NEWBIE Q's* off grid livestock water, electric fencing

**Mike90250** · 03-08-2015, 01:11 AM

Don't try to "adapt" the fence charger to the pump system.

Just get a solar power fence charger, many companys make a pre-engineered version.

**BlueRidge** · 03-08-2015, 08:34 AM

Originally posted by Mike90250

Don't try to "adapt" the fence charger to the pump system.

Just get a solar power fence charger, many companys make a pre-engineered version.

I wish had the money to just throw at a pre-enginee;red version. The pre-engineered setup from Gallagher that i would need is listed for over 1500 bucks. I'm young and bootstrapping my way into grass fed beef.

What would adapting the fence charger to the pump system entail?

Thanks

**Mike90250** · 03-08-2015, 11:24 AM

Whoa ! $1,500 for a solar fence charger ? How many miles of fence do you have to heat up??? They are much less than that.

a quick google search shows me a 25 mile rated one for less than $200, 2 miles for $100
Gallagher B100 Solar Fencer $272.95

First you need to find out what scheme the pump uses to power itself, and you have to use a battery charger topology (style) that will not interfere with the pump. That's going to be tough.

Then you need the daily power draw of the fence charger, they often have charts of how long it will run on x size of battery. When you have your daily Wh, then you need to find if the solar pump has enough left over capacity to tap into. otherwise, the tanks run dry. But you won't need a fence then.

**BlueRidge** · 03-08-2015, 12:08 PM

30 acres fenced with 3 hot strands of 12.5 ga galavinized steel.

Some interior fences of single strand.

Fence should be minimum 4,000 volts.

I'm looking for minimum 3 joule chargers but would prefer 4-6. 30 acres is about the minimum ace rage i manage and i would like a system that could scale up to 75+.

You are right though I found a portable 100w panel, 3 J charger, deep cycle battery and grounding system for under 700 bucks! None of it was a package deal but i'll be able to piece together the components.

**thastinger** · 03-09-2015, 04:32 PM

6 Joules? As in Kva output?

I bought this one a couple years ago for my garden, has always worked fine and will knock the crap out of you, keeps the deer out anyways.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/zarebareg%3B-5-mile-solar-fence-charger

prolly not enough distance for you, but you could put one on each strand.. just to give you an idea.

**BlueRidge** · 03-09-2015, 05:35 PM

We want the fence to be minimum 4kV. The rated mileage is so overstated that its not even worth considering. How many hot strands? How much vegetation? What is desired fence voltage? This a commercial operation with thousands of dollars of livestock. The charger needs to kick ass. Also you can't really compare the shock you feel vs an animals. Cattle have thick hides covered with hair. I've seen cattle touch a 2kV fence and they don't even seem to notice.

**thastinger** · 03-09-2015, 05:49 PM

Originally posted by BlueRidge

We want the fence to be minimum 4kV. The rated mileage is so overstated that its not even worth considering. How many hot strands? How much vegetation? What is desired fence voltage? This a commercial operation with thousands of dollars of livestock. The charger needs to kick ass. Also you can't really compare the shock you feel vs an animals. Cattle have thick hides covered with hair. I've seen cattle touch a 2kV fence and they don't even seem to notice.

I was kinda working off the assumption that we both knew your present fence is inadequate for cattle, no matter how much juice you put in it and especially for a Black Angus as stupid and hard headed as they are. I was just trying to help you put something together until you could afford an actual fence.

**BlueRidge** · 03-09-2015, 06:45 PM

Originally posted by thastinger

I was kinda working off the assumption that we both knew your present fence is inadequate for cattle, no matter how much juice you put in it and especially for a Black Angus as stupid and hard headed as they are. I was just trying to help you put something together until you could afford an actual fence.

Thanks!

**Sunking** · 03-09-2015, 07:55 PM

Well ole SK has some experience punching cattle from his youth days and learned at an early age not to pee on an electric fence..

Fence chargers do not require a lot of power. The key is to have a very good earth ground as the return circuit, otherwise you are just wasting your time. I REPEAT THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR IS LOW RESISTANCE EARTH GROUND.

Basically there are two types of fence chargers.

Commercial AC powered, and DC Battery powered. Which one you use depends a lot on how many miles of fence line you have to maintain.

AC powered units can protect up to 4000 Acres or 300 miles of multi-wire delivering 50 joules of energy at 8000 volts. DC Battery Powered are limited to 1300 Acres or 120 miles of multi-wire with 20 joules at 3500 volts. Beyond those limits will require more than one unit.

Th elargest battery powered unit I know of is the Starfix X18i Energizer. There may be larger units, but this is the one I am familiar with

FWIW 20 joules of energy is the amount of energy it takes to kick a stupid 5 pound Yorkie dog 10 feet into the air, or about 20 watt seconds. Cattle and horse fences should deliver a minimum of 15 joules. FWIW it only takes 100 joules to kill a man, 10 to 50 joules to send you into cardiac arrest. A Stun Gun delivers 1 joule. Cattle Prods deliver 5 joules.

**Mike90250** · 03-10-2015, 12:37 AM

Originally posted by Sunking

.....Fence chargers do not require a lot of power. The key is to have a very good earth ground as the return circuit, otherwise you are just wasting your time. I REPEAT THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR IS LOW RESISTANCE EARTH GROUND. .....

Locate the ground rod near the overflow of a water tank, that will help get the power into the fencing. Any long dry runs may need another charger or 3, because 30,000 feet of sun baked dirt will not carry ANY return current flow.

here's another link

Electric Fence Charger | Electric Fence Energizer | Zareba®

http://www.zarebasystems.com/store/electric-fence-chargers

Shop for electric fence chargers and electric fence energizers at Zareba® Systems. See our expansive selection of solar, AC & DC electric fence chargers!

In our area, beekeepers use bull rated fence chargers to keep bears out. Low Impedance is also helpful.

http://www.zarebasystems.com/store/e...rgers/esp30m-z Claims to be the highest power solar charger in the USA.

NEWBIE Q's* off grid livestock water, electric fencing