Electric Fence Controller

**Poptart** · 10-01-2011, 04:27 AM

If you had to suggest an Electric fence controller which one would it be!

**Michael Bush** · 10-01-2011, 05:20 AM

I assume the issue is bears. There are several issues. One is availability of electricity. If you have none they you either need a battery powered fencer (and a lot of trips to make sure it doesn't run dead) or you need a solar powered one. Solar powered ones are readily available at any farm store. The next issue is power. I would buy the one with the most joules that meets your other requirements. One method of measurement is joules, another is "miles of fence". You want a lot of "miles of fence" even if you only want a little fence as that is the power. The third issue is grounding. You need to insure that the bear gets grounded. Some people do this by alternating ground wires with hot wires. People also stake down hog panels on the ground with metal stakes. A good ground driven deep, of course, helps, and dumping five gallons of water on the stake every time you go out to the yard, also helps.

Now if you're just trying to keep horses out, most any fence charger will do that...

**Michael Palmer** · 10-01-2011, 05:28 AM

Either the Speedright AN-90 or the Gallagher B-11. Both use either D cell batteries or 12v deep cycle. You can add a solar panel for $35.

Both companies also maske 120v plug-in chargers.

**Ozone** · 10-01-2011, 05:58 AM

No disrespect, but how many minutes could D cell batteries possibly last?

My fence shorts in heavy dew, design flaw of the conductors.

**Michael Palmer** · 10-01-2011, 05:42 PM

Originally Posted by Ozone

how many minutes could D cell batteries possibly last?

With 4 D cells, the Sppedright lasts 3-4 weeks. The Gallagher with 6 lasts 5 weeks. If you use 12v deep cycle, the battery lasts several months. If you add a solar panel to charge the 12v, it should last all season.

**Nick Noyes** · 10-01-2011, 06:01 PM

Parmak's solar fencer is what I like. Make sure you have a good ground. We use hog panels around the yard and a steel rod driven into the soil for a ground. Run 2 hot wires 6 inches out from this and have never had a bear go through.
I have slapped up a quick fence before also. It doesn't take a bear long to slap it down and start eating.

**pascopol** · 10-01-2011, 06:09 PM

With all respect I do not believe a D cell will provide enough power or "juice" to shock a bear.

By "juice" I mean combined output (high) voltage and enough current to make a bear run.

**honeyshack** · 10-01-2011, 06:00 AM

We use the co-op 6v solar fencers. For bears, 5000v is best. Anything less and they will keep testing it until they can walk through it. Skunks need about 2000 if memory serves. We drive in a 6 foot ground rod into ground. Insulators are needed if you are connecting the fence to wood or treated wood posts The better the ground and the use of insulators the better your fencer will put out the required charge and helps the fencers last longer. As well, if you are buying a fencer, and the rest that goes with it, get a fence tester. There are a few on the market. Run from about $15 to $100. I do not like the 15 dollar one because it has these tiny fuse like things that light up for every 1000v. The light is not bright so hard to see in the day time. The one i have is about $40 something. All it does is give a digital readout of the output

**greenbeekeeping** · 10-01-2011, 06:04 AM

We have a two different brands they are the Zareba Systems solar powered fencers. This brand of fencers just don't seem to last. Had a few new ones last season and one of them is already dead. Out of all 50+ fencers we have these seem to go bad the most. Most of the rest of the fencers are Parmak Solar powered fencers. When one of these goes bad they seem to be pretty old. Really nice fencers in my opinion.

**brushmouth** · 10-01-2011, 06:48 AM

http://www.harborfreight.com/solar-fencer-47454.html

$60 Works great (first season yet)
My Zareba didn't make the second season

I have had several fencers over the years, my favorites were an old school (weed burner) co-op and a bulldog.
The co-op was purchased new and made 10-15 years, the bulldog was an auction item and it
lasted 3 years or so.
My home yard sports an old school "International" from an auction and is on its 2rd year.
My harbor freight unit is the first solar fencer I have had, it was new this spring so it
has yet to prove the longevity issue.
Have a circuit board kit to build my next unit this winter, battery powered/add solar panel.
I have a big black boar that makes the rounds here and I have watched him pass down by my creek, he did not even bother to check out my bees on top of the ridge.
It's my belief that he has been "trained"...LOL

BM