Fence Charger

[Texasmark1]

Neighbor bought one of these a couple of years ago:

https://www.external_link.com/tsc/product/american-farmworks-5-mile-solar-low-impedance-charger?cm_vc=-10005

Tried to use it a couple of days ago and it didn't work...asked me to help.

The on -off switch is on the bottom of the unit and is a plastic toggle device that moves an 8 pin slide switch on the circuit card. Problem is the 2 of the 4 solder joints holding the switch to the CCA didn't make adequate contact during the dip soldering process and broke loose. In the process the switch was damaged and useless.

More to the story but the point now is he wants some help in getting a" reliable solar", from TSC as that's where he does his farm shopping on the way out here and that's his store.

Anybody buy and use solars from TSC that have been a reliable investment for you?

Thanks,
Mark

 

[Texasmark1]

Here's a different brand to which he has access:

https://www.external_link.com/tsc/product/power-wizard-solar-x-treme-20-mi-solar-fence-energizer-sx-20?cm_vc=-10005.


Maybe they build these to withstand a farm environment.

Anybody have one?

 

[Kansas4010]

I have a couple Zareba brand solar chargers that I bought at TSC. They've been ok so far. I noticed that TSC stopped selling that brand around here anyway. I did buy one at Menards as well. It was a special order item but it was cheaper than tsc when they had Zarebas and I got the 11% rebate. Cousin ordered a solar charger from Valley Vet and really likes it. I just can't remember the brand he bought right now though.

 

[Kansas4010]

I just looked at Valley Vets website and it's the Magnum Solar Pac 12. It's $300 but he really likes it. When my Zarebas die I might look into one of them.

 

[SVcummins]

Used these for 25 years and they are tough still have the one me and my grandpa bought in the 90s and I bought another one . Never tried the 12 volt ones the 6 volt will shoot a spark a 1/4 inch wide on the end of a mile and half of fence

Untitled URL Link

 

[Texasmark1]

I put him onto a Zareba since Kansas had good luck with them. TSC doesn't carry them but Amazon does and he can have it tomorrow.

Thanks.

 

[SVcummins]

Good deal hopefully it lasts a long time

 

[Rusty2N]

X2!!! And after being bit buy a 6 volter I have no desire to come anywheres near a 12 volter!!!

 

[john *.?-!.* cub owner]

One thing I have learned is that the 12 volt solar chargers put out quite a bit hotter spark than the 6 volt ones, but of course the are also quite a bit higher.

 

[The Famous Grouse]

Find a way to lock up and secure those chargers, boys, or they'll disappear. Don't care where you live, the tweakers/meth-heads have figured out those chargers are $100 bills hanging on posts.

I'm a food plot seed dealer and this year the number of customer complaints about stolen fence chargers has exploded in my territory of MN, WI, SD, ND, MI.

Obviously, word has gone around that any electric fence that doesn't end at the barn has a nice payday attached to one end for the tweaker looking for a quick fix. They must just cruise the back roads looking for them and then come back and night and nail 3-4 of them a night.

Several of my customers this summer have mentioned they had units nabbed in WI and SE MN this year or last year. Aparently, out on the net somebody has plans for how to make the units harder to steal by putting them up a pole and then spking the pole with "bear boards" so it can't be climed and can't be cut down with a chainsaw.

Just a warning to watch out.

Grouse