How to Choose an Electric Fence Charger
- 1). Make a list of your fence specifications, including its purpose, height and approximate length and what animal species you need the fence to contain or exclude. Multiply the number of wires in your electric fence to determine the total wire length; for example if your electric fence has five wires and measures 6 miles long, then the wire length is 30 miles, not 6 miles.
- 2). Choose the most appropriate power source for your electric fence. Stick with an AC plug-in fence energizer for a long or complex electric fencing system that runs near an electrical outlet. Opt for a battery-powered energizer if the fence is not located near a barn or outbuilding with access to electricity. Go with a less powerful solar-powered energizer for a short or temporary electric fence that has access to plenty of sunlight.
- 3). Ignore the mileage rating provided on many chargers; instead, check the joule rating, which provides a more accurate measure of the energizer's power. Get an energizer that provides at least 1 joule of power for every 6 miles of wire, suggests the University of Minnesota Cooperative Extension. Thus, if your electric fence has 30 miles of charged wires, you'll need an energizer with at least 5 joules of output.
- 4). Narrow down the energizer choices based on impedance, the ability of the energizer to resist energy leakage. Low-impedance energizers tend to work best for heavier animals and large livestock such as horses, cattle and pigs with moist ground conditions. Wide-impedance energizers deliver a shock more effectively to lighter weight, more insulated animals such as goats, sheep, deer and poultry, according to "Fences That Work" by Premier 1.
- 5). Consult with more than one fence energizer suppliers. Explain your fence specifications and consider the supplier's suggestions and recommendations. When in doubt, go with an energizer that has a more thorough warranty, especially one that covers lightning damage if you live in a lightning-prone area.
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