Charging 12v battery for fencing...

[minigal]

I bought a cheapish 12v battery for my electric fencing. Have a fab energiser and it does the trick but it's not holding it's charge anymore. I will change to a decent leisure battery I think but just wondering about the solar trickle chargers. Will these be any good at extending the charge of the battery? Thanks in advance.

 

[perfect11s]

I bought a cheapish 12v battery for my electric fencing. Have a fab energiser and it does the trick but it's not holding it's charge anymore. I will change to a decent leisure battery I think but just wondering about the solar trickle chargers. Will these be any good at extending the charge of the battery? Thanks in advance.

It depends on the output of the solar panel about 10/20 watts would do it however are fairly expensive so if you have it nicked not funny , its up to you.. me I would have two baterys and swap them over and take them home to charge from the mains with a cheap car batery charger...

 

[joeanne]

I have heavy duty 12v batteries for mine. One battery lasts about 4 weeks, before I need to swap it for a fresh one.
Did you wrap yours in the cold? Quickest way to kill a battery is have it out in the kinds of temps we have had recently with no insulation around it.

 

[Louby]

Our battery lasts months, I dont know why. Its 'electrifying' a lot of tape too. I find I take it home every few months to charge as I cant believe it doesnt need doing!
A livery bought a solar charger and we used it over the summer before she took it as she moved fields and I never charged the battery once. I dont know if this was the charger or just the battery never needing charging.
When I do charge the battery, I do it over night when the horses arent out so I only need the one battery.

 

[KarynK]

I use one like this
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/12v-Solar-Pan...=UK_Gadgets&hash=item19c1ab7e7f#ht_1985wt_905

It extends the charge of a battery by quite a period, leisure batteries are the best as they are designed to run right down, where vehicle batteries are not.

These trickle charges are cheap so not such a problem if they are stolen, they will work inside a clear plastic bag if outside and mine will even show a trickle charge in moonlight, so even on a dull day it charges. But they are not good enough to charge a flat battery, just keep one topped up for longer, how long depends on the condition of the battery.

I have several batteries and sometimes by them for £10 at a local car scrap dealer, they last for a while then I dump them. There is some stuff you can buy to regenerate batteries but it looks complicated!

Just make sure that your fence is not earthing out anywhere as that will drain a battery really quickly.

 

[minigal]

Thanks guys my car batt has lasted a few months being charged ever 4-6 weeks or so, reckon it must be either ending it's life or earthing somewhere. Will check today for any earthing, but I think a leisure battery is the way to go!! Any recommendations? Would they need trickle charging/would it prolong their charge? Mine are out 24/7 so it's useful to have it electricifed all the time. Thanks again.