Electric Fence Charger Buying Guide | Zareba®

CHOOSING THE BEST ELECTRIC FENCE CHARGER FOR YOUR NEEDS Your electric fence charger is the heart of the electric fence system. There’s no perfect way to recommend a charger for your animals since every farm and paddock setup can be so different, so we’ll run through common problem areas for people deciding which charger is right for their setup. POWER METRICS FOR YOUR ELECTRIC FENCE CHARGER Power metrics are the single biggest confusion point for manufacturers and buyers alike when it comes to electric fencing. There are many types of power metrics you can use to describe electric fencing, so it comes down to what is most familiar to you to make the best decision. Power metrics cover mileage ratings, joule ratings, voltage ratings, acreage coverage and animal type recommendations. MILEAGE RATINGS ON AN ELECTRIC FENCE CHARGER Mileage ratings on chargers are indicative of the maximum length of fence line the electric fence charger can operate to safely contain your animals. With this metric, and all other power metrics, there is no such thing as a perfectly set up fence system. Power drains happen at many places on your fence line, including: • Poor grounding set up will stop power from being received from your charger. Whether it’s not enough ground rods, not long enough ground rods, poor soil moisture or less than ideal metals, there are many potential issues when it comes to fence grounding, and it’s the most common problem we see with electric fence setups. • Broken insulators can leak electric current to posts. • Weeds and grass touching lines will drain electric power. • Voltage running down a fence line will also naturally lose power the further it is away from your fence charger. • Rain, snow, cold – Weather events will also draw power down on your fence line. To determine the Mileage Rating you will need, take the amount of fence line you have, include all wires, and then at least double that length. This is the mileage you will need to ensure you’ll still have enough power if any of these power-draining issues occur. In short, using this “doubling” figure is the safest way to ensure there is voltage throughout your fence line. ACREAGE RATINGS ON AN ELECTRIC FENCE CHARGER Acreage is a less common power metric to find on chargers because it’s less straight forward. Shapes with the same acreage do not necessarily have the same perimeter, and a perimeter is what you’re installing with electric fencing. But, if acreage is listed, treat it the same as you would miles. It’s the maximum of fence coverage for that charger, so at least double your acreage estimate when buying a charger for your paddock. JOULE RATINGS ON AN ELECTRIC FENCE CHARGER A joule is the measurement of energy used to rate low-impedance chargers. One joule equals one watt of power for one second of time. Joule ratings come in two forms: Output joules and stored joules. • Stored joules will be the higher number you see, as this is the amount of joules a charger has internally, without any power loss on the fence line. • Output joules is the actual measure of power that will be put out on your fence line, and therefore, the only number that matters to your animals. VOLTAGE RATINGS ON AN ELECTRIC FENCE CHARGER Voltage is the difference in charge between your ground and fence terminal. This power metric measures the actual shock force animals feel from the fence line. Voltage loss will occur as the electric current flows down your fence line, so it will feature a higher voltage the closer you are to your charger. Like other power metrics, consider that your fence system will have power drains along the fence line, so consider voltage ratings on the high end of the recommend voltage by animal. When animals are pictured or listed on chargers’ packaging, it’s because the voltage rating range on the charger falls within the safest recommended amount for that animal. This animal recommendation will apply to most standard fence setups, but take into account the other power metrics listed on the charger to understand the full picture of expected coverage for that charger. UL CERTIFIED LOGO ON ELECTRIC FENCE CHARGERS This logo is featured on products that are UL certified. This marking on the charger is typically found on the back of the charger or packaging. It signifies your charger is compliant with all U.S. safety laws for consumer electronics.