Didn't Anticipate This

[3KillerBs]

I'd bet you could cleverly cut a cover that would hinge on the handle.
....and/or maybe just set the whole thing on an angle with the switch 'pointed' down so it wouldn't gather water?

I'll be able to do something once I'm sure it is dry but I'm not going to compromise the usefulness of the handle. A bit of plastic (from a milk jug, perhaps?), duct taped to the top of the battery so that I can easily flip it up to access the button ought to do the job.

It can't be set on an angle because of the solar panel's angle adjustment to account for the height of the sun for different times of the year. The one annoyance I've had with this before is a tendency for it to tilt forward over time since the solar panel is a little off-balance at some angles.

 

[3KillerBs]

An AC charger might not work for you. I replaced one not long ago. I bought this one. This charger is an overkill for me but I guarantee whatever touches the wires will hurt for a couple of days. My old charger is a 1 joule and averages around 8,000 volts. I'm moving it to my chick/grow-out coop to replace an old .5 joule charger that has been not reading right. I moved the new charger up tight under the eve of a coop to keep it out of the weather. It averages around 14,000 volts/up to 6.3 joules. 7,000 volts would be the minimum charge I would recommend and for the charger at least 1 joule. A dew years ago we went through a hurricane and was without power for a week. I did use a power supply with an inverter and plugged the charger into it. I turned it off during the day and on at night. We borrowed my sister's generator but it wasn't big enough so we had to time share it. We couldn't run the well when running other things like the fridge and freezer, AC, etc. Whatever you decide, good luck...

The permanent coop will have a plug-in charger and this one will be used to protect a meat-bird tractor and for other like mobile uses.

 

[aart]

I'll be able to do something once I'm sure it is dry but I'm not going to compromise the usefulness of the handle. A bit of plastic (from a milk jug, perhaps?), duct taped to the top of the battery so that I can easily flip it up to access the button ought to do the job.

That's what I was thinking.

It can't be set on an angle because of the solar panel's angle adjustment to account for the height of the sun for different times of the year. The one annoyance I've had with this before is a tendency for it to tilt forward over time since the solar panel is a little off-balance at some angles.

I figured the adustability of the panel could compensate, too bad the unit is unstable....might need and other solution to remedy that issue.
...a wedge under front of unit might do both.

 

[3KillerBs]

That's what I was thinking.

I figured the adustability of the panel could compensate, too bad the unit is unstable....might need and other solution to remedy that issue.
...a wedge under front of unit might do both.

The adjustment is a series of discrete settings rather than a continuum.

I am handicapped in wedging it by the extreme lack of rocks in my ground, but now that we have the house we also have some brick chips and chunks that serve the purpose.

I'm quite pleased with the unit despite this minor annoyance of the button freezing -- which hadn't happened for a couple months of periodic below-freezing overnight temps until we had those severe storms. It's been the perfect first-timer's intro to electric fencing. We now know what we want for the permanent setup and where the advantages and drawbacks will be found.

 

[aart]

I am handicapped in wedging it by the extreme lack of rocks in my ground, but now that we have the house we also have some brick chips and chunks that serve the purpose.

I have a collection of wooden wedges that I use for many things.
Was thinking more of a piece(or two) of 2x4 about 6" long, 3-4" high, and cut at an angle lengthwise.
Hope that make sense.

 

[3KillerBs]

I have a collection of wooden wedges that I use for many things.
Was thinking more of a piece(or two) of 2x4 about 6" long, 3-4" high, and cut at an angle lengthwise.
Hope that make sense.

Hmmm. We collected the unused wedges from the placement of our house. Not sure if they're thick enough or if there is enough clearance underneath given the way the mount/ground spike is designed. But I could try them.

 

[aart]

Here's the wedge I was thinking of, laying on it's side.
At only 1 1/2" thick/wide it should fit between the stakes.
You only need to lift the front maybe an inch to drain the switch housing.

I've had with this before is a tendency for it to tilt forward over time since the solar panel is a little off-balance at some angles.

To clarify, I'm assuming this it the 'front' (forward side)?

 

[3KillerBs]

Here's the wedge I was thinking of, laying on it's side.
At only 1 1/2" thick/wide it should fit between the stakes.
You only need to lift the front maybe an inch to drain the switch housing.
View attachment 2467068

To clarify, I'm assuming this it the 'front' (forward side)?

View attachment 2467067

Yes, I'm referring to the solar panel side as the front.

 

[Mmanist]

Not possible with this design unless I never want to turn it off.

It was perfectly fine until we had swirling downpours on Christmas Eve and then a rapid temperature drop. That rain was worse than any of the 3-4 hurricanes we had this year (I actually forgot how many we had them so often).

Sounds about like Ohio's weather. Christmas eve was a sloppy down pour, then by Christmas morning we had 6 inches of snow, with 16 degree weather... so needless to say all that rain and wind Christmas eve blew my tarp up and froze my silkie coop shut. I had to dig 6 inches of snow, then use a crowbar to pry my door open..... I'd personally try to get a peice of tin or something, and make a flap, I can just slide over it in cruddy weather like this!

 

[jher77]

Just spray some rubbing alcohol on the switch. It will melt the ice and evaporate pretty quickly.