Electric fences offer a great way to protect livestock on your farm. The electrified fences also offer a great way to keep away nuisance animals from your farm or garden. Most regular electric fences require direct access to grid power. That means you can easily connect to a grid-based power outlet and power up your fence lines.
There are times, however, you may not have the luxury of direct access to grid power. That means you will need an alternative source of power that can reliably electrify your fence lines to protect the livestock in your farm. That is where solar-powered fence chargers come in.
There are different varieties of solar-powered chargers in the market today. However, getting the one that works magic for your farm isn’t easy.
3 most powerful solar fence chargers reviews
In this review, we have rounded up three most powerful solar fence chargers out there you might want to look at:
1. Parmak Magnum Solar-Pak 12Volt Electric Fence Charger
Designed and manufactured by the reputed American company Parmak, Magnum Solar-Pak is one of the most powerful solar chargers you can have for your farm.
The solar charger kit packs a solar panel that charges the sealed 12-voltage lead-acid battery that powers up your farm fence lines during the night.
What makes Parmak Magnum Solar-Pak of the most powerful solar fence chargers out there you can rely on? Firstly, it is more powerful than other solar chargers. The charger generates around 3.1 plus joules of energy and doesn’t have any operating costs. Besides, it is a low impedance solar electric charger that packs 11,000 of open circuit voltage. That kind of voltage can sufficiently deliver sufficient quick damage shock when animals come to a close contact with the fence.
Secondly, the charger is made up of water-proof materials making it a good choice if you are looking for the best solar fence charger for outdoor use. You won’t have to get worried when it rains hard or when the weather conditions keep fluctuating.
Thirdly, the model is highly portable and easy to use and install. You can set the charger on your fence or move it to a location of your choice without any hassles
Finally, the charger comes with a built-in solar performance meter that helps run different tests. The solar battery test indicates three options – yellow, red and green – depending on whether the battery is charged and is ready for operation. Performance meter operation that helps verify the meter movement and whether it can ably indicate the current output without “much ado.” The voltage output test, on the other hand, indicates the exact amount of voltage that is currently running through the fence.
In short words, this is a perfect solar charger for your electric fence if you have a medium to large farm. It is ideal for protecting horses, deer, dogs, predators, cattle, and sheep. Thanks to the inbuilt 12-V battery, Parmak Magnum Solar-Pakcan perform optimally for two weeks without sunshine.
To spice up their offer, the manufacturer offers you a beautiful two-year warranty so you won’t get worried about lighting strikes, and other issues that may damage your solar charger. However, the chargers are a bit pricey compared to other models. But you always get what you pay for.
Strengths
- Lasts longer – can go for two weeks without sunshine.
- Low impedance
- More powerful than others.
- High range, up to 30 miles.
- 3-year warranty
- Good for medium to large pastures
- Easy to install and use.
Limitations
- A bit expensive compared to others.
2. Zareba ESP 10M-Z-Mile Solar Low Impedance Charger
This is another fantastic, USA-made solar power charger that has found its place in our list of most powerful solar fence chargers.
The 6-volts solar charger is perfect for use where you don’t have access to grid power to electrify your farm’s fence lines. It is also good if you want to cut down on electric bills for your farm.
The charger can power up fences lines for up to ten meters. Besides, Zareba ESP 10M-Z-Mile can store and retain solar energy for up to two weeks without recharging. So you are sure your livestock will be always protected even when the weather doesn’t look fine. The solar charger also features the low impedance technology. That means you are unlikely to run into high battery drain while the battery is in operation. Besides, the intuitive technology helps reduce electrical shots especially when the fence lines come into contact with vegetation, weeds and grass.
The Zareba ESP 10M-Z-M generates up to 0.15 joules of power shock and is the best solar electric fence charger for horses, pigs, cattle, and any other short-haired animals. It is also perfect for use in dry or moderate weed conditions. Zareba ESP 10M also comes with unique integrated mounts that make it easier for you to install or mount on T-post, Y-posts as well as round wood posts. When in operation, the inbuilt light indicator flashes to indicate whether the fence is well electrified or not. The solar charger is suitable for use for any fence type including aluminium, steel, poly wire and poly tape.
Zareba offers a one-year warranty so you are sure you have nothing to lose in case lighting strikes.
Strengths
- Easy to install
- Easy to mount on wall or fence
- Comes with an indicator light
- Highly reliable, can operate for up to two weeks without sunlight
- Can power up to 10 miles
Limitation
- A bit pricey compared to similar models out there.
- Limited range. May not suit larger pastures.
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3. Zareba ESP30M Z-30 – Mile Solar-Powered Low-Impedance Electric Fence Charger
This is another highly powerful solar-powered fence charger that is perfect for controlling horses, goat, cattle, sheep, deer, wolves, and other animals. Zareba ESP30M-Z-30 is perfect for use in areas featuring low and heavy weed conditions. However, depending on the density of the weeds, the entire range for the charger might be reduced.
Why did we include this charger in the list of the most powerful solar fence chargers? First, just like it’s sister model, Zareba ESP 10M, this model is a low impedance solar charger, delivering sufficient voltage to power up 10 meters of fence. Besides, it comes in a weather resistant cabinet, making it a perfect choice for outdoor use. Thanks to the 12-voltage battery system, the solar charger can electrify your fence lines for two weeks even when there is no sufficient amount of sunshine.
The solar region setting feature on the other hand helps optimize the performance of your battery and hence increase its life. In case you want to know whether the charger is working just fine, you check whether the “fence OK” sign is flashing.
Summing it up, Zareba ESP 10M is one of the most powerful solar fence chargers you can ever get your hands on. Besides, the two-year warranty by the manufacturer cushions you form incurring losses in case your charger is destroyed by a lighting strike.
Strengths
- Effective for to 30 miles
- Easy to use
- Performs well.
- Low impedance technology which translates to less power drain
Limitations
- Slightly massive compared to other brands.
Pro tip: What you need to do in case of power surge and lighting
There are times when you may experience power surges. Sometimes, lightening might directly cause your solar charger to fail. To help you prolong the life of your solar charger:
- Invest in a good lightning choke that helps dissipate any power surges that result from lighting.
- Install a good lightning arrester
- Be alert and disconnect your charger when the storms are near.
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Final words
Having an electric fence around your property or home is a great way to keep off unwanted intruders, animals and protect yourself, property or animals. However, there are times when you can’t access grid power. That’s when solar-powered chargers come in handy.
The solar charger will help you power up fence lies and thus keep your livestock protected. However, there are a lot of solar chargers out there. Getting the one that works for you might be hard.
If you want to protect bigger animals or you have a larger farm, we have reviewed the most powerful solar fence chargers out there for you. Feel free to choose whichever works for you.
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