Best Electric fence charger for ultralight backcountry setup

[Dunky]

I have used the bearwatch system linked above in several places in montana with pretty dry soil in the summer and consistently get 8kv on the tester with the 8 AA batteries or my Dark Energy Poseidon power bank with their adapter. Accidentally touched it once and got a significant shock that I felt exit through my knee that was on the ground. The AA batteries only last a day or two but you can do a power save mode that decreases the time between impulses. I just got the sureguard one recently to save a little more weight but haven't tested it yet.

 

[Preston]

I think I run the patriot pb12. It runs on 4 d batteries which are really the substantial weight component. The rest of the parts are super light. Batteries last and really long time as long as there isn't a short (like grass touching the wires).

Just make sure you run a hot/ground/hot wire pattern. Three wires work and 5 is better.

Question for you, do you use a grounding rod also, or just put the hot on the top and bottom wires and the ground on the center wire?

I've had two solar Gallagher and they both quit working after 5-6 months I think the first was a grounding problem bc once I watered the grounding rod it began working. And this 2nd one didn't get enough solar in the cloudy fall months. Open to any ideas.

I definitely like electric fences and our horses really respect them, some horses more than others.

 

[Legend]

Question for you, do you use a grounding rod also, or just put the hot on the top and bottom wires and the ground on the center wire?

I've had two solar Gallagher and they both quit working after 5-6 months I think the first was a grounding problem bc once I watered the grounding rod it began working. And this 2nd one didn't get enough solar in the cloudy fall months. Open to any ideas.

I definitely like electric fences and our horses really respect them, some horses more than others.

In order to have a USFS compliant bear fence around food (meat) you need a grounding rod. I can't remeber the details but it is a way bigger rod than you would carry in your backpack. And if you did manage to get it sounded in you would never be able to pull it.

My set up probably doesn't qualify for USFS. I run about a 5 foot piece of copper wire in a trench and finish it with a big galvanized nail in the ground. Bury the trench and if extra water is available I will soak it down and step it in.

Everywhere I have read says you need a grounding rod. But I am not sure it actually is necessary if you have a hot/ground/hot wire configuration.