OT: solar fence chargers

Zachary Hoyt · Feb 4, 2010

We're looking to buy a portable solar fence charger. I've seen them for sale from various companies and I am wondering if anyone on here has had any good or bad experiences with any of them. We'll not be running more than 1/4 mile of wire with it, so a small one would be fine. Any thoughts? Thanks very much.
Zach

JD2ACWD · Feb 4, 2010

I have a zareba works great out in the back 40,got it at farm fleet.

JR.Frye · Feb 4, 2010

I have 2 of them and they are great, I bought them 4 years ago at our local farm and family center we run about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile and it
keeps my BULL IN, and thats what I want.
JR.Frye

paul · Feb 4, 2010

Don't buy the Harbor Freight one. Might feel it if you stick your tongue directly on it.....

I'd get a good strong one, not a cheap one, and it will work well.

--->Paul

jose bagge · Feb 4, 2010

I use the smaller Zareba available at TSC for about $90...It's worked great for about 2 years now

bc · Feb 4, 2010

I could tell you a little about the electric ones but have not used a solar powered one except I've heard the batteries can go bad every few years. Apparently you aren't close to an electrical source.

What animal(s)are you trying to keep in? How many strands will you run? Can you keep the weeds out of the wire?

Don't trust any of those advertised mileage ratings on those chargers. Spend a little extra up front to get one with plenty of voltage. Don't trust those joule ratings either. Lots of things can affect the voltage being put out including the ground rod(s).

Zarebas are all printed circuit boards but they put out juice like the others. Not cheap to fix but probably none of them are. Don't know about the insides of a Parmak but the electrical ones are highly thought of by some. Same for Gallegehr.

They all have the same problem with lightning strikes.

Just figure that whatever you buy will be a throwaway when it breaks.

There are a couple guys here who fix them. I'm sure they have an opinion.

Good Luck.

NY 986 · Feb 4, 2010

The place I worked at years ago sold the Parmak Solar units by the dozen. I would say that it was the best selling single unit most of the time I sold fencers.
You definitely want to have lightning arresters in your fence set-up. Always keep a spare battery or two on hand. Long stretches of cloudy days (known as fall and winter around here) will deplete a battery within days. Should be able to buy plug in charger to maintain batteries not in use.
I am sure there are probably other quality units out there but the Parmak is the one I've had experience with.

Zachary Hoyt · Feb 4, 2010

Thanks very much to all of you. We have a plug in Parmak that we use, and we'd only be using the solar for a couple of hours at a time, and only during the sunnier months when the grass grows. I'll look into the Parmaks and the Zarebas and see what looks right for our situation.
Zach

tjdub · Feb 4, 2010

I've been happy with the Parmaks. We have one that is about 10 years old. The battery started to get weak, so I ordered a new battery for it online and ended up getting another fencer just like it so I can run two temp fences at once and have a spare around. Also, it's no fun waiting for UPS to bring you a battery when the cattle are wise to your battery's status. Having a spare on hand could have saved me a cutting of pasture-hay that I was keeping penned off.
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Anonymous-0 · Feb 4, 2010

I've got 5 of the parmak 6 volt ones and they work real good (expensive up front and expensive batteries). Also have 3 of the parmak 12volt car battery ones that go forever on a battery charge. The fencer costs half as much and is less visible (can be hidden) for thieves. Little stronger kick than the 6v solar also.

Dave

Jerry/MT · Feb 4, 2010

I have had good experience with Premeir1 solar chargers(www.premeir1.com) as well as Gallagher solar chrgers. they"re spendy but the work well.

D.B. in Mi. · Feb 4, 2010

I have the solar charger available at TSC. It will light up 3 miles of fencing and cost right around 100 bucks.Itworks good, I touched it almost 2 yrs aog and I still have tingling in my hand from it.

OT: solar fence chargers

Zachary Hoyt

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JD2ACWD

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JR.Frye

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paul

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jose bagge

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bc

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NY 986

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Zachary Hoyt

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tjdub

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Anonymous-0

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Jerry/MT

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D.B. in Mi.

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