Doing a test run of the new solar electric fence...

Good neighbors, priceless

I also have a solar charger, put it up Sunday. Now, I don't have to be worried about power outrages, which we have at least twice year.

You can buy fence posts that are lighter and cheaper than the big metal ones and put one in between each green post if you need to. I use them with my netting.
I actually used step in posts the whole way around. It made the process a lot easier, but they are a little more flimsy. It will work for now, but I'm going to keep an eye out for t posts at yard sales because I refuse to pay full price lol
 
Finished the fence on Friday. It was fairly quick and easy. The wire sags just a little but I think it is due to the posts I am using. I used step in posts, which only go about 6 inches into the ground. Eventually I will add metal T posts which will be more sturdy.
I tested the fence and it works on both sides. I must be a worry wart because even with the electric fence, I am nervous for my birds. I have never used an electric fence around my birds before, and never had a problem. So I'm not sure why I'm so worried.
There are some sections of the fence that have a large gap between wires. This is because some of the pegs on the fence post were broken, so i had to use the next one up. I will go back to those areas and tie on vertical hot wires to secure it a little bit better.
Overall, I'm happy with how it turned out. I'm proud of myself for teaching myself and succesfully making it over some hurdles that came up.
 
Shocking Update
So I tested the fence energizer yesterday afternoon after work. When I picked up the package off of the porch, I heard rattling. Uh oh. I open the box and see a tiny screw and a few tiny plastic pieces underneath the energizer. I look over the energizer and don't see any issues, so I assume maybe the pieces were from another product or something. Anyway, I put the energizer together and take it outside.

I did a test run of the energizer by placing two fence posts in the ground, and then wrapping two lines of polywire between them. I inserted the ground rod into the ground and hooked up the hot wire onto the fence. I turned on the energizer and heard the audible "click" indicating that the energizer was sending out a pulse. I place my very cheap voltmeter onto the hot fence wire and it freaks out. I don't know exactly why it was happening, but the voltmeter was showing all lights blinking, which made me wonder if the fence was actually working. The voltmeter was only supposed to show one light next to however much voltage was going through it. Instead, all lights were going off. I placed it on a different part of the wire and it wasnt illuminating at all, but made a clicking sound. I gave up on the voltmeter, and decided "you know what, I'll just touch the damn wire." Well, I touched the wire. And let me tell you, that thing works. I felt it go from my finger all the way down to my toes. Before I bought the energizer, I spent days researching on what size to get. I was worried I'd get one that was too light for coyotes or fox. Once I put my finger on that hot wire, I wondered no more. That fence is hot enough for most animals. Maybe even a bear, that's how strong it was.

Even though I had to touch the wire to test it, I'm elated that the energizer worked. I got it for about $50 cheaper than usual because I bought it during prime day. I was able to gather the rest of the items either on amazon (prime day :ya ) or from barn sales. The only thing I bought at full price was a single t post to hold the energizer and a metal grounding rod.

If the rain holds off today, I hope to start setting up the fence in its semi-permanent place. I assume the battery is not fully charged since it's probably been in a warehouse until now. So, I have it hooked up to a charger because it's cloudy today. In my next update, I will let y'all know how setting up about 180ft of fence goes. I'm going to have to weedeat about half an acre of waist-high grass due to not having a mower or bushhog available, but I'm going to get it done lol.
That sounds amazing! I want to do the same thing, minus the touching the wire and having it that big of an area!
Can you tell me just which things you bought? I am having a terrible time finding out just what to get. I only want a small area, like around my chicken house and coop so I don't want to have a huge area fenced, though who knows, if it works I might get more chickens and make a bigger area! I do have 3 acres and most of that is cleared with just trees and mowed ground!
Please tell me just which items I need to get. I would be satisfied with a cheap electric energizer or is it charger? And maybe an 80' total area, I think, around my things.
Would appreciate any advice!!!
 

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