Best Battery for Electric Fencing

[Furry_footed_TB]

Hi All,

I am looking for recommendations for the most robust/longest lasting batteries for electric fencing. I recently bought a 12V energiser that I am really happy with but the battery lasted less than a week.

It's just for strip grazing - there is very little/no vegetation obstructing or touching the fencing and the circumference is less than 1km. Would need to be weather resistant as I'll be need it for winter grazing (also open to getting those covers/boxes, if that will improve longevity).

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance

 

[SpotsandBays]

I can’t help with any brand but I’m using some grazing next door and they have a leisure battery that they use. It’s huge and I did my back in trying to lift it once! It lives in a wheelbarrow (no cover) with a solar panel on the top. I just make sure to tip the wheelbarrow after it rains! (The height of safety here ?).
It covers quite a lot of fencing!
Edited to add: I’ve been using it for a year and haven’t had to charge it once

 

[I'm Dun]

I got a leisure battery off ebay for about £35 and a £15 solar panel and it hasnt needed charging all summer. It still holds a full charge as well.

 

[supernova21]

I've just bought an Agribatt and it holds charge really well
AgriBatt ELB40 Heavy Duty Electric Fence Battery 12V 27Ah c100 (tayna.co.uk)

 

[Melody Grey]

We use Halfords leisure batteries- probably not the cheapest option but guaranteed (I think?) for 12 months. Both on decent stretches of fence and will go 14 days ish between charges using a super high energiser. Watching this thread with interest though incase anyone comes up with a cheaper option!!

 

[millikins]

I have a leisure battery which was expensive, about £70 from a caravan shop and it's very good, needs charging a couple of times a year. I also have a car battery that cost £10 from the scrap yard, that gets charged more often but when it packs up I'll take it back and replace it with another one. My solar trickle charger worked well but the connections corroded over winter so I need to replace that and look after it better.

 

[Carrottom]

We bought a Halfords one nearly 10 years ago. For the first few years the charge lasted about 3 months, it had gradually reduced to 6 weeks, however there is quite a lot of vegetation touching the fence.

 

[Britestar]

You need a leisure battery if you want to re charge it. They are designed for that purpose, ex car batteries are not.

If its the sealed batteries, I'm suprised at only a week. I've had one going the whole summer without a problem.

 

[Berpisc]

Just jumping on here, those of you who use trickle chargers, how weatherproof are they? I have bought a cheap and cheerful on to trickle charge batteries when I stop using a mains fencer, but don't know how hardy they are?

 

[millikins]

Just jumping on here, those of you who use trickle chargers, how weatherproof are they? I have bought a cheap and cheerful on to trickle charge batteries when I stop using a mains fencer, but don't know how hardy they are?

Mine was fine in the summer but the connections corroded when it got damp. Mine only cost £14 I think so not a big disappointment.

 

[Lamehorses]

Old car battery from local garage with a solar panel, literally last years with no attention. When the battery eventually dies swap at garage for free ?

 

[PeterNatt]

I use the Halfords Leisure Battery HLB678.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

Leisure batteries are supposed to be used with electric fences. They can be charged & run down without causing damage. Car batteries are not designed for this to happen. You can use a car battery for a while but it will sulphate & stop working unlike the leisure ones. I've always gone for the largest Amp Hour that I can afford. Last one was 120 ah. Just look for good deaLS & BUY ACCORDINGLY.

 

[honetpot]

I bought a small ag battery, just so I could carry it in a shopping bag, I have a cheap solar panel that keeps it topped up, it's running three lines on a three acre paddock, with a high power energiser. It lasted most of last summer without needing a charge.
https://www.google.com/search?q=Agr...IAV2SAQExmAEAoAEBoAECsAEAwAEB&sclient=gws-wiz
I have also used old car batteries and leisure batteries, the car batteries I swapped every two weeks, leisure batteries last longer, but they are blooming heavy.

 

[Melody Grey]

There’s nothing wrong with using old car batteries in my opinion if you can get them- they won’t last as long but if you’re lucky enough to get them cheap/ free you might as well.....sadly my supply dried up!

 

[millikins]

There’s nothing wrong with using old car batteries in my opinion if you can get them- they won’t last as long but if you’re lucky enough to get them cheap/ free you might as well.....sadly my supply dried up!

I'm lucky, I have a scrap yard about 5 miles away and the guys are really helpful and find me one with a bit of zap left in it.

 

[Apizz2019]

I use this one and it's brilliant. No charging needed and it throws out 7,000 volts, which works for our pony as he respects fencing.