Are you tired of paying those high electricity bills just for keeping your farm or ranch fencing electrified? Then you have found the right article! A solar fence charger will quickly become your fence’s best friend. They are easy to use, portable, and most importantly keep your livestock safe while keeping predators away!.
It’s also very economical. You can also use it to keep your fencing powered off the grid which saves a lot in utility bills. These chargers also provide plenty of power to keep your fences charged up and running without sacrificing convenience or quality!
This article will review the top solar fence chargers. We review a wide range of products every day for our readers. They’ve come to trust our product reviews and we appreciate them. Let’s get started.
Why Would a Fence Need a Solar Charger?
When we’re talking about a solar fence charger, we mean a type of battery that’s used to power electric fences. They are also known as a deep cycle battery, which is a battery that can be discharged to a lower voltage than the charge voltage.
When an electric fence is triggered it sends out a high voltage pulse that will shock any animal that touches or passes through it. The high voltage pulse is powered by the solar charger battery. The solar charger battery can be used for very long periods before it needs to be replaced.
COMPARISON CHART
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1. Parmak Magnum Solar-Pak 12
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2. Gallagher S40
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3. Parmak DF-SP-LI Solar Pak 6
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4. Zareba ESP5M-Z
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5. Patriot SolarGuard 50 Fence Energizer, 0.05 Joule
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Specification
| Range | 30 miles |
| Voltage | 12 Volts |
| Item Weight | 22.1 pounds |
| Batteries | 1 Lithium ion batteries required |
The Park Magnum Solar-Pak 12 Volt Electric Fence Charger is a highly portable, solar-powered, 12 volt 12 amp electric fence charger. It also has a 12-volt, 3-function locking switch, to operate the charger when the solar panel is not available.
The Parmak Magnum 12 Volt Solar-Pak has a great 30-mile range and is more than capable of delivering a punch to predators and livestock alike. It can also push at least 3.1 joules to the fence. This will ensure plenty of protection against predators.
WHAT WE LIKE
Parmak delivers some serious power in a small package, and gives you a fair amount of battery life. We love the simple on and off switch. The Parmak Magnum charger is proudly made in the USA and is just a great all around charger.
PROS
- Provides up to 30 miles of electricity to fencing
- Weatherproof design
- Reliable for areas far away without electrical hookups
CONS
- Battery cannot be easily removed
- Some customers report their units are not working after a year or so
Specification
| Range | 25 Miles |
| Voltage | 6 Volts |
| Item Weight | 8 pounds |
| Batteries | 1 Proprietary Battery (included) |
The Gallagher S40 is a highly capable solar charger. We especially like how durable the casing is.
The Gallagher S40 Solar Electric Fence Charger can be easily installed on top of an existing fence so that livestock can be controlled or trained to stay within certain boundaries.
The Gallagher S40 is a model that is engineered specifically for residential and commercial fencing. It features a water-resistant design. The 360-degree mount capability ensures the unit can be mounted with accuracy. With 25 miles of fence coverage, you can be certain that this charger will get the job done.
WHAT WE LIKE
This charger is very versatile and has excellent battery management built into the device. This device can provide a charge for up to three weeks with no sunlight.
PROS
- Very easy to mount
- Can be mounted anywhere within 360 degrees for optimum placement
- Adjustable pulse modes for better control and energy saving
- Shielded from lightning
CONS
- If the animal or predator happens to have a thick fur/hide they will not be deterred
- Proprietary battery installed
Specification
| Range | 25 Miles |
| Voltage | 6 Volts |
| Item Weight | 11.33 pounds |
| Batteries | No batteries required |
The Parmak DF-SP-LI Solar Pak 6 Electric Fence Charger is a very capable charger. It’s the first full charge function solar charger that is built like a wall.
This charger is waterproof and comes with a removable battery. The charger works great even without the battery as long as there is sunlight. This made in the USA product lives up to its promises.
WHAT WE LIKE
This charger gives you a high-quality experience at a great price. One big drawback of the charger is that it does not work in direct sunlight. It only works at a 15% angle. The LED’s on this charger are also not bright enough to be useful when you are trying to charge while in direct sunlight.
PROS
- Works great even through weeds and heavy underbrush
- Powers up to 25 miles of fencing
- Can function well even without the battery
CONS
- Some buyers say they have received defective or non-functioning units
- Although it works fine, the unit could use a bit more power
- Customer service is hit or miss
Specification
| Range | 5 Miles |
| Voltage | 5 Volts |
| Item Weight | 5.6 pounds |
| Batteries | 1 Product Specific batteries required. (included) |
Zareba ESP5M-Z is an interesting choice if you are in the market for a new fence charger. It’s capable of powering 5 miles of fencing to keep your critters safe while repelling the predators. It has excellent 360-degree rotation to help get maximum sunlight.
WHAT WE LIKE
The product weighs about 5.6 pounds and can be easily mounted from nearly any place you want. We love the fact that this built in USA solar charging unit can keep your fence powered for at least two weeks without any sunlight available.
PROS
- Once charged the unit can go for at least two weeks without sunlight
- Rotates 360 degrees for maximum sun exposure
- Durable design can really take any type of weather
CONS
- Not all animals/livestock are affected by this unit
- Many customers feel the voltage isn’t powerful enough
- Customer service is slow to non-existent
- Proprietary battery installed
Specification
| Range | 6 Miles |
| Voltage | 2.2kV at 1,000 ohms |
| Item Weight | 4.4 pounds |
| Batteries | No batteries required |
The Patriot SolarGuard 50 Fence Energizer is a small solar electric fence charger intended for residential yards or even vegetable gardens. It is also great for applications such as containing domestic animals or keeping pests out.
Setup is very simple: Plug in the unit, connect the ground and fence connectors and turn it on. We appreciate that this product is made in the USA.
The Patriot SolarGuard 50 Fence Energizer gives you a few different charging options and adjustable pulse speeds.
WHAT WE LIKE
Moreover, its compact design provides up to 0.05 joules of energy and allows it to reach up to 1 km (0.62 miles). The model is designed to generate an output voltage equivalent to 4.7kV (open-circuit) and 2.2kV at 1,000 ohms with an electric current consumption that is lower than 15 mA.
PROS
- IPX4 rated weatherproof
- Very lightweight for such a powerful device
- Very portable
CONS
- We are not certain why there are mounting holes only on top of the unit, but there needs to be more
- Some customers have mentioned that the charger’s indicator light is intermittent
Do Solar Fence Chargers Wear Out Easily?
Do Solar Fence Chargers Wear Out Easily? No they do not. They are extremely rugged and durable. Most solar fence chargers last for a minimum 3-5 years while some can go for a decade or more.
It is all based on the capacity of the battery and the constant weather conditions where the charger is mounted.
How Many Joules Does a Solar Fence Charger Need To Push Out?
How many joules should a fence charger have? Your charger is going to have to be able to push out enough joules to provide voltage to your fencing. A charger should have as a minimum 1 joule per mile of fencing. This is enough to ensure the minimum current is pushed all the way down the fence. Of course, a higher amount is fine, within reason of not causing a potential fire hazard.
Installation Ideas To Keep the Solar Fence Charger From Being Damaged
Before you purchase your solar charger, you need to make sure your installation location is the best choice.
There are different types of locations for the solar charger:
- Being for the most part weatherproof, solar chargers can easily be mounted to a fence posting or just about anywhere they have plenty of light
- Make sure the charger is placed up high enough so that your livestock cannot make a meal out of it. This also prevents collisions.
- Placing the solar charger as close to the center of the fencing will also prevent a power strain from the charger if there’s a power drop.
Conclusion
You should now have a much better idea about solar fence chargers and what type you need for where you live. We hope you enjoyed our review article about the best solar fence chargers.
Our top pick is going to be the Parmak Magnum Solar-Pak 12. It has the power, ruggedness and range to handle nearly anything most people are looking for in a solar fence charger.
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