Solar or battery hook up fence energizers?

[shadyhollownj]

I have a solar on a nine acre field and it does fine. The battery will need to be changed every few years but it will work fine.

 

[dun]

All of mine are deep cycle battery types. I also have a solar panel that hooks up to the battery to keep it charged. Without the panel a battery lasts about 2 weeks before it needs charging, with the panle, during the winter it needs to be recharged about once a month. I usually just make it a point to change batterys any time I reconfigure the temp wire since that's all we use them for.

 

[BMCC]

Parmak solar pac fence chargers work really well, a lot less trouble than trying to maintain a separate battery with a solar panel.

 

[Aaron]

Ditto on Parmak. I think they make the most powerful solar unit on the market.

 

[J&D Cattle]

I too like my solar Parmak. I have the Mag 12 or something like that. It does a great job.

 

[skyhightree1]

I only use southern states solartrol chargers and haven't had any issues I have 2 in service that ive had for 3 years no battery change yet and i have 3 spares of the same thing its the only thing i use.

 

[herefordlover]

Looks like that southrn states is made by parmx wich is my first choice to their 12 volt holds up well for us

 

[skyhightree1]

Hereford.. I love those boxes they are great. If i can find more I will buy them. I have noticed southern states only carries there charges and one other brand and no one elses now.

 

[Caustic Burno]

I only use southern states solartrol chargers and haven't had any issues I have 2 in service that ive had for 3 years no battery change yet and i have 3 spares of the same thing its the only thing i use.

That look's just like the Parmak's I run as stated above.
I have three and they can all back each other up in the event I need to change out a battery on one.
I have one that is 15 years old or older. I have never done anything to them except change out the battery every few years.

 

[skyhightree1]

CB & Hereford makes me feel good to know you all run those as well because you all probably have more experience with that kinda stuff than I do.

 

[herefordlover]

if u look at the pic the parmak logo is on it on the left under the ul sign. i also know they make the herdsman brand that mfa stores here in missouri sell

 

[skyhightree1]

wow i never payed attention lol I honestly purchased them because they were considered the top of the line southern states brand I had no idea about them.

 

[Caustic Burno]

If you are getting into electric fencing buy a fault finder, it will save you a ton of step's.
I can walk across the driveway put the fault finder on and I know that the east and south run of fence is good move to the other side of the north and west.

 

[skyhightree1]

Wow I never even knew they had fault finders see I only use the chargers on the property I lease my property has high tensile wire and barb wire fences and field fencing. What gauge do you use with your chargers CB I used 14

 

[herefordlover]

12 ga high tenisle is the only way to go for perment

 

[skyhightree1]

yea i only use fence chargers on leased lands so I just use 14 gauge.

 

[pdfangus]

just make sure you get a 12 volt and not a six volt....
the six volt is practically worthless.....

 

[skyhightree1]

just make sure you get a 12 volt and not a six volt....
the six volt is practically worthless.....

I definately agree.

 

[BMCC]

The Southern States charger shown in photos is just a re-branded Parmak solar pac 12. The 12 volt ones are somewhat stronger than the 6 volt ones but twice as costly . The 6 volt solar pac 6 works just fine, I have 5 of those in use currently, some running 2 years constantly. They work so well that we are in process of removing most all of the interior broken down 5 strand barb wire fences and replacing with 1 or 2 wire electric. Remember that ground rod is key to electric fencing.

 

[skyhightree1]

I use 3 ground rods on each of my chargers to be sure to get a good ground.