Best solar electric fence controller

OP
jjohnsonElknewbie
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Mar 16, 2021
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Western Iowa
Sound like fun, just don't tell the neighbor you have better food or he will be planting more than beans next year!
LOL! We get along good fortunately and share intel all the time. I thought I was going to best him with a nice, lush, green plot of rape, oats, turnips, and radishes this past fall. However, its been so dry here it burned up after I sowed it and went elk hunting. No rain for 4 weeks after planting = bare dirt food plot.
 
OP
jjohnsonElknewbie
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Mar 16, 2021
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Location
Western Iowa
This is similar to the Energizers we were using 15 yrs ago. This one is a much better unit and more efficient than the older models we used. Some our plots were in the 7-8 acres size. We had 90 acres total on 21 plots on the ranch I managed. It would take 2 of us about 2 days to put up the fences and then about 1.5 days to take them back down. We had large reels that held several 1000 feet of the intellirope and then mounted one reel on the back of a ATV to install it. One UTV load with fiberglass posts is all we needed. Lot of foot work installing posts and then wire on to the post. 5 trips around a field but with 2 people it was quick to install. We planted 90 acres of Lab Lab and then would do about 35 acres of small grains/winter peas in the fall.
I like the look of that intellirope. How far did you space the posts and what did you use to stretch it?
 

Stevek

WKR
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Dec 14, 2021
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I like the look of that intellirope. How far did you space the posts and what did you use to stretch it?
We spaced the post about 7-9 steps apart depending on terrain and length of the side we were fencing. We pulled it tight by hand. The way we "tied" at the corners is how we stretched it. We(2 of us) pulled rope around the plastic insulator and then looped it. One guy pulling on the intellirope and then one on the corner taking up slack and then using a compression type knot to hold the strand tight. Then moved the rope over to the next side of the fence to start again. It is a hard technique to describe but easy to see and repeat in person. The fence does not have to be guitar string tight to keep deer out. Just needs to be weed/plant free and have a good energizer.
 

Stevek

WKR
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Dec 14, 2021
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423
Whenever there was change or angle in the fenceline that would pull the fence over we put a single pipe or corner pipe at the ends. This is what a corner looked like and you can see the insulators on the pipe. The wooden post was for the old style Gallagher Energizer that used a 12 volt car battery and solar panel.
1-IMG_0408.JPG
 
OP
jjohnsonElknewbie
Joined
Mar 16, 2021
Messages
3,691
Location
Western Iowa
Whenever there was change or angle in the fenceline that would pull the fence over we put a single pipe or corner pipe at the ends. This is what a corner looked like and you can see the insulators on the pipe. The wooden post was for the old style Gallagher Energizer that used a 12 volt car battery and solar panel.
View attachment 364833
Love that sign post! Awesome deer
 
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Dec 16, 2021
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Larkspur, CO
I've had a Premier 1 suitcase type solar charger/controller for 14 years now and it still works great. I've only had to replace the on/off switch which was inexpensive and easy. I've been using it on about a mile and a half of wire with high weeds being a frequent problem. Put something tasty (molasses or honey) on the wire to train animals to it.
 
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Oct 25, 2012
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Another vote for Parmak. We run the bigger solar model for cattle and it keeps a 2100 pound bull out of the neighbors cows. He wants nothing to do with it. You can easily splice in and make several runs. It will run 30 miles of fence. Costs about $300 brand new and will probably need a new battery every 2-3 years like stated. A new 12v battery for them runs about $70 and is super simple to change out.


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Joined
Nov 22, 2021
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I use electric with hi tensile fence on my farm for cattle. I also utilize rotational grazing. The two greatest issues I ran into when starting were insufficient grounding for the fence box and the initial “training” of the animal to the fence. Electric fence is a mental barrier not a physical barrier.
 
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