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Solar fence charger recommendatins

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modyinnh
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 13 East Central VT
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2009-02-16          160365


I need to put a fence around my 1 acre vegetable garden to keep the deer out. It's not close enough to the house so I need to go solar. Any suggestions? I know what some of you guys will say but all I have is a wrist rocket!:)



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hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3583 iowa
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2009-02-16          160366


I can't give specific brand recommendations, but I see lots of them around on a corner post where there isn't any electricity keeping cows in so they must work. I've tried the electric fencers around the garden that plug in like the "Weed Choppers" ect. but the deer seemed to not mind jumping over them. My best results have been using a deer and rabbit repellent that smells like liquid hog manure mixed with septic tank goo sprayed around the perimiter of the garden about three or four times a summer. Got mine at a farm supply store, don't seem to remember it costing very much. Frank. ....


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modyinnh
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 13 East Central VT
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2009-02-16          160369


Hmmmm... never thought about them jumping over. Duh! I'll check out the hog manure stuff. Thanks for the advice.
paul ....


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greg_g
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1816 Western Kentucky
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2009-02-16          160374


I have a friend with a deer farm, he uses a 12' perimeter fence to keep them in. Non-electric. That suggests that you'd need at least an 8' fence - electric or otherwise - to keep them out.

Deer are also said not to like the smell of humans. Using that logic, some folks have had luck making baggies outa their wife's nylons - filling them with barber shop sweepings - then hanging them on the fenceline.

If the crap and hair solutions don't work for you, consider a greenhouse.

//greg// ....


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AnnBrush
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 463 Troy OH
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2009-02-16          160376


Consider the number of strands you will run for the fence (electrified) and multiply by the perimeter distance, then buy a charger appropriate for that distance. Solar versions are about $130. Depending on the amount of sunshine you get you may need additional batteries. Plan to spend an additional $2 to 3 hundred for batteries, insulators, lightning arrestors, gate handles and specialty posts, wire appropriate for electric fencing etc.

I get most of my e-fence stuff at TSC ....


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Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2009-02-16          160384


Quote:
Originally Posted by modyinnh | view 160365
It's not close enough to the house so I need to go solar.Any suggestions?


First off I think you're under-estimating the power of a fence charger, even a small one will easily charge a few MILES of clean fence.

All you need to do is run some low voltage landscape lighting cable which is much like 2 condctor lamp or extension cord wire but designed for outside use, from the charger to the fence itself, then hook up the fence wire to it.

If your veggie patch is that exposed the deer will certainly be after it, the easiest way to protect it is to run several rows of wires about 4' apart, each consisting of at least 4 strands and 6' high, two rows minimum, four is better.

After all the wire is run, be sure to tie lots of plastic safety (caution) tape all along all the rows. The deer will not try to get through the multiple rows of electric wire.

Best of luck.
....


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earthwrks
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 3853 Home Office in Flat Rock, Michigan
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2009-02-16          160390


"After all the wire is run, be sure to tie lots of plastic safety (caution) tape all along all the rows."

Murf, if that's the case, then just stringing up any yellow tape should work, right? Or can the deer really read? tehehe
....


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greg_g
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1816 Western Kentucky
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2009-02-16          160392


Pretty sure deer only see in black and white (grayscale actually). But four strands six foot high won't keep'em out. The adults will go over the top, and the young ones will stumble through after them. I've got a seven wire fence on one property line that includes two electrified strands. Keeps my sheep in just fine, but the whitetails go over/through it regularly.

//greg// ....


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Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2009-02-17          160396


Jeff, they can't read, but thy sure can see, the tape show them there's something there. Lets them know theres more than one row too. In theory nothing but fishing line strung that way wil work, but it won't stop other smaller pests like young deer or stray livestock.

Greg, it's been our experience that a single 6' fence does nt even slow them down, but several rows, about 4' apart makes a high enough barrier that they can't jump them al in a single go, and 4' isn't enough space for them to either land or jump the next fence without getting tangled, something they will avoid. Deer instinctively just stay away from risky situations.

Best of luck. ....


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hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3583 iowa
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2009-02-17          160403


Iowa deer can read, the state puts signs along the road saying, "Deer Crossing". ....


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AnnBrush
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 463 Troy OH
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2009-02-17          160404


This all adds up, Murfs suggestion of 4 rows with 4 strands each works out to 2.7 miles of fence, assuming 208.75 feet for a side of the innermost fence. Say you have one insulator every 12 feet, that's 1177 insulators, at 25 insulators in a bag that's 47 bags and at $4 per bag you are at $188 ,just in insulators. For that distance wire will run you $ 170, if you decide to use tape expect to pay $425. As you can see the cost of the charger quickly fades into obscurity. As suggested this project will easily cost you over $1000. ....


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kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2009-02-17          160405


Maybe you could go to pound, get a couple of barking dogs, put them on chains with dog house there. ....


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bvance
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 280 The Great Pacific NorthWet, Olympia, WA
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2009-02-17          160415


We have Blacktails here and they eat everything I plant. I planted a raised-bed garden and surrounded it with a 5 foot cedar picket fence. I then put in 12 inch high raised beds spaced only about 2 feet apart. Everyone here told me the deer would easily jump that low of a fence, and I knew that but I was betting that they would see through the picket fence and see a very uneven landing zone and choose not to jump....and I was right. The key is there is no spot to land easily and safely so they move on. As Murf said, they will jump anything, as long as they feel safe about the landing zone.

I wanted a lower, nice looking fence because it is close to my house and shop and I did not want some honking big ugly fence or a double fence as Murf suggested. If they did or still someday decide to jump the 5' fence, I will place 3/8 inch rebar 3 feet high on each corner and string up some shiny tape that they use in orchards, so that it looks decent and then take down the rebar in the winter and early spring so it looks nice 6 months out of the year.

But so far, the 5'picket fence with the raised beds works beautifully.

Brian ....


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modyinnh
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 13 East Central VT
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2009-02-18          160421


To All, Thanks for all the advice and suggestions. I've still got a couple of months to decide what I'm going to do.paul
....


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kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2009-02-18          160424


Never seen this done but years ago was told it worked..tilt the fence out toward the side they would be jumping from..this creates a problem for judging depth to jump it.

....


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SamSpade
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 41 Vermont
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2009-02-18          160434


I have a similar fence to build this summer. Let us know what you decide to do and how it works out.

A high primary fence with a lower outer fence is the prevailing wisdom here. Similar to Murph's logic, just a different field implimentation. I am planning to go with 8 feet high and probably 8 or 9 strands of new zealand wire (high tension, .100" galvanized wire) with a 6 joule ac powered fence charger and an outer secondary fence. The new zealand wire is nice because it lasts a long time and it acts as a physical barrier even when it isn't charged. Mine will have to hold goats as well, that's why so many stands down low.

I use 5 strands (HGHHG) of new zealand wire and the 6 joule charger to keep goats in. Goats are a pretty good test of a fence, but they can't jump as high as deer. Particularly fat happy goats like mine. No, they're not fat, they just have a big rummen...

The money is in the wire and fence posts, so it's worth it to get a good fence charger so the wire you put up will have bite. And go with good posts.

Murph's right about miles of wire. You can string the feed wire high or bury it from the charger to the fence. A charger that can charge any length of fence can easily supply that fence over a long feed line that isn't grounded by weeds. String it more than head high, though. It sucks to brush your head against 6 joule charge while strolling barefoot in the morning dew... Knocks a fella right down.

A solar charger may work but an ac charger will have much more bite for less money. The largest solar charger in kencove is a .5 joule as opposed to a 6 joule ac charger for 1/3rd less money. If you can find a way to use AC rather than solar, that would be my suggestion. A less expensive ac charger can charge an awfully long feed wire to get to where your fence is.

For fencing supplies I generally order from Kencove.com. I have also heard good things about a fence company in NH, Premier, but I haven't used them.

Be prepared for sticker shock though. A fence can be a big investment. ....


Link:   Kencove solar chargers

 

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twarr1
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 2 TX
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2009-02-21          160478


Last year around our garden I used a Zareba Solar charger from TSC. It kept our 4 horses out fine. It is a low impedence "pulse" type and maxes out my 10,000 volt fence tester on about 1/4 mi of fence. It is now on loan with my neighbor and he is using it for temporary grazing for his 3 horses. He has had no issues either.
As for deer, I have heard (and others have already mentioned) that two rows of fencing about 4' apart is the most effective. ....


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