I need advice on solar fence chargers

Pony express · 08-25-2008, 04:48 PM

Does anyone use them and if you do, how well do they work? I have to replace alot of old rusty woven wire fence in my pasture. I am going with 3 strands of braided wire with a 2" electric tape on top. I was hoping the solar chargers worked well to save on my electric bill. Any input?

tricia3kids · 08-25-2008, 04:59 PM

I have solar and hardwired electric fencing. really depends on who you are trying to keep in or out. Lil Joe(yearling) has figured out how to duck under the solar wire to get where he wants to go.......Muffin, Gaiter and Magic..respect the solar wire. The solar wire does pack a punch, make certain all your wire does not touch anything or it will discharge.
make certain you purchase the correct size charger for the area you want to hot wire. we have been using soalr for years without any major issues EXCEPT for Lil Joe, being too smart for it!!

soft rider · 08-25-2008, 05:00 PM

I started out with solar chargers, but they seem to wear out, They where not putting out the charge (after a year or two) that they did when we bought them.

We bought ours and put them up 2 years ago, we have already switched one pasture to the electric charger. and will be switching out the other pasture this year.

But I have an escape artist, that i am trying to keep in. He HATES being confined in fencing. Even our 2 acre pastures, he will try to escape out of. He will walk the fence line testing the charge with his nose and if there is a spot where the charge is weak, due to frayed fencing, he will just scoot under the rail......

Naughty Naughty horse..

tricia3kids · 08-25-2008, 07:29 PM

SOFTRIDER: same issue with me. My one escape artist knows the drill and how to duck under the wire to not get a touched.

Horse poor · 08-25-2008, 07:38 PM

I used a solar charger for 15 years and then I broke the leads and bought another one. I love mine, it works great and keeps the warmblood in when others haven't. No scooting under for any of mine since I have three strands and the low one is 18 inches off ground.

nrhareiner · 08-25-2008, 09:27 PM

I think if you are only using one to save a bit on the electric bill pass it by to get a good charger. The amount saved will not be worth the extra cost of a GOOD solar charger. Plus I have not found that the people I know that have them are really really happy with them. Some use them as they do not have any other option. No electic by the pasture they use. Also the pastures where small so the charger was not working on a large scall.

Heidi

Pony express · 08-25-2008, 10:21 PM

Thanks for the input, I'm not sure which I am going to use yet but this helped.

RebaRose · 08-25-2008, 10:27 PM

I bought one and hated it! So bad I took it back and exchanged it for an electric one. It never worked properly and I have heard that you have to get one that is ALOT stronger than what you think you will need. It was a huge headache wondering every day if it was working!

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08-25-2008, 04:48 PM
Pony express Started Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Mid Michigan Posts: 2,404	I need advice on solar fence chargers Does anyone use them and if you do, how well do they work? I have to replace alot of old rusty woven wire fence in my pasture. I am going with 3 strands of braided wire with a 2" electric tape on top. I was hoping the solar chargers worked well to save on my electric bill. Any input? __________________ I don't regret the things I've done. I regret the things I didn't do when I had the chance.

08-25-2008, 04:59 PM
tricia3kids Weanling Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: SW FL Posts: 439	solar I have solar and hardwired electric fencing. really depends on who you are trying to keep in or out. Lil Joe(yearling) has figured out how to duck under the solar wire to get where he wants to go.......Muffin, Gaiter and Magic..respect the solar wire. The solar wire does pack a punch, make certain all your wire does not touch anything or it will discharge. make certain you purchase the correct size charger for the area you want to hot wire. we have been using soalr for years without any major issues EXCEPT for Lil Joe, being too smart for it!! __________________ Be grateful you are on this side of the grass

08-25-2008, 05:00 PM
soft rider Yearling Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: IL Posts: 630	I started out with solar chargers, but they seem to wear out, They where not putting out the charge (after a year or two) that they did when we bought them. We bought ours and put them up 2 years ago, we have already switched one pasture to the electric charger. and will be switching out the other pasture this year. But I have an escape artist, that i am trying to keep in. He HATES being confined in fencing. Even our 2 acre pastures, he will try to escape out of. He will walk the fence line testing the charge with his nose and if there is a spot where the charge is weak, due to frayed fencing, he will just scoot under the rail...... Naughty Naughty horse..

08-25-2008, 07:29 PM
tricia3kids Weanling Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: SW FL Posts: 439	does not work on the cleaver ones SOFTRIDER: same issue with me. My one escape artist knows the drill and how to duck under the wire to not get a touched. __________________ Be grateful you are on this side of the grass

08-25-2008, 07:38 PM
Horse poor Started Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,101	I used a solar charger for 15 years and then I broke the leads and bought another one. I love mine, it works great and keeps the warmblood in when others haven't. No scooting under for any of mine since I have three strands and the low one is 18 inches off ground. __________________ 'A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have.' - Thomas Jefferson

08-25-2008, 09:27 PM
nrhareiner Yearling Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 727	I think if you are only using one to save a bit on the electric bill pass it by to get a good charger. The amount saved will not be worth the extra cost of a GOOD solar charger. Plus I have not found that the people I know that have them are really really happy with them. Some use them as they do not have any other option. No electic by the pasture they use. Also the pastures where small so the charger was not working on a large scall. Heidi __________________ Double Eagle Photography www.doubleeagleph.com Definision of Gun Control: Hiting what you aim at.

08-25-2008, 10:21 PM
Pony express Started Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Mid Michigan Posts: 2,404	Thanks for the input, I'm not sure which I am going to use yet but this helped. __________________ I don't regret the things I've done. I regret the things I didn't do when I had the chance.

08-25-2008, 10:27 PM
RebaRose Weanling Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: wisconsin Posts: 203	I bought one and hated it! So bad I took it back and exchanged it for an electric one. It never worked properly and I have heard that you have to get one that is ALOT stronger than what you think you will need. It was a huge headache wondering every day if it was working!