Fence charger

I'm reading up on fence chargers and have seen lots of opinions about what size unit to use for what kind of livestock. I believe the mrketing department is talking out both sides of their mouth. I've been told use a minimum unit of 6 joules for an 8 wire high tension fence for goats and sheep. The market has units all the way up to "oh my god" voltage. Is it possible to put too much charge on a fence for your sheep/goats? Is 12-20 joule too much charge?
 
For sheep? LOL. Get the BIGGEST, BADEST, Gallagher you can possibly afford. You can not possibly ever have too much. A 25 joule would be good
if it's available. Hook all the grounding rods you can while you're at it. Once sheep get the idea they can go through it, you'll probably
never stop them again.

Rod
 
(reply to post at 14:37:27 10/24/16)
That's what I'm afraid of, LOL. There is a 20 joule Cyclops unit that looks like it would do the job but I done want the goats needing CPR in the pasture. Is 20 to much for smaller livestock?
 
I don't know about goats.... but sheep tend to be well insulated against it anyway... so MORE is an absolute.

Rod
 
Few animals try going through a fence without smelling of it first so there's little need
for a huge charge. Chargers with "weed chopper" feature are a good investment unless fence
is on bare ground. I worry more about keeping things "OUT" of sheep pastures than keeping
sheep inside. I also don't see the need to energize 8 wires when 2 or 3 energized and
remainder well grounded does a good job.
 
I don't know about sheep but goats tend to go through fences with a lite charge. I
ended up going to one ment for bulls would throw a blue spark an inch. Almost blinded
one of my cows though.
 
Think of it like a knife fight. Do you want to show up with a pocket knife, or a sward? Never thought it was possible to have to large of a charger. Never chased livestock in the rain or dark and wished for a smaller charger, but have swore and said I would get a bigger one.
 
(quoted from post at 16:06:03 10/24/16) Few animals try going through a fence without smelling of it first so there's little need
for a huge charge. Chargers with "weed chopper" feature are a good investment unless fence
is on bare ground. I worry more about keeping things "OUT" of sheep pastures than keeping
sheep inside. I also don't see the need to energize 8 wires when 2 or 3 energized and
remainder well grounded does a good job.


This fencenis set up to have 3 hot lines on all sides. The fates are not hot as there is underground lines around them
 
It's not only the fencer but also the wire.
So many times I have seen good fencers
hooked to cheap wire. I look at it as water
through a hose the bigger the hose the more
water through it. Grounding is also
essential mine was hooked up and planted
under the eve of a metal machine roof no
matter what it had moisture at all times.
 

As I understand it, "joules" is the potential amount of power that can go through a wire and back to ground. The farm store "30 mile" fencers allegedly might put out 4-6 joules at 8K volts, but in reality with small wires, grass and weeds touching the line, poor grounding and dry hooves on dry ground they might only get 2 joules at 1500 volts. The advertised rating it the MAX the chargers can be expected to produce under ideal conditions. Put a tester on a bare charger not hooked to a fence of ground and that tester will light up like a neon sign at a bar room. Hitch it to a fence and watch the voltage drop by half or 3/4. Then walk out to a stony hill 1/2 mile from the charger and you might not get hardly anything.

Electrics great when it works and the stock is trained to and there is plenty for them to eat inside the fence and no one is in heat. Add any variables and things can go dead ASAP. So, no, I don't think you are likely to get "too much" power to a goat or sheep. If an animal gets caught in a fence, especially a sheep, they can die in 1/2 hour with no voltage at all going through the wires. I've had it happen. Better to really zap them so they learn not to challenge the fence at all.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top