what do yall feel about solar powered fence chargers. we are fencing about 2-3 acres of flat land but its in a hole that only gets about 8 hours of full sun. will this be enough to charge the battery and will it be hot enough to hold in a horse maybe a stallion. i’ld also like yalls opinion on electric rope, tape, and hi-tinsel. were thinking about putting hi-tinsel on the bottom strand them rope then hi-tinsel then rope. (were trying to save money)
More Pages:
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- Solar Products: Has Anyone Out There Ever Used Tsc Zereba Brand Solar Chargers For Electric Containment Fencing? (5/19/2011)
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I use a combination of high-tensil and polytape. We use one strand of polytape on the high-tensil fence for visibility.
I would NOT use the rope I have seen horses run right threw it! The solar panel should be good if you have a good marine batterie back up. And what ever fence you use the smallest post should be a steelT-post, don’t use a woven wire fence with a horse. But electric fence can be very high maintenance. If I was to put up another it would be hi tensile with ceramic insulator and steel t-post.
Used to have them for cattle. They are ok, but not great. We covered quite a bit more acres than what you’re talking about, but the fence was on the weaker side. On rainy days or cloudy days, you’d always have to check and make sure the battery didn’t quit cause there was no sun to charge it. If you only have a calm gelding or mare that doesn’t really try to test the fence it might do just fine, but if you’re planning on fencing younger, more rambunctious horses or a stallion, I’d suggest something stronger and more dependable or perhaps having something as a type of backup for the solar powered fence on days when there won’t be any sun to charge it.
High tensile is a good, strong fence. Bad things associated with it is if it gets loose, it takes more maintenance to get it tight again and if a horse gets caught in it they can really get themselves hurt because of the tension on the wire (but a horse can get hurt seriously with almost any type of fence, just depends). I’ve never used the rope or tape, but if you alternate like you’re thinking I wouldn’t really see anything wrong with that. If you are planning on having a stallion, then you may want to think about having a strong fence and not on the cheepest fence; stallions will need more of a strong fence to house them and it isn’t going to be all that cheep. Personally, I like the metal panels, or piping for fences; they are costly for initial buying and putting in, but need little maintenance and are very sturdy and strong.
My own experience with solar powered fence machines is actually very good, 8 hours of sun is enough to charge the battery for the entire night, and if the horses “tested” the fence they will leave it alone anyways, just make sure that the solar panel faces to the west to get the last possible light.
To make sure the horses see the wire you can buy plastic tape to tie in 4 – 5 feet distances on the top wire as little ribbons, take white tape, that’s what horses see the best.