Electric Fence Energizers

[June2012]

I'm only relating what I've seen and dealt with here. I had to read back and you have a 2000 sq.ft area, yeah? You can try it and see. My chickens are my pets and I have a small flock so they are dear to me and I'm more comfortable with the barrier that the field wire and hardware cloth provide with the added zap to the nose of anyone who thinks about climbing up and over.

I read about electric netting and was thinking of getting some so I can rotate some pasture for day ranging. The problem for me was that is needs to be on very closely mowed grass, or it grounds itself out. That's what I heard. There is a farm nearby who use it for pastured egg hens, but they have giant movable tractors, a huge field and a livestock guardian dog. I don't think they energize it and half the chickens just hop over it. The coyotes tease the dog but the hawks are the ones that kill the most chickens. Oh and even though they offer tougher stuff nowadays, I wonder how long it would last. I have terribly vigorous grass and weeds, I'd be afraid of ripping it up if I miss a mowing, you know? I'd rather put my money in wire that'll be around for a while.

I have had no evidence of any digging anywhere, and my soil is mostly sandy loam. I like to think that the hotwire has discouraged the creeps from bothering further. I don't KNOW that, but the coyote tracks in the snow last month came down the hill and turned away from my chicken compound, so I figured they were trained, lol. My only loss so far is from a hawk.

Cathy

So electric fence is effective.

Yeah, I'll just stick with wires. The netting also scares me about a child getting wrapped up in it. >.> How many wires do you use for your fence? How tall is it? Thanks!

 

[June2012]

I have a 0.5 joule, 25 mile, Zareba charger I use around my 2,400 sq. ft. run (its wrapped around 4 times). My old high school burned-out buddy touched it last year and said it felt like a really hard static shock. I register 7,500 volts when I test it. Of course your set up will vary due to your grounding and such, but hopefully that gives you some idea of what kind of jolt they have.

Just a question, I googled the 25 mile Zareba charger and it says that it outputs 1.0 joule, not 0.5 joule. They have a 0.5 joule Zareba but that's only 10 miles. Which one do you mean? Thanks!

 

[Sequel]

So electric fence is effective.

Yeah, I'll just stick with wires. The netting also scares me about a child getting wrapped up in it. >.> How many wires do you use for your fence? How tall is it? Thanks!

6 foot woven wire field fencing with hardware cloth on lower part and buried about a foot and aproned out for diggers. The electric wire is mounted just above the hardware cloth. So 2 1/2 to 3 feet from the ground.

 

[Trish1974]

Just a question, I googled the 25 mile Zareba charger and it says that it outputs 1.0 joule, not 0.5 joule. They have a 0.5 joule Zareba but that's only 10 miles. Which one do you mean? Thanks!

Sorry, it IS 1.0 joule, 25 mile. My bad.

 

[June2012]

Sorry, it IS 1.0 joule, 25 mile. My bad.
View attachment 1717172

Thank you! ^o^

 

[EastmanEggs]

Volts are not dangerous.
Friends, please note that it's important to recognize how many of us are inclined to be afraid of electricity, and how an even greater majority do not understand how it works, its calculation, and the application of what those numbers mean.

HERE IS THE SCIENCE LESSON:
Ampere, or amp (A), is the unit that measures electrical load or strength. Amps can be deadly.

Voltage is the measurement for 'potential difference' inl electrical circuits, thus the intensity Voltages can be very high and still very safe.

Knowing that you can have high voltage with low amperage, you can create intense 'zaps' of electricity that are nearly harmless.

5,000 Volts of electricity sounds scary, but if it doesn't carry a "load" then it can't do much, if any, damage.

HERE IS THE FENCE ENERGIZER BUYING GUIDE:
A small note on distance rating. Energizers limit their effective amount of fencing they can supply to, usually between 1-100 miles. If you have a fence 1,000ft long, with 5 lines, it uses 1-mile (5,000ft) worth of energizer rating in ideal conditions. Always buy more than you need by a factor of at least 2x.

Fencers / energizers are rated in Joules (J), to determine the amount of energy they give off during a "zap."

I've seen energizers with itsy-bitsy ratings of 0.05 Joules, medium ratings of 1 Joule and more instense ratings of 15+ Joules. (Keep in mind that 15 Joules is 300x more intense than 0.05 Joules.)

This leaves a lot of room for variance. Most dog 'shock collars' are less than 0.05 J and have a similar intensity as a static shock from a doorknob in winter. This is pathetic for a containment electric fence. Meanwhile a 15 Joule system can be used as a bear deterrent and usually isn't appropriate for training a dog to stay out of the garden.

0.5 to 2.0 Joules is moderately effective at supervised containment for less-than-stubborn dogs / easily spooked livestock. Its beneficial for animals willing to obey the boundary in ordinary conditions. Some dogs will still 'run through' this fence to chase rabbit. The zap is uncomfortable, but DOES NOT HARM. I don't personally suggest this for goats as they most certainly fit into a stubborn category. Pigs do fine because of their bare skin and good ground contact.

2- 6 Joules is where you enter the "big boy" league of energizers. These are what deliver a serious zap, that's safe, and keep even the farmer weary of the fence. This is enough to scare off coyotes, raccoon, dogs, and other animals from entering my coop. It's also sufficient for containment of most stubborn dogs and even goats.

8-15 Joules energizers are the top of the line for cattle, deer, elk, and goat containment and work well as bear, coyote, and predator deterrents. These are "arm benders" in the world of electric fencing. Again, low load but very high voltage. Any animal willing to challenge a 12+ Joule system will have a VERY convincing reason to do so.

WHAT TO BUY:

To keep the dog out of the garden: 0.07 Joule system rated for Chicken, Rabbit, and Dog. *Note the decimal placement making this LESS than 1/10 of a Joule* Ineffective when the animal has any desire stronger than the avoidance of a door handle shock. Ineffective as a comtainment fence. Best used to keep animals out of an area WITHIN a different containment system. Available at most local stores and online for $30.

To keep the dog in the yard while supervised, to deter curious animals from your chicken coop: 0.5 Joule. *Note the decimal placement making this 1/2 Joule* Ineffective against animals with strong predatory drive attacking the coop. Best used for supervised dog containment, lvestock interior fencing within a larger containment fence, or spooking off curious coop visitors. Available for less than $90.

To Protect, Contain, or Control:
6+ Joules will create a serious zap of safe high voltage electricity that scares off predators and is startling each and every time your dog or livestock 'checks' the fence. It works well as a containment fence, as it takes a very highly motivated animal to willingly take the zap. If you're shopping for a fence to only come in contact with predators, buy a 12+ joule rating to deter attacks.

Remember, a good electric fence is comparable to a fire alarm; it's intended to be rarely activated, but really overwhelmingly intense when it does its job.

 

[June2012]

Volts are not dangerous.
Friends, please note that it's important to recognize how many of us are inclined to be afraid of electricity, and how an even greater majority do not understand how it works, its calculation, and the application of what those numbers mean.

HERE IS THE SCIENCE LESSON:
Ampere, or amp (A), is the unit that measures electrical load or strength. Amps can be deadly.

Voltage is the measurement for 'potential difference' inl electrical circuits, thus the intensity Voltages can be very high and still very safe.

Knowing that you can have high voltage with low amperage, you can create intense 'zaps' of electricity that are nearly harmless.

5,000 Volts of electricity sounds scary, but if it doesn't carry a "load" then it can't do much, if any, damage.

HERE IS THE FENCE ENERGIZER BUYING GUIDE:
A small note on distance rating. Energizers limit their effective amount of fencing they can supply to, usually between 1-100 miles. If you have a fence 1,000ft long, with 5 lines, it uses 1-mile (5,000ft) worth of energizer rating in ideal conditions. Always buy more than you need by a factor of at least 2x.

Fencers / energizers are rated in Joules (J), to determine the amount of energy they give off during a "zap."

I've seen energizers with itsy-bitsy ratings of 0.05 Joules, medium ratings of 1 Joule and more instense ratings of 15+ Joules. (Keep in mind that 15 Joules is 300x more intense than 0.05 Joules.)

This leaves a lot of room for variance. Most dog 'shock collars' are less than 0.05 J and have a similar intensity as a static shock from a doorknob in winter. This is pathetic for a containment electric fence. Meanwhile a 15 Joule system can be used as a bear deterrent and usually isn't appropriate for training a dog to stay out of the garden.

0.5 to 2.0 Joules is moderately effective at supervised containment for less-than-stubborn dogs / easily spooked livestock. Its beneficial for animals willing to obey the boundary in ordinary conditions. Some dogs will still 'run through' this fence to chase rabbit. The zap is uncomfortable, but DOES NOT HARM. I don't personally suggest this for goats as they most certainly fit into a stubborn category. Pigs do fine because of their bare skin and good ground contact.

2- 6 Joules is where you enter the "big boy" league of energizers. These are what deliver a serious zap, that's safe, and keep even the farmer weary of the fence. This is enough to scare off coyotes, raccoon, dogs, and other animals from entering my coop. It's also sufficient for containment of most stubborn dogs and even goats.

8-15 Joules energizers are the top of the line for cattle, deer, elk, and goat containment and work well as bear, coyote, and predator deterrents. These are "arm benders" in the world of electric fencing. Again, low load but very high voltage. Any animal willing to challenge a 12+ Joule system will have a VERY convincing reason to do so.

WHAT TO BUY:

To keep the dog out of the garden: 0.07 Joule system rated for Chicken, Rabbit, and Dog. *Note the decimal placement making this LESS than 1/10 of a Joule* Ineffective when the animal has any desire stronger than the avoidance of a door handle shock. Ineffective as a comtainment fence. Best used to keep animals out of an area WITHIN a different containment system. Available at most local stores and online for $30.

To keep the dog in the yard while supervised, to deter curious animals from your chicken coop: 0.5 Joule. *Note the decimal placement making this 1/2 Joule* Ineffective against animals with strong predatory drive attacking the coop. Best used for supervised dog containment, lvestock interior fencing within a larger containment fence, or spooking off curious coop visitors. Available for less than $90.

To Protect, Contain, or Control:
6+ Joules will create a serious zap of safe high voltage electricity that scares off predators and is startling each and every time your dog or livestock 'checks' the fence. It works well as a containment fence, as it takes a very highly motivated animal to willingly take the zap. If you're shopping for a fence to only come in contact with predators, buy a 12+ joule rating to deter attacks.

Remember, a good electric fence is comparable to a fire alarm; it's intended to be rarely activated, but really overwhelmingly intense when it does its job.

Oh my goodness Jesus answered my prayers you have the best electric fence energizer buying guide ever!!!! I'll definitely use this when I move to a different house and can use an electric fence!!! Why isn't your post a sticky?!?!?!

 

[ColoradoPip]

Volts are not dangerous.
Friends, please note that it's important to recognize how many of us are inclined to be afraid of electricity, and how an even greater majority do not understand how it works, its calculation, and the application of what those numbers mean.

HERE IS THE SCIENCE LESSON:
Ampere, or amp (A), is the unit that measures electrical load or strength. Amps can be deadly.

Voltage is the measurement for 'potential difference' inl electrical circuits, thus the intensity Voltages can be very high and still very safe.

Knowing that you can have high voltage with low amperage, you can create intense 'zaps' of electricity that are nearly harmless.

5,000 Volts of electricity sounds scary, but if it doesn't carry a "load" then it can't do much, if any, damage.

HERE IS THE FENCE ENERGIZER BUYING GUIDE:
A small note on distance rating. Energizers limit their effective amount of fencing they can supply to, usually between 1-100 miles. If you have a fence 1,000ft long, with 5 lines, it uses 1-mile (5,000ft) worth of energizer rating in ideal conditions. Always buy more than you need by a factor of at least 2x.

Fencers / energizers are rated in Joules (J), to determine the amount of energy they give off during a "zap."

I've seen energizers with itsy-bitsy ratings of 0.05 Joules, medium ratings of 1 Joule and more instense ratings of 15+ Joules. (Keep in mind that 15 Joules is 300x more intense than 0.05 Joules.)

This leaves a lot of room for variance. Most dog 'shock collars' are less than 0.05 J and have a similar intensity as a static shock from a doorknob in winter. This is pathetic for a containment electric fence. Meanwhile a 15 Joule system can be used as a bear deterrent and usually isn't appropriate for training a dog to stay out of the garden.

0.5 to 2.0 Joules is moderately effective at supervised containment for less-than-stubborn dogs / easily spooked livestock. Its beneficial for animals willing to obey the boundary in ordinary conditions. Some dogs will still 'run through' this fence to chase rabbit. The zap is uncomfortable, but DOES NOT HARM. I don't personally suggest this for goats as they most certainly fit into a stubborn category. Pigs do fine because of their bare skin and good ground contact.

2- 6 Joules is where you enter the "big boy" league of energizers. These are what deliver a serious zap, that's safe, and keep even the farmer weary of the fence. This is enough to scare off coyotes, raccoon, dogs, and other animals from entering my coop. It's also sufficient for containment of most stubborn dogs and even goats.

8-15 Joules energizers are the top of the line for cattle, deer, elk, and goat containment and work well as bear, coyote, and predator deterrents. These are "arm benders" in the world of electric fencing. Again, low load but very high voltage. Any animal willing to challenge a 12+ Joule system will have a VERY convincing reason to do so.

WHAT TO BUY:

To keep the dog out of the garden: 0.07 Joule system rated for Chicken, Rabbit, and Dog. *Note the decimal placement making this LESS than 1/10 of a Joule* Ineffective when the animal has any desire stronger than the avoidance of a door handle shock. Ineffective as a comtainment fence. Best used to keep animals out of an area WITHIN a different containment system. Available at most local stores and online for $30.

To keep the dog in the yard while supervised, to deter curious animals from your chicken coop: 0.5 Joule. *Note the decimal placement making this 1/2 Joule* Ineffective against animals with strong predatory drive attacking the coop. Best used for supervised dog containment, lvestock interior fencing within a larger containment fence, or spooking off curious coop visitors. Available for less than $90.

To Protect, Contain, or Control:
6+ Joules will create a serious zap of safe high voltage electricity that scares off predators and is startling each and every time your dog or livestock 'checks' the fence. It works well as a containment fence, as it takes a very highly motivated animal to willingly take the zap. If you're shopping for a fence to only come in contact with predators, buy a 12+ joule rating to deter attacks.

Remember, a good electric fence is comparable to a fire alarm; it's intended to be rarely activated, but really overwhelmingly intense when it does its job.

Excellent and informative post! Made me lol at big boy and "arm benders"

 

[Howard E]

To piggy back onto what @EastmanEggs provided (very good info BTW), almost all the outfits that make and sell these units suggest a min of 7,000 volts to deter predators. That was minimum. More isn't going to hurt anything.

Recently ran across this outfit........have no knowledge of Cyclops fencers, except it appears their target market is large scale grazing operations........so we will call them "industrial" grade. That would be expensive, industrial grade. Anyway, the attached information is some of the best I have seen to date on how to select and setup a fencer, and more importantly how to test the ground system to see if it is adequate.

http://www.cyclopselectricfence.com/most-common-electric-fence-grounding-issues/