Disclaimer: This article has been refreshed in June 2023 with the latest inputs.
Electric fencing is a simple way to keep nuisance animals away from your garden or home premises. There is a wide range of traditional electric fence chargers on the market, but we talk about solar-based fence chargers here.
Many brands sell solar fencers, and we would like to have a look at some of the top-seller models in our take on the Zareba, Gallagher, Parmak, and Fi-Shock solar fence chargers. The list also features models from other smaller brands such as Premier1, SilverStreak, Patriot, and more.
Different types of wildlife animals like pigs, rabbits, or donkeys may infiltrate your garden or farm. A solar electric fencer is a cool way to block such entries at no cost of power. These fencers are also fine for farm owners to contain their livestock on their farms.
As you see, the key advantage of a solar fencer is that it requires no power connectivity.
For that reason, you can install it anywhere in your garden or farm irrespective of the need for an adjacent power outlet. Most of the solar fencers on the market are waterproof solutions so that they can endure all climatic conditions.
THE BEST SOLAR FENCE CHARGERS AT A GLANCE
Zareba ESP5M-Z 5-Mile Solar Fence Charger
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Parmak Solar Pak 6 Solar Fence Charger
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Gallagher S12 Solar Energiser
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Table of Contents
Best Solar Electric Fence Chargers
The technology behind a solar fencer is very simple. It comes with a solar panel and a battery pack. The solar panel is meant to power up the battery, which electrifies the fence when some animal comes across, pushing them away from crossing your fences.
In other words, the stored power gets transferred to the fence connected when there is an animal in contact with it. Each solar fencer comes with a specific distance range, output power, and other specs.
Here, we would like to bring you to some of the coolest solar fencers you can buy at great prices.
Zareba, Gallagher, and Parmak Solar Fence Chargers
These are the three main brands in the market of solar fencers. All the brands showcase multiple variants of their products to meet the diverse requirements of users. The models differ with various factors like joule, coverage distance, solar panel power, battery capacity, and more.
In this article on Zareba, Gallagher, and Parmak solar fence chargers, we would like to cover all the best-seller solar fence chargers in detail. Stay tuned to check out the best models at a glance below.
1. Zareba ESP5M-Z 5 Mile Solar Fence Charger
Key Features and Specs at a Glance
- Powerful 5-Mile Solar Fence Energizer.
- 0.10-Joule Output and 6V Battery Inside.
- Low Impedance Technology to Reduce Battery Drain.
- Portable and Handy Solar Fence Charger.
- Perfect for Blocking all Types of Nuisance Animals.
We would like to start our list of the best solar electric fence chargers with a top seller model from Zareba Systems. As the title suggests, it is a 5-mile solar fencer that turns out to be an amazing solution to contain all types of nuisance animals including hogs, horses, cats, chickens, etc.
It is a low-impedance energizer and so it can reduce the battery drain. You can easily mount the fence charger on a post or a flat surface and connect it to the fence to guard your premises and farms.
Coming to specs, it is a 0.10-joule fence charger and it can offer you a distance coverage of up to 5 miles of fences in ideal weed conditions. The included battery is a 6V unit that is pretty good to store enough power for the device to work for around two weeks without the sun.
Long-lasting charge, versatile installation compatibility, and 360-degree rotation are the key attractions of the solar fence charger, which is fully designed in the USA and the brand offers a 1-year warranty that even covers the damage from lightning.
2. Parmak Solar Pak 6 Solar Fence Charger
Key Features and Specs at a Glance
- Powerful 25-Mile Solar Fence Energizer.
- 1.4-Joule Output and 6V Rechargeable Battery.
- Exclusive Built-in Performance Meter.
- Ideal for Locations with Heavy Weeds.
Here, we have one of the most powerful solar fencers from Parmak on our list of the best solar electric fence chargers. This is actually one of the most popular solar fencers on the market. Specs-wise, this is a low-impedance energizer with a lot of brilliant features including an exclusive built-in performance meter.
As its title says, it can charge up to 25 miles of your fence in ideal conditions.
Coming to the output, it is a 1.4-joule energizer with a 6V rechargeable battery. So, you can collect quite enough power to run the fencer for several days even if there was no sun in the sky. This can ideally control livestock and wildlife from entering your properties. It can even shock through wet weeds and brush.
3. Gallagher S12 Solar Fence Charger
Key Features and Specs at a Glance
- 4-Mile Solar Fencer That is Ideal for 18 Acres of Area.
- Lithium Battery and 0.12-Joule Output.
- Perfect to Control all Types of Nuisance Animals.
- Low Impedance Technology to Save Battery Drain.
Gallagher’s 4-mile machine is another cool pick on our list of the best solar electric fencers. As you see, it can power up four miles of your fence in an area of 18 acres. The total output of the charger is 0.12 joules and indeed it works on the low impedance technology, which can save your battery from a quick drain.
Thanks to the rechargeable lithium battery, it can store enough power to operate the fencer for up to three weeks without the sun.
It is a handy and portable solar fencer. You can move it around your property and fix it anywhere quickly. The included mounting bracket helps you install it on any type of post, wall, and flat surface. Further, it equips a Fence OK light to let you check if it works.
Being one of the best solar fencers, you can certainly use it to control a variety of nuisance animals from your properties.
4. Patriot PS5 Solar Fence Charger
Key Features and Specs at a Glance
- 0.04-Joule Output and a Decent Battery Inside.
- Handy and Portable Solar Fence Charger.
- Ideal for Securing Small Properties From Animals.
- Easy to Install Solar Fence Charger.
This is yet another top-seller entry-level solar fence charger.
The Patriot PS5 solar fence energizer is a basic 0.04-joule unit that can power up a small fence and contain small nuisance animals. It can perfectly secure up your small pastures, gardens, and plots from a variety of livestock and wildlife.
Well, it has got a 4V rechargeable battery so you can store some energy to power up your fence at night and on cloudy days as well.
Of course, it is a very compact and powerful fence charger. For the battery and the overall size of the unit, it is indeed a nice pick you can choose for setting up an electric fence in your home, garden, and pasture.
It has got a carrying handle so you can move it around in your properties and fix it anywhere quickly. Again, remember this is only a basic solar fence charger so it works nicely with short fences only.
5. Fi-Shock 2-Mile Solar Fence Charger
This is the entry-level solar fence charger of Fi-Shock, a brand of Zareba Systems, a key player in electric fence systems. It can power up to two miles of the fence around your garden or farm. Well, the fencer works with different fencing materials that include steel, poly wire, poly rope, etc.
Moreover, it features a low-impedance technology, which helps prevent the quick drain of the battery by limiting the shortage of power while low-impeded objects like weeds come in contact with the fence. Use the link below to check out the latest price of the solar fence charger and buy a unit.
Overall, it is perfect to contain different animals like rabbits and chickens. It sports a 4V battery that offers 04-joule output. You get intermittent DC output from it, which is enough to power 2 miles of fence. As you see in the photo above, it is a small and handy device. It weighs just around 4 lbs and has a size of 6.4 x 10 x 11.1 in.
Why Should You Buy
- 2-Mile Distance Range in Ideal Conditions.
- 04-Joule Output and 4V Battery for Power Storage.
- Low Impedance Technology to Control Battery Drain.
- Very Handy and Portable Solar Fence Charger.
- Ideal for Blocking Small Animals.
6. Zareba 30-Mile Solar Fence Charger
Of course, this is the top-end model of the Zareba solar fence energizers. With a distance coverage of 30 miles and an output of 0.5 joules, it is indeed one of the most powerful low-impedance solar fence chargers.
Notably, like all similar products, it can offer you a power backup for up to two weeks, thanks to the built-in 12-volt rechargeable battery. Moreover, this is an ideal choice for heavy weed conditions, though the distance range would be limited a bit. Follow the button below to order a unit of the charger.
Sure, this Zareba solar fencer is perfect for controlling all livestock, nuisance animals, and other creatures from entering or leaving your farm in a location with no grid connectivity. The installation of the device is also simple though it is a bit heavier in size. You can just follow the instructions and quickly mount it over any posts.
Apart from posts, you can also mount it on a wall or a flat surface as well. This Zareba solar fencer has good customer feedback and so you get a wonderful piece of solar fence charger if you go for this.
Why Should You Buy
- Powerful 30-Mile Solar Fence Energizer.
- 0.5-Joule Output and 12V Battery.
- Low Impedance Technology to Reduce Battery Drain.
- Perfect for Heavy Weed Conditions.
7. Premier Solar Intellishock 60-Fence Energizer
Here comes the sixth pick on our list of solar fencers. It is from a brand called Premier 1 Supplies and the product is a powerful all-in-one 0.60-joule solar energizer. It features an included step-in ground stake to support the energizer. Its large capacity battery lets you operate it for long days in no sunlight.
Different from most of the above items, you can adjust its solar panel. That is how you can use it smartly by adjusting the PV panel as per the seasonal light availability.
Moreover, it is a bit larger and more powerful device and so is capable of powering up a long stretch of your fences. Check out its latest price on the link below.
As you see, it is not meant for mounting over a pole or post. But it comes with U-spike that you can use to fix the device or use a 1-feet ground rod to place it nearby the fences to be charged. Well, you get the solar fencer kit with a number of accessories, including a 12Ah lead-acid battery, charger, U-spike, wiring harness, and more.
Of course, the Premier 1 Supplies product is one of the best fence chargers on the market. You can use it to electrify a longer stretch of fence to safeguard your livestock or to protect your garden or farm from wildlife.
Why Should You Buy
- Powerful 0.60-Joule Solar Fence Charger.
- 12V/12AH Sealed Lead Acid Battery Inside.
- Easy-to-Install With the Included U-Spike.
- Adjustable 10W High-Efficiency Solar Panel.
8. Silver Streak 5-Joule Solar Fence Charger
The next is a 2-joule powerful solar fence charger from Silver Streak. With a good output and better distance range, it can activate 1 to 100 acres of the fence smoothly. Also, it is designed to work ideally in heavy weed conditions so you can get the maximum result from this machine.
It comes with no internal battery. You need to buy a 12V battery to run the system. It works best with a deep-cycle battery so get one and clip it on to go with electric fencing. Follow the button below to order a unit of it.
Coming to specs, it is a 115V, 60-cycle pulsed solar fence charger with an output of 2 joules. Surely, its strong build makes it ideal for extreme weather conditions. It features an indicator to show if the fencer is in action.
You can fix it on your property very easily. Just follow the instruction manual and it goes quite simply. This is certainly another cool way you can electrify your fence to keep away all kinds of wildlife and livestock.
Why Should You Buy
- 2-Joule Solar Fencer to Activate 1 to 100 Acers.
- Increased Durability and Waterproof Design.
- 2-Joule Output for Better Fencing Results.
- Low Impedance Technology.
- Free Lightning Diverter.
9. Gallagher S40 Solar Electric Fence Charger
As its name suggests, it is a bigger variant of the above Gallagher solar fence chargers. The 0.4-joule device is a nice choice for an area of 80 acres and it offers a single wire distance of 25 miles.
Like all similar products, it has got an integrated solar panel and battery. It can also store power to run the device for multiple days even if there would be no sunlight. Use the link below to buy a unit of the fencer.
You can install the fencer anywhere quickly. It comes with a built-in mounting bracket, which supports all types of posts. You can also fix it on a wall or even a flat surface. The handy and portable fencer charger is surely yet another fine solar-powered energizer of its kind out there.
Why Should You Buy
- Big Solar Fence Charger for 80 Acres of Land.
- 0.4-Joule Solar Powered Energizer.
- Capable of Powering 25 Miles of Single Wire Distance.
- Handy and Portable Fence Charger.
10. Parmak Magnum 30-Mile Fence Charger
Here is the final pick on our list of the best solar electric fence charging solutions.
This 30-mile low-impedance solar fencer from Parmak is yet another top seller of the kind. It comes with a sealed 12V rechargeable battery inside. And like all other models, you have it equipped with a small solar panel.
Thus, it charges the battery from the sun during the daytime and powers your fence all the time around. Use the button below to check out its latest price and buy a unit.
The Parmak solar fencer is capable of powering up your fences up to 30 miles in ideal conditions. And it offers 3.1+ joules of output, which is quite enough to prevent livestock, pets, and other animals from entering your pastures. The fencer is indeed ideal for all weather conditions as it is made weatherproof.
Why Should You Buy
- Powerful 30-Mile Solar Powered Energizer.
- 12V Rechargeable Battery Inside.
- Good Output of 3.1+ Joules
- Perfect for Preventing all Types of Nuisance Animals.
FAQs
1. Do Solar Fence Energizers Work?
Harnessing solar energy for powering your fence is indeed a great idea. It makes use of otherwise wasted solar energy to electrify your fences in order to safeguard your land and farm from nuisance animals.
Of course, solar fencers work. If you are located in a place with good sunlight, solar fencers will work exactly like traditional fence energizers.
However, as per the power and capacity of the model you own, you can electrify the fence of your properties at no cost after installation.
2. How Long Do Solar Fencers Last?
It depends on the battery capacity and power of the model you have. On average, a solar fence charge can store enough power to run the energizer for up to two weeks with no sunlight.
However, if you have a larger battery pack or additional battery support, it can keep your fences electrified for longer, for sure. Anyway, it is an incredible idea to rely on solar fencers to keep your fences charged for staying away from wild animals.
3. Can Solar Fence Chargers Kill Animals?
No, they don’t. Like traditional fence chargers, solar fencers only deliver low currents, which can neither kill nor permanently hurt animals. However, you should keep children away from the fences electrified by any means.
4. What is the Best Solar Fence Charger?
There are many brands that sell awesome solar-based fence chargers.
To name a few, Zareba, Parmak, Fi-Shock, and Gallagher are some of the leading brands. We have listed a number of the coolest solar electric fencers on our list. You can certainly find a matching model that meets your needs and budget from our compilation.
Why Solar Fence Chargers?
Solar fencers are great solutions to protect your remote fences from nuisance animals as well as to contain your livestock inside your farm or home premises.
Of course, you will find it hard to take grid connectivity to the distant boundaries of your properties to provide electric current to the fences. There you have the most reliable solar solutions. As you see, they simply let you make use of the electricity from the sunlight and convert it to fence strings.
Of course, the size of the fence energizer is key in selecting a unit for your property. On our list of solar fencers above, we have various models suitable to the properties of 3 miles to 30 miles. The size comes out to be a factor as it should provide enough current for both the length of the fence and the type of animal.
A low-powered fence charger can only control small animals on a small property. You must be looking for a high-powered variant to prevent larger animals from entering your garden or farm.
How Do Solar Fence Chargers Work?
Solar fence chargers work exactly like a normal electric fence energizer. Both leave a short and painful shock on an animal or a human that comes in contact with the fence.
The shock is indeed safe and won’t cause any physical damage to the animal. The normal fence energizers and the solar fencers vary in the fact that the latter receives the power for the shock from the sunlight. That is all. The rest is the same.
How to Use Solar Fence Chargers?
As you know, solar fencers are ideal to secure isolated pastures and gardens from nuisance animals. In fact, there is a wide variety of solar fence chargers on the market depending on the size and the output.
You can find solar chargers small enough to keep a rabbit out of your garden and large enough to contain a bull and everything in between, for sure.
Of course, it is very easy to set up a solar energizer. You don’t need to be an expert technician to install it. In some simple steps below, we have a complete guide on what to do with a solar charger out of the box.
1. Unboxing and Initial Charging
Before installation, you need to boost its battery by recharging it from the sun. That is to ensure optimal battery life for the device. For that, you can place the device somewhere in a way the solar panel would face the sun throughout the day.
Wait for around three days to fully recharge the battery. Typically, a fully charged solar fence charger can operate the device for around two weeks without the sun.
2. Mount the Solar Fencer
The next step is to mount the energizer near your fence. Most solar fence energizers come up with built-in mounting brackets that support a variety of post types.
Make sure you find an ideal location to mount the charger off the ground. The location should have enough sunlight and ensure the solar panel on the device comes in the face of the sun.
3. Connect the Fence to the Energizer
Next, connect the ground wire to the ground terminal hook of the fence charger. Then, connect this wire to a ground rod system using insulated cords and ground rod clamps. After, you need to connect the fence wire to the fence terminal of the energizer to pass the current.
4. Turn on the Energizer
After you successfully make both connections, it is time to turn on the unit. Make sure the unit is working by checking the Fence OK light.
By the way, use a voltage tester to check whether your fence has got adequate voltage. Keep checking the voltage at multiple points of the fence and if you see the voltage everywhere, you have done the installation job successfully.
5. Clean the Solar Panel
Of course, you need to occasionally clean the solar panel to remove the build-up of any wastage. It is to make sure there is no debris on the panel to block its exposure to the sun.
Apart from cleaning, a solar energizer needs virtually no maintenance at all. You need to only clear the external factors like weed growth over the fence to avoid voltage loss.
Zareba Systems
Zareba is a leading player in the electric fencing market. The brand features a wide range of products in electric fencing and it showcases its products under multiple brands such as Fi-Shock, RedSnapr, Blitzer, ElectoBraid, and American Farmworks other than Zareba.
If you are looking ahead to buying an electric fencing system, Zerba is indeed a great choice as it features multiple models to meet a variety of your requirements and budget.
Its product line includes AC, battery, and solar-based fencers, fence lines in different materials like poly rope, poly tape, poly wire, portable fence kits, high-tensile fencing systems, and accessories and parts.
Gallagher
Gallagher is actually a New Zealand-based brand of animal management systems. Since 1938, it has been serving farmers in harnessing the power to manage the entry of nuisance animals to their farms and pastures.
It is currently one of the world’s top suppliers of electric fencing systems and it also features a number of solar-based models. We have included a pair of its popular solar electric fencers on our list; S16 and S17.
Parmak USA
Parmak is the oldest name in electric fencing and solar fencing systems. Founded in 1921 with a specialization in farm radios and wind chargers, the firm has been pioneering the electric fencing industry since 1930.
Its founder Parker McCrory used to produce “Precision Electronic Equipment” decades before the world started to hear the term ‘electronics.’ Later, it was McCrory who realized the world’s first solid-state electric fencer in 1985 and the first solar fencer in 1979.
The brand currently offers a wide range of electric fencers with multiple solar-based models. We have included a pair of its models on our list of the best electric fencers, including its famous Magnum 30-mile fence charger.
Final Thoughts
That has been our take on the Zareba, Gallagher, and Parmak solar fence chargers. We have gone through all the popular models of solar fence chargers from the leading brands. If you are looking ahead to buying a solar fencer, you can surely find an apt model on our list. Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Vahid Vee is a full-time blogger who is highly passionate about off-grid and sustainable power systems and is an expert at researching and exploring new topics, checking facts, and presenting things in simple language. As an avid observer of the global off-grid power and battery market, he is really excited to share with you the latest trends, fresh products, and other developments in the markets. #Contact Email @ veevahid@gmail.com – LinkedIn – Full blog profile.
Parmak solar electric fence chargers are terrible. The circuit board on my solar fence charger burned out after one year, and the company’s customer service was a nightmare. Buyers beware!