Power source for electric fence charger
- Thread starter TedLaRue
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MossRoad
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- Power Trac PT425 2001 Model Year
TedLaRue said:
My unit was under a hundred bucks probably 10 years ago. The brand name has changed. They sell them at TSC and Rural King. I have a link to them somewhere. I will try to find it.
texasjohn
Super Member
Ted... I found the fellow by googling "fence charger repair texas" and found some manufacturer sites that listed their factory repair sites by state... hunted thru that and found one within driving distance.. called the number and went from there. He was an elderly retired fellow, don't know if he's still active and repairing. I just called the number..no answer, but here's the number.. (512) 352-2579 I've done my own repairs on occasion... sometimes youj can see the blown component and replace it individually.. but more often the problem is hidden ...
A weedburner actually leaves the charge on the fence a relatively long time...maybe half a second or so... and it ACTUALLY CRISPS the weeds/grass as they grow into it. the idea is that you start with a clean fence and whenever one strand of grass/weed grows into the fence it will be burned and stop growing that way.... works find for some people....others get an unplanned burn.... an iffy situation.
You may be green now... but will you forever be green?
For brand, inquire locally about getting parts and where repairs are done...if you can find a repair person, purchase the brand he recommends/likes/fixes... you WILL need to get it repaired, so plan ahead.
A weedburner actually leaves the charge on the fence a relatively long time...maybe half a second or so... and it ACTUALLY CRISPS the weeds/grass as they grow into it. the idea is that you start with a clean fence and whenever one strand of grass/weed grows into the fence it will be burned and stop growing that way.... works find for some people....others get an unplanned burn.... an iffy situation.
You may be green now... but will you forever be green?
For brand, inquire locally about getting parts and where repairs are done...if you can find a repair person, purchase the brand he recommends/likes/fixes... you WILL need to get it repaired, so plan ahead.
MossRoad
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I'm pretty good with electronics but I couldn't see any damaged parts. It appeared to be the transformer itself that was faulty. The capacitor was charging and discharging, but no high voltage. I'll do some searching like you did for a repair person.texasjohn said:
Would such a controller be labeled as a "weedburner"? The advertisements for the ones I use say things like "shocks through weeds", but I don't think that's the same thing.texasjohn said:
Good point. Things do dry out during the fall/winter, but where my fence runs (open areas, not in the woods) I don't think I could start a fire if I tried at any time of the year. But I wouldn't use a weedburner anyhow. Especially not after reading what radman1 said about seeing a horse caught in a grass fire! My area is small enough that I can walk around it with a weedeater two or three times a year.texasjohn said:
texasjohn, thanks so much for the useful information!
After reading your post (and other previous posts) I thought this was the charger for me (the chargers I have now are Parmak and I like them). I'm sure it's a good charger, but $270 is a bit more than I wanted to spend for the small area I want to protect. And the replacement batteries seem to be about $70. I guess that's not too bad if they last five or six years.MikePA said:
I'm considering the cheaper 6V Parmak, and also the Zareba suggested by MossRoad.
Zareba has a very unusual website. Most of the content is good information about fencing systems, and I had trouble finding information about the products they're selling! I went to Google to find their products.MossRoad said:
Is your unit the 3-mile one or the 10-mile one? I've found both of those at TSC (Tractor Supply Company) which we have locally. I'm debating between one of those units and the Parmak 6V unit which they advertise as good for 25 miles, but costs a little more.
All of you guys have given me a lot of good information. Thanks for your input!
MossRoad
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It looks just like this one at TSC, but it has one battery in it instead of D cells and there is a solar panel on the front..
Tractor Supply Company - Zareba DC-Operated Fence Controller, 10 mi Coverage
I do not see one like that, but my case is identical to this one except for the solar charger. Mine is rated for 3 miles, I think. There is an orange light on top that blinks every time it charges and there is an audible click. What is nice is I can go around the garden and listen. If a weed is touching it, the weed clicks and I can locate it easily.
Also, with my setup and wire mesh fence behind the electric fence, I can go out at night with an insulated screwdriver and touch it to the wire and the fence. I can see a spark, which indicates it is working.
Just remember that this was a bottom of the line solar charger meant to keep critters out of my garden. It does that very well. I have no idea if it would work to keep large animals in. You may want to look at a more powerful unit for that.
I am extremely busy this week. The kids have 4-H fair projects due all week, but next week, I could take some pictures of it for you, if you wish.
Tractor Supply Company - Zareba DC-Operated Fence Controller, 10 mi Coverage
I do not see one like that, but my case is identical to this one except for the solar charger. Mine is rated for 3 miles, I think. There is an orange light on top that blinks every time it charges and there is an audible click. What is nice is I can go around the garden and listen. If a weed is touching it, the weed clicks and I can locate it easily.
Also, with my setup and wire mesh fence behind the electric fence, I can go out at night with an insulated screwdriver and touch it to the wire and the fence. I can see a spark, which indicates it is working.
Just remember that this was a bottom of the line solar charger meant to keep critters out of my garden. It does that very well. I have no idea if it would work to keep large animals in. You may want to look at a more powerful unit for that.
I am extremely busy this week. The kids have 4-H fair projects due all week, but next week, I could take some pictures of it for you, if you wish.
texasjohn
Super Member
SHOCKS THRU WEEDS is a code phrase for " high intensity, short duration pulse charger".... this means BOTH high voltage AND high current... but for milliseconds. It is the high current that allows it to drain off a little bit at each weed and STILL reach the end of a long fence... It is NOT a weedburner. Also why such a fence charger is not associated with battery... or at least the battery drains quickly if there is a large weed load... if you can keep weeds, mostly, off of the fence, you are OK.
It's all a " your situation will vary" deal... depends on weed load, length of fence, etc...
Sometimes when lightening hits you see a component physically destroyed and/or a burned place on the circuit board...if not, then it required me to locate the repair fellow.
It's all a " your situation will vary" deal... depends on weed load, length of fence, etc...
Sometimes when lightening hits you see a component physically destroyed and/or a burned place on the circuit board...if not, then it required me to locate the repair fellow.
jeffinsgf
Veteran Member
Ted,
I have a ParMak solar charger that I bought this Spring. It's on a small garden -- smaller than yours, but it has been flawless. No damage to my garden YET (knocks on wood). I have the 25 mile model from this page: Parker McCrory Mfg Co
I have three strands of wire going around 4 raised beds. The low wire is at 2.5 inches, the second is at 6 inches, and the top one is at 30 inches. The yard is full of squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, and deer, but no animal damage in the garden -- so far (knocks on wood again).
I have a ParMak solar charger that I bought this Spring. It's on a small garden -- smaller than yours, but it has been flawless. No damage to my garden YET (knocks on wood). I have the 25 mile model from this page: Parker McCrory Mfg Co
I have three strands of wire going around 4 raised beds. The low wire is at 2.5 inches, the second is at 6 inches, and the top one is at 30 inches. The yard is full of squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, and deer, but no animal damage in the garden -- so far (knocks on wood again).
