Electric fence battery portable charger?

spotty_pony2

spotty_pony2

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Is there such a thing?

Currently I have to lug the battery back to the stables and plug it into the battery charger I have at the mains. It’s a pain as it’s so heavy.

Today I had a brainwave and wondered if there was a portable charger that I can charge up a try eatables and then take to the battery and charge it up in the field as this would be so much easier!

Does anybody have one?
 
I bought a solar power fence energiser from Amazon earlier this month, it’s a game changer!

Firstly it’s really light, easy to carry to and from the field and they say you really only need to charge once a month.

It actually works out less than I paid for my battery energiser and leisure battery.

The reviews are pretty good and I emailed the company as I couldn’t work out how to build the stand and they got back to me quickly.

My Animal Command Solar Powered... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B494JWMW?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
 
spotty_pony2 said:
That sounds good, and maybe will be something I’ll look into when the battery dies.

Is this a portable battery charger does anyone think?

Click to expand...

Yes but it does say for indoor use only, so I'm not sure it would help.

It's probably not the best time of the year, but a simple solar panel will keep a battery charged for ages.
 
I have a leisure battery solar panel on mine, the type you use on motor homes. Once you have a full charged battery, it keeps it full, depending on the size of the fencing. Also has a usb port, so handy to charge up my phone or head torch while I'm out there if needed!
 
meleeka said:
It's probably not the best time of the year, but a simple solar panel will keep a battery charged for ages.
Click to expand...

I've been using solar panels to keep fence batteries charged up year-round for more than a year now, it's been such a help. And environmentally friendly :).

You just need to make sure the wattage is high enough to counter the drain on the battery from the energiser, potentially needing a higher wattage panel in the winter.

Once establishing what wattage solar panel the energisers need (I have two types with a different output), the only time I've had to move a battery other than a fence move is when the battery has worn out and won't hold enough charge any more.
 
I have a solar powered energiser and the even if you need to boost it by recharging it occasionally the battery is much smaller than a car battery and really easy to take home and recharge.

I have this one but there are other really good ones out there. The battery can be replaced when it’s no longer holding charge very well.

www.chelfordfarmsupplies.co.uk

Rutland ESS 400 Solar-Powered Electric Fencing Energiser

<p>The Rutland ESS 400 Solar-Powered Electric Fencing Energiser is a highly effective and compact solar device, designed to provide reliable power for your fence system. Ideal for horse paddocks and smaller fence systems without vegetation, this energiser offers a sustainable and efficient...
www.chelfordfarmsupplies.co.uk www.chelfordfarmsupplies.co.uk
 
I also have a solar energiser and it’s an absolute life saver, especially as there is never a gap while I am charging the battery. This is mine and it has done a full year and never needed charging apart from the solar charge. For the price it may be more expensive than a portable battery charger but in the long term worth it.

mcveighparker.com

Gallagher Lithium Solar Energiser S20 inc battery

Operates for 3 weeks without direct sunlight Super-strong, drop-proof, water resistant housing Quick and easy to install Built-in lightning protection
mcveighparker.com mcveighparker.com

An alternative is the kind of car jumpstart packs some of which have a 240v plug socket that you could use to power your normal battery charger - again only for inside use

www.toolstation.com

Draper 12V/24V Jump Starter

12/24V portable and versatile jump starter, fitted with LED battery charge indicators. Features 2 x 230V output sockets, 2 x 12V output sockets, LED work light, USB output socket and polarity inversion warning.• 230V DC to AC inverter• 2 x 230V output sockets• 2 x 12V output sockets • LED work...
www.toolstation.com www.toolstation.com
 
Just add a solar panel to your battery. I have one like this:
www.sunstore.co.uk

12v 10w Solar Panel Monocrystalline 355x252. 5yr Component Warranty

Buy compact 12v 10w Solar Panel Monocrystalline 355x252. Off grid performance in sunny & overcast conditions. Easy connection. Tech support available.
www.sunstore.co.uk www.sunstore.co.uk
It won’t fully charge a battery from empty but will keep a full battery topped up. I don’t know how long it’ll keep it topped up if you run the energiser 24x7, but I turn the energiser off when the horses are stabled and I’ve not needed to charge up my battery by mains for years.
 
lizziebell said:
Just add a solar panel to your battery. I have one like this:
www.sunstore.co.uk

12v 10w Solar Panel Monocrystalline 355x252. 5yr Component Warranty

Buy compact 12v 10w Solar Panel Monocrystalline 355x252. Off grid performance in sunny & overcast conditions. Easy connection. Tech support available.
www.sunstore.co.uk www.sunstore.co.uk
It won’t fully charge a battery from empty but will keep a full battery topped up. I don’t know how long it’ll keep it topped up if you run the energiser 24x7, but I turn the energiser off when the horses are stabled and I’ve not needed to charge up my battery by mains for years.
Click to expand...

how do you connect the solar panel to the battery as well as the energiser?
 
You have two sets of crocodile clips on each battery terminal; one for the energiser and one for the solar panel - or you can connect one clip to the other clip, then that one to the battery.

As long as there is a connection to the battery terminal for each lead (solar panel and energiser) it doesn't matter too much how you achieve it.
 
PurpleSpots said:
You have two sets of crocodile clips on each battery terminal; one for the energiser and one for the solar panel - or you can connect one clip to the other clip, then that one to the battery.

As long as there is a connection to the battery terminal for each lead (solar panel and energiser) it doesn't matter too much how you achieve it.
Click to expand...
Don't you need a charge controller to do this? Can you get away without one if you just charge from time to time?. (12v system)
 
JackFrost said:
Don't you need a charge controller to do this? Can you get away without one if you just charge from time to time?. (12v system)
Click to expand...

It's been working for me with the basic setup I've described using... All connected 24/7, 365 days a year.

I wouldn't like to chance it with more sensitive equipment, more expensive equipment or in extreme heat, but I've got things balanced with a solar panel strength appropriate to the charge drawn by the energiser and the car battery's capacity.

Given that the energisers will always reduce the battery's charge overnight the batteries won't stay full for that long, maybe 14-16 hrs max in the height of summer? - it's not like leaving a battery on charge with a solar panel for days on end. And our UK sun isn't as powerful as other places in the world.

To be technically correct I think charge controllers are always advised unless you have less than five watts of solar power for every 100-amp hours of battery capacity, but it's worked for me for over a year now, and for a friend longer before that. It wouldn't be a bad thing to use a charge controller though!
 
JackFrost said:
Don't you need a charge controller to do this? Can you get away without one if you just charge from time to time?. (12v system)
Click to expand...

PurpleSpots said:
It's been working for me with the basic setup I've described using... All connected 24/7, 365 days a year.

I wouldn't like to chance it with more sensitive equipment, more expensive equipment or in extreme heat, but I've got things balanced with a solar panel strength appropriate to the charge drawn by the energiser and the car battery's capacity.

Given that the energisers will always reduce the battery's charge overnight the batteries won't stay full for that long, maybe 14-16 hrs max in the height of summer? - it's not like leaving a battery on charge with a solar panel for days on end. And our UK sun isn't as powerful as other places in the world.

To be technically correct I think charge controllers are always advised unless you have less than five watts of solar power for every 100-amp hours of battery capacity, but it's worked for me for over a year now, and for a friend longer before that. It wouldn't be a bad thing to use a charge controller though!
Click to expand...
As above ^^
The solar panel I use is 10W 12V panel.
With my usage there’s no need for a charge controller as no chance of over charging the battery.
 
PurpleSpots said:
It's been working for me with the basic setup I've described using... All connected 24/7, 365 days a year.

I wouldn't like to chance it with more sensitive equipment, more expensive equipment or in extreme heat, but I've got things balanced with a solar panel strength appropriate to the charge drawn by the energiser and the car battery's capacity.

Given that the energisers will always reduce the battery's charge overnight the batteries won't stay full for that long, maybe 14-16 hrs max in the height of summer? - it's not like leaving a battery on charge with a solar panel for days on end. And our UK sun isn't as powerful as other places in the world.

To be technically correct I think charge controllers are always advised unless you have less than five watts of solar power for every 100-amp hours of battery capacity, but it's worked for me for over a year now, and for a friend longer before that. It wouldn't be a bad thing to use a charge controller though!
Click to expand...
Thank you and lizziebell for your wonderful replies!! I'm experimenting to get something that works, so your input is a great help.

....toddles off to continue fiddling with wires...:)
 
It’s arrived and it’s amazing! Was so easy to set up! Just a question - why do you all do with your solar panels? I didn’t want to put it directly on the ground so it’s stood on a bucket tonight as I can’t decide where to hang it. I think the earthing rod slots in the back so it could stand on that but it doesn’t quite seem big enough. There are two and some screws so maybe I’m meant to attach them? 🧐 thinking aloud now!
 
Yep, many of them come with a small earth stake (I'd always add a second proper one as well) and you can slot them in. The angle points upwards, so face south and you're good to go.

I've been running the same 5 solar energisers for years now. Some bigger and more expensive for the more vulnerable bits and other smaller ones for small sections I need to fence off, strip grazing, etc.
 
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