12 volt fence charger/solar panel??

Anonymous-0 · Feb 4, 2011

Hey folks,
I've got parmack 12 volt fence chargers and have been just charging old car batteries once every couple of months to power them. Have a couple places that get plenty of sun and solar panels are getting cheaper. If started with a full battery and good fence (no grounds/shorts) how much solar panel would it take to maintain the battery? Would one of the 1.5 or 5 watt battery chargers/maintainers work or would it take something like 15 watts?

Thanks, Dave

Zachary Hoyt · Feb 4, 2011

We got a little Zareba charger from TSC that runs off a solar panel
and it has worked great for us. I don't know how that compares ni
price to buying a solar panel for your existing battery, though.
Zach

GeneMO · Feb 4, 2011

I would think the solar battery maintainers would keep up with a good battery on a fence charger. I just bought one from Grainger a few weeks ago. Less than $40, and 10% off if you are a Farm Bureau member (at least here in MO).

It was an aluminum framed model and felt about twice as heavy as a cheaper on I have had for years.

Gene

Anonymous-0 · Feb 4, 2011

I have a few solar 6 volt chargers but the 12 volts just pack a harder punch for a few that need it. Already have the chargers so just trying to keep from carrying batteries back and forth to recharge.

Dave

JDemaris · Feb 4, 2011

If you've got decent sun 5-6 hours a day, most days of the week . . .and fence with some weeds . . . you need a solar panel capable of charging a full amp in bright sun - for a standard 12 volt fence-charger. That means a 10 to 15 watt solar panel. That's for a full-strength charger that can handle some weeds and long runs.

You can figure it easily if you know the amp-hour rating (or reserve capacity) of the battery you're using now.

The factory-made solar chargers use smaller panels but are also have less power and rely on clean fences.

Solar panels have come WAY down in prices thanks to the Germans and Chinese. Many can be bought now for $2-$3 per watt. Just a few years ago they were $5-%6 per watt.

hayray · Feb 5, 2011

I have a Stafix 3 joule energizer that I run on DC battery power. I see on the Powerflex fence website they are now selling that fencer with a 24 volt panel and seems like most places are using 60 or 75 watt panel to run a 6 joule charger. My guess is that the 24 volt panel is too small for a energizer that will have much vegetation load.

hayray · Feb 5, 2011

Where it reads 24 volt I meant to write watt. Chances are your Parmark energizer is much smaller then 3 joules if you battery is lasting that long so I would guess a smaller panel might work.

12 volt fence charger/solar panel??

Anonymous-0

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Zachary Hoyt

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GeneMO

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Anonymous-0

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JDemaris

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hayray

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hayray

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