Top Solar Fence Chargers for Livestock

Solar fence chargers are rapidly becoming a favorite among farmers and ranchers. They're particularly beneficial in areas lacking electricity access and work as a back up to your grid, so that if your primary power goes out, you still have a way to protect your animals. Farmers in remote locations can maintain effective livestock containment without the need for grid power and with much more portability than a wired system.

These devices are designed for ease of use and minimal maintenance. Many come with features such as adjustable power settings and LED indicators that enhance convenience. Solar fence chargers also often include built-in battery storage, ensuring they work even on cloudy days or at night.

Key benefits of solar fence chargers include:

• Reduced energy costs
• Portability and ease of installation
• Minimal environmental impact
• Reduced line/reel requirements
• Affordability on large acreage w/ limited perimeter fence
• Backup for primary electric fence charger

Choosing a solar fence charger is an investment in portability and peace of mind. It balances cost-effectiveness with reliable fence operation, making it a smart choice for modern agricultural practices.

At the heart of solar fence chargers is the solar panel. The quality of these panels is important both in terms of longevity and efficiency of battery charging for the product itself.

Another important factor with solar fence chargers is the quality of the battery, ensuring a consistent power supply to the fence. Every battery has a lifespan, and you should understand going in that even with high quality solar fence chargers there is a product life involved. 

A portable grounding grounding system (grounding rod) is also paired with solar fence chargers, which allows adequate energy to be deployed to the fence.

The components of a solar fence chargers:

• Solar panel
• Rechargeable battery
• Transformer and control unit
• Grounding rod 
• Electric fence connectors

During the day, solar fence chargers convert sunlight into electrical energy stored in the battery. So any concern about loss of conductivity at night is not warranted so long as your solar energizer is working properly. The energy is released in controlled pulses, energizing the fence and discouraging animals from crossing. 

Many solar fence chargers also feature low impedance designs. This enhances efficiency and ensures safe operation for livestock. Regularly cleaning the solar panel and positioning it to receive optimal sunlight maximizes performance. By understanding these principles, livestock owners can ensure their fences remain effective and predator proof.

When selecting solar fence chargers, some features can significantly influence performance. The power output of solar fence chargers is critical, as it determines the ability to deliver consistent and effective electric shocks. As with many other products on the farm, its usually better to "size up". If you think you need 1 output solar fence chargers it may be wise to pick a 1.5 or 2 joule solar fence chargers instead. Under-powering a fence is much more common than overpowering a fence, and with low impedance as a feature of solar fence chargers you can safely upsize your energizer within reason.

Ensure the solar fence chargers power matches the length and type of your fence. Consider the density, wire count, and conductivity of the hi tensile wire, poly wire, or polybraid you are powering. If you are using cheap wire you may need to use larger solar fence chargers due to reduced conductivity. If you are using high conductivity wire like that available from Powerflex Fence, you may find that you can power your fence with less output joules. 

Another crucial factor to solar fence chargers is the battery capacity for your solar fence chargers, especially for areas with limited sunlight. Look for models with built-in battery storage to provide power during cloudy days or nighttime, and consider propping your solar fence chargers at the top of a post for better sun orientation. 

Key features to consider for solar fence chargers:

• Battery capacity
• Power output
• Durability
• Line conductivity 

A robust, weather-resistant casing ensures the solar fence chargers can withstand harsh outdoor conditions. In addition, chargers with adjustable power settings allow for flexibility depending on your livestock's sensitivity. Models with LED indicators are helpful as they display battery status and operation efficiency, helping monitor performance at a glance.

Other beneficial features of solar fence chargers are:

• Water resistance
• Warranty
• Multi-Power options (pulse frequency)
• Adjustable power settings
• Weather-resistant casing

For convenient installation, choose solar fence chargers and fence charger kits that come complete with necessary components like grounding rods, connectors, and backup units. These considerations are crucial when investing in the best solar fence chargers for your needs.

At Powerflex Fence we have been proponents of buying and using larger energizers. With solar fence chargers, the voltage is of vital importance because it is more difficult to generate output from a battery. Therefore buying larger solar fence chargers is even more important when considering a solar fence energizer setup.

With a permanent electric fence perimeter we get comfortable with the 9KV (9,000 volts) to 10KV (10,000 volts) voltage range. So, when we do drop down to 6KV to 8KV we get nervous. Many years ago we were happy with 3KV to 5KV. So how much voltage do we actually need on our electric fences?

There are many variables that come into play when designing and maintaining an electric fence system, especially if it involves solar fence chargers. You should consider them as you target voltage range to operate your system.

Type of livestock.  Some types of livestock require higher voltage from solar fence chargers, such as goats.

Livestock hair coat. With longer hair or wool coats – you may need a more powerful pulse from solar fence chargers to penetrate the coat.

Soil types and forage cover. Arid conditions may require different considerations than wet ground conditions. A thick layer of dry ground thatch may insulate the feet of lighter weight animals from your solar fence chargers.

Length of fence. Our rule of thumb is that one output joule will power around 3 miles of average agricultural fence with an average load of vegetation. (Many manufacturers of solar fence chargers claim up to 10 miles per joule – but that is in a laboratory – not on the ranch)

Fence load. If you have clean fences with little vegetation load you may not need as much voltage from your solar fence chargers. Heavy vegetation loads may require more voltage to keep the vegetation under control.

Maintenance plan. Are you going to spray your fence lines? Will your type of livestock graze up to the fence? Are you going to occasionally weed-eat your fence lines? Or is your perimeter fence keeping the weeds down by having a strong output from your solar fence chargers?

Conductors. The type of conductor, or wire, that you will use will have a bearing on your voltage. Class III hi-tensile 12.5 gauge smooth wires have little resistance and the pulse flows down it easily. On the other hand some types of poliwire products have much more resistance and will gobble up some of your voltage from your solar fence chargers over longer distances.

The comments above are just some of the considerations you should think about when you target a voltage range from your solar fence chargers. Below are some recommendations of MININUM Voltage for different animal types:

These numbers above are an approximate recommendation and should be considered as a minimum voltage range. Thus, for most of the year you will probably have more voltage than shown above. If you start out with higher voltage during the winter and spring months – then when the vegetation does invade your fence (creating a load) in spring and early summer – you will still have an adequate amount of shocking power to control your animals. With solar fence chargers, these considerations are especially important.

When it comes to choosing solar fence chargers for livestock, several options from Powerflex Fence stand out for their performance and reliability. We offer a variety of solar fence chargers from those that can be powered by hand, to the famous Razer Grazer which allows tow-behind functionality for a 4x4 or truck. 

Switching to solar fence chargers is a wise investment for modern livestock management and a valuable backstop for any grazing professional. They provide reliable and energy efficient solutions, minimizing energy costs and grid dependency. With that in mind, it is extremely important to upsize solar fence chargers and ensure you are purchasing a quality product suited to your fence type and property size.

By embracing solar fence chargers, farmers can ensure consistent animal containment across any geography or area of their farm. The voltage requirements and product options related to solar fence chargers can be overwhelming, so we invite you to give us a call at  (888) 251-3934 to discuss your specific requirements. We're happy to guide you through the process and the best place to start.