fecked about I might as well pay for it, and I might be able to work out what's in it

 

[Danllan]

Havn't used one but have been meaning to get one

Fence Alert Detect Electric Fence Problems in a Flash

We offer everything you need to install and maintain electric fencing for all kinds of stock and situations.

www.rappa.co.uk

You'd think that they'd rig it so that it wouldn't need a battery replacing, ever. After all, it has access to a source of power...

 

[It was already broken.]

I have used blades of grass as an indicator for 50 years.

 

[milkloss]

You'd think that they'd rig it so that it wouldn't need a battery replacing, ever. After all, it has access to a source of power...

they use a voltage comparator that uses the battery to fire the indicator light. That way no current is drawn from the fence. This is better because a higher brightness led could be used which would be more visible at distance.

 

[Danllan]

they use a voltage comparator that uses the battery to fire the indicator light. That way no current is drawn from the fence. This is better because a higher brightness led could be used which would be more visible at distance.

It will come as no surprise to you that my electrical genius and knowledge extends no further that a typical vehicle electrical net... Unfortunately it just doesn't click with me, chemistry and most physics yes, but practical electrics, no.

 

[landslave the 2nd]

This chap will have or know what your after.

 

[som farmer]

This chap will have or know what your after.

we have a big boy from him, scares the hell out of us, a keeper friend, who shoots our foxes, is terrified of it, 1 touch trained him ! The advantage is, the cows seldom get out, the disadvantages are, you might touch it, and cattle, if out, will NOT cross over even if it is on the ground !!