If you are a farmer who is looking for a way to protect his livestock when it’s out in the field, you are probably thinking about investing in an electric fence that will keep the animals in one place, and safe from other wild ones like wolves, bears, and foxes.
It may not sound like the most humane security system, but the electroshocks they will feel if they touch the fence will be harmless for their lives, but at the same time admonishing.
Comparison Table:
The problem is, that you may not be able to find AC outlets to install the charger for the electric fence. But we have a solution for you, and it’s called a solar fence charger. It is a device that will provide you with the power of the sun, converted to the electricity you need for your fence. And we made a list of the top ten products of this kind, so you can easily find the best one for you.
Top Picks Solar Powered Fence Chargers
1. Parmak Magnum Solar-Pak 12
Highlights:
- For medium and large pastures
- Made in the USA
- 2-year warranty
- Capable of charging 12V battery
- Waterproof
This is one of the best solar fence chargers you will be lucky to have. It is adequate for medium and large pastures, it’s made in the USA, and it comes with a two-year warranty that covers damage caused by lightning.
The package includes a last-generation solar panel that has the ability to charge a 12V sealed lead-acid battery every day, which will allow it to work each night. The new and improved technology will make sure the charger uses only the power of the sun to create a maximum shock.
It can provide enough electricity for a fence that’s up to 30 miles long, it’s lightweight and portable, and it’s waterproof, so you can use it all the time, no matter what’s the weather like. The low impedance will give you maximum power and a longer lifespan than a fence charger.
The performance meter will show you the condition of the fence, while the battery level test will indicate if it’s discharged or ready for operation. The battery is included in the package, and the product is UL listed.
2. Parmak DF-SP-LI Solar Pak 6
Highlights
- For medium and small pastures
- 3-year warranty
- Capable of powering up 6V battery
- Waterproof
- Built-in performance meter
This is another solar electric fence charger made by Parmak that proved to be worthy of mentioning. It is designed for medium and small pastures and animals like pigs, horses, dogs, and cattle, and it comes with a three-year warranty period.
Thanks to the fact it is designed with solid-state circuitry and great precision, it will provide you with a low impedance shock that will be enough to scare the animal and make sure they stay away from the fence.
The charger comes with a solar panel that can constantly power up the 6V battery. That will be enough to create electricity inside of the 25 miles of the fence. During the shock, energy discharge goes between 0.75 and 1.6 joules, while the voltage goes up to 9,000 volts at 500 ohms.
This product is ideal for outdoor usage since it can withstand rough usage, and it’s waterproof. That means that even when it rains, it will continue to work just fine. And there’s a built-in performance meter that will show you the condition of the fence at any time.
3. Zareba ESP10M-Z 10-Mile Solar
Highlights:
- Made in the USA
- Energizes 10 miles long fence
- Operates for 2 weeks with no sun
- 1-year warranty
- Easy to install
Here is a solar-powered electric fence charger that’s made and designed by one of the most respectable brands in the field of manufacturing electric fencing systems. It is a device that has a capacity to power up a 10 miles long fence.
It will provide you with enough electricity to keep large animals like cattle, bulls, and horses away from the fence. If they do come close and make contact with the fence, the electric shock will emit 0.15 joules of energy.
In order to fully charge a 6V rechargeable battery, you should let the solar panel accumulate sun rays and generate them to the electricity for three straight days in the off position. After that, the charger will be able to provide the fence with energy for two weeks, without being exposed to the sun again.
This product is built and tested in the USA, and it comes with a one-year limited warranty. You can use it with aluminum wire, steel wire, poly tape, poly rope, and poly wire. It’s very easy to mount on a fence or a wall, and simple to maintain.
4. Patriot Solarguard 50 Fence Energizer
Highlights:
- Modern design
- Built-in solar panel
- Waterproof
- 2-year warranty
- For residential yards
According to the solar fence charger reviews, this is a great small solar charger that’s suitable for residential yards and smaller gardens. So if you want to make sure wild animals don’t eat your vegetables, or that your dogs don’t leave the yard, this is the product you were looking for.
It has a very modern design with a solar panel that’s built-in, but what’s more impressive is the fact this charger has a smart battery system that will allow you to fully charge it only once during a two week time period. So even if there is no sun for that long, it will have enough electricity for your fence.
This is a portable and lightweight device that comes with a light warning when the fence is not working well, or when the battery needs to be charged again. It is suitable for smaller animals like dogs, rabbits, pigs, roosters, or squirrels.
In the moment of shock, this charger will emit 0.05 joules of energy, and it is designed to generate an output voltage 2.2kV at 1,000 ohms. It comes with a two-year warranty, and it is waterproof, so no matter what the weather’s like, you will be able to use it.
5. Zareba ESP2M-Z 2-Mile Solar
Highlights:
- For smaller animals
- Portable
- Lightweight
- High-quality made
- 1-year warranty
The Zareba solar powered fence charger is designed with only one intent – to keep small animals away from your garden or any other restricted area. We are talking about dogs, rabbits, roosters, etc. It’s portable, lightweight, and can be easily installed.
It comes with a built-in solar panel that has the capacity to charge a 4V battery. It is a low impedance type that will give you maximum performance and 0.04-joule output. This charger can work with steel, poly tape, poly rope, and poly wire.
If you decide on purchasing this charger, know that it has only a two-mile range and that it’s suitable only for weed-free fence conditions. If you fully charge the battery that comes in a package, your fence will be provided with electricity for two weeks, day and night. You won’t have to recharge it during that time frame.
This charger is very high-quality made, with a durable case that will protect the solar panel and internal circuitry from different weather conditions. The manufacturer is offering you a one-year warranty for this product.
6. Patriot Solarguard 155 Fence Energizer
Highlights:
- Portable
- Solar panel built-in
- Lightweight
- Works for 21 days with no charging
- 2-year warranty
If you are looking for an efficient and fully portable solar electric fence charger, here is what we suggest. It is a product made by the Patriot brand, in a fully compact design, with a handle that will allow you to carry it from one place to another when you need to.
You will be impressed with this device, because when it is fully charged it will be able to work for 21 days straight, without the need of being charged again. That means your fence will be powered up with electricity even when there’s no sun in the sky for days. There are very few chargers of this kind, with this long battery capacity.
The solar panel is integrated into the charger, and it can provide the 12V battery with the best performance. The range of the charger is 1.2 miles, its joule output is 0.15, and its voltage output is 5.4kV at 2,000 ohms.
It comes with lightning protection, a two-year limited warranty, and an integrated battery management system that will prolong its lifespan. It is a perfect charger for your domestic needs, and it can make smaller animals stay away from your property.
7. Fi-shock ESP2M-FS 2-Mile
Highlights:
- Portable
- Lightweight
- Energize 2 miles fence
- Long battery life
- Made in the USA
Fi-Shock store offers a portable solar fence electronic charger you can use in order to control poultry or other domestic animals, as well as to prohibit wild animals from causing damage to your property.
Given that it’s very lightweight and portable, and that generates power only with the help of solar panels, it is an ideal solution for those areas where you cannot have an AC outlet anywhere close to your fence.
This charger can energize the fence that’s two miles long, and it will be enough to fully charge it once so it can work for two weeks straight without the need for recharging. It is based on a low impedance technology that has the capability to prolong the lifespan of the battery.
The product is made and tested in the USA, and the manufacturer will give you a one year warranty that includes lightning damage. At the moment of shock, the charger will have an output of 0.04 joules. It can work with aluminum, steel, poly tape, poly rope, and poly wires.
8. Solar Fence Charger 12 Volt
Highlights:
- For small and medium pastures
- Energizes up to 100 acres of fence
- Battery not included
- Lightning protection diverter
- 2-year warranty
If you are looking for a solar-based charger for an electric fence that can cover medium and small pastures, you just found one that can be suitable. It is a device that will keep large wild animals away from your property and cattle.
We are talking about a charger that works solely on the power of the sun, and the one that can cover up to 100 acres of fence. It has two joules of output and the ability to power up a 12V deep cycle battery that’s not included in the package.
This solar fence charger comes with a lightning protection diverter that’s capable of preventing all the installations from getting damaged in the case of the lightning strike. Also, you will get lightning fuses that will increase the protection from this natural phenomenon.
The manufacturer is offering a two-year warranty on this charger and claims that it is very easy to install the charger on your own. You will be able now to have an electric fence in areas that don’t have access to the AC power.
9. Gallagher S10 Solar Electric Fence Charger
Highlights:
- Portable
- Lightweight
- Energize 3 miles fence
- Lightning protection
- 3-year warranty
If you are an owner of a smaller pasture that’s in an area that has no access to mains power, you should be looking to buy this Gallagher solar electric fence charger for sure. It is portable and can create electricity solely with the solar panel that’s integrated, so it will be perfect for your needs.
It has the ability to energize up to three miles of single wire fence and cover the land from five to fifteen acres. It is built to last and withstand all sorts of different weather conditions. The best thing is that thanks to the unique battery-saving technology, this charger can provide you with power for three weeks without sun.
The product is also waterproof, and it features lightning protection, so there’s a really small chance of lightning strikes hitting and damaging it. The charger is super easy to install, and it even comes with 360-degree mounting capability.
We are talking about a super light charger with a built-in solar panel you can take with you wherever you go. It is very efficient and practical, and the manufacturer will give you a three-year warranty on it. During the shock, it will have an output of 0.1 joules, and it has the ability to fully charge a 6V internal battery.
10. Patriot P10 Dual Purpose
Highlights:
- Portable
- Solar panel not included
- 2-year warranty
- Energizes 30 miles of fence
- Easy to install
This is the last item on our list, and it is ideal for fencing livestock that’s in a smaller group. It has a beautiful and practical design, with a unique clip-on system, so you can easily mount it with nothing but basic tools.
With this charger, you will have two power options – you will be able to run it on a 110V plug, or on a 12V deep cycle battery. The solar panel does not come in a package, it is sold separately, but if you plan on using this charger in an area that has no AC power, then we recommend it as a perfect solution.
This is a low impedance electric fence energizer that has 1 joule of output and is suitable for medium-long fences for livestock. It has the capacity to power up around 30 miles of fence or to cover up to 100 acres of land.
The great detail presents a LED indicator that will show you what’s the status of the fence and when is the time to recharge the battery. The item is made in New Zealand, and it comes with a two-year full replacement warranty.
Finding the Best Solar Electric Fence Chargers – Buying Guide
We assumed that you are looking to buy a solar electric fence charger for the first time, so we made sure to underline all the important things you need to pay attention to. First of all, you need to know how big is the area you want to cover with a fence, and to check what is the range capacity of a charger you are interested in.
After that, make sure to go through our list below and see what the status of each and every feature we mentioned is.
Things to Consider When Choosing the Best Product
1. Range Capacity
As you can see, every solar electric charger is designed to be able to power up a fence of a certain length. Some of them are suitable for small domestic needs, while others can support medium to large pastures. Depending on what you need this charger for, you should choose the one that has enough power to provide your entire fence with constant electricity.
If you want to make sure your fence will be powered up properly, and that there is no chance of low performance, you must not buy a charger that has a lower range capacity than required. Only if you obey this rule, you will be in a position to protect your cattle, horses, and other domestic animals, as well as to keep the wild animals away from your property.
2. Joules
Every manufacturer who created these solar chargers will state what its joule output is. That’s the unit of energy that will show you how strong of an impact the shock of the powered-up electric fence can have. It is an indicator of how powerful the shock will be when an animal comes in contact with the fence that’s energized with electricity.
That way, you will be able to assess if the impact can be fatal or dangerous to the animal. The idea is not to hurt them with these fences and these chargers but to scare them so they won’t run away, or vandalize your property and kill your domestic animals.
Also, you should know that there are several standards these devices need to be aligned with, like the one that says that electric shock must happen less than one time per second.
3. Types
First, there are types of animals you want to keep far away from your property, and types of animals you want to keep safe inside the fenced area. Not every charger is suitable for horses and cattle who, for instance, need 2000-3000V in the fence wire, some of them are strong enough just to keep poultry safe.
The second is the types of solar electric fence chargers. All of those that we have mentioned in our list are low impedance types, which is known for low electrical resistance in the charger. But besides that one, which is the most common type today, we also have a solid-state fence charger that has a medium-strong shock impact and a continuous output fence charger that can be very dangerous because of the constant charge on the wires.
4. Fence Wire Use and Weed Conditions
You will see that the manufacturer always mentions two types of voltage conditions. The first one, the open-circuit voltage, refers to the voltage that’s present inside of the fence in situations where no animals nor vegetation is touching it. But the weed that may be present, and very often is, in those open field areas, can affect the voltage output in the fence wiring.
Excessive weed is especially problematic in this matter, and if you want your charger and fence to deliver solid performance, you should make sure to get rid of it as soon as possible. Another thing you should pay attention to is the material the fence is built from. The type of wire – steel, aluminum, poly tape, poly rope, or poly wires will differently affect the voltage output as well.
Important Features to Look for
1. Size and Weight
How big and how heavy the solar electric fence charger is, might be a relevant thing only if you plan to move it from one place to the other. If, for example, you have two or more fenced areas where your cattle are.
But in general, these devices are made to be practical to carry and bring to the isolated properties where there is no AC power available. None of these chargers we mentioned above are super heavy or robust, so it won’t be a challenge to move them from one fenced area to another.
2. Power
How much power can a solar panel generate, and how big of a battery it can fully charge during one day under the direct sunlight is one of those crucial issues you need to think about.
Some of these chargers can energize pretty big 12V batteries that can cover up to 30 miles of fence, while others have quite smaller output and are suitable only for small, domestic properties. So make sure to check how powerful your device is, because it will definitely affect the performance level of your electric fence.
3. Durability
These chargers need to be built from high-quality materials that can provide durability. They need to be able to withstand different and extreme weather conditions like rain, storm, snow, frost, or extreme heat, but also lightning strikes that can be a common phenomenon is flat deserted fields where your fence for cattle usually is.
That’s why, besides the fact they are always waterproof and pretty solid, these devices quite often have some sort of lightning protection. Solar panels are usually integrated into chargers, and they too are mostly made to be able to fight nature and its surprises.
4. Warranty
When buying a solar electric fence charger, you should always look for the one that’s covered with a warranty – the longer the warranty is, the better. Usually, the manufacturer will give you one to the three-year limited warranty, and pretty often, it covers damages that may happen in case of a lightning strike.
Since you will be investing a certain amount of money into these devices, you should make sure you have a warranty that will cover all your costs if something happens to them, and you need to repair them or offer you another device instead.
FAQ
Q1: What Are the Benefits of Using a Solar Electric Fence Charger?
There are many benefits of owning and using one of these devices. The first one is definitely economical since the solar panel will collect and generate sunrays into the electricity you need for your fence. You won’t need other sources of power, especially with those chargers that can provide you with enough power for two to three weeks without the need to be recharged.
That means that even when there is no sun in the sky, you will have enough electricity. The other benefit is the practicality of these chargers, given that you can move them from one place to another, and use them even in regions where the AC power is not available. Also, you won’t have to fear that your fence will stay unprotected in case of a blackout or power outage.
Q2: Where Should I Install the Charger to Make Sure It’s Safe?
First, you need to know that you don’t have to worry about chargers being damaged by different weather conditions, since they are designed to be able to withstand rain, snow, extreme heat, frost, etc. What is important is to position the charger in a way that it has direct exposure to the sun throughout the entire day. That’s crucial if you want it to generate enough electricity for your fence.
So, no shade is allowed. It would be good to install this device outside of the fenced area, so it doesn’t happen that animals damage it by accident. And at last, make sure to position the charger somewhere in the middle of the fence, so that there is a similar voltage present everywhere, and that there are no voltage drops at any place.
Q3: How Many Volts Should an Electric Fence Put Out?
There are no strict rules on the minimum of voltage output, but the maximum can be 10.000 volts, that’s according to international regulations. Mostly, the voltage output is somewhere between 2000 and 3000 volts.
This number will affect the strength of an impact from the electric shock, so make sure it’s not too much because you don’t want to endanger the animals.
Q4: Can an Electric Fence Kill a Human?
No, the electric fence cannot kill a person, but it can cause a certain amount of pain that should disappear after 10 to 20 minutes. The electric fence won’t even burn you or leave a mark on your skin.
That’s because it is designed to have low currents and pulsates. But it would be best to avoid touching an electric fence and to keep the children away from them.
Conclusion
Fence chargers that can work on a base of solar energy are super-efficient, very practical, and the ideal solution in case you need them to provide your fence with power, and there’s no AC output available anywhere close. It is also great that you can move them from one place to another, given they are portable and mostly lightweight.
If you haven’t had experience with these chargers so far, and you are planning to buy one, just make sure to go through the main features we enlisted above, so you know what the things you should pay attention to are.