Solar electric fence- any good

rje66 · 02-02-2026 10:42AM #1

As per topic, just need to keep a few horses in a paddock. Are the solar powered units any good? Something like the pic.

IMG-20260201-WA0002.jpg

emaherx · 02-02-2026 11:13AM

Depends on what you want to do, the one in the picture is fine for strip grazing, but you'd want a bigger unit to fence anything over a few acres in size.

You may find better value with a 12V fence unit, a car battery and separate solar panel if you are looking at fencing in anything over 3 or 4 acres.

Buy and size according to the area you want to fence, the is this unit any good question is very subjective as that might be a great unit when used for strip grazing or small fields but totally useless if you want to fence a big area. What are you trying to cover?

_Brian · 02-02-2026 01:24PM

We’ve been running a solar panel and a fence on an out farm waiting for power.

It works well but struggles this time of year to keep the battery charged. I’m using a 30w solar panel charging a car battery. We keep wee weanlings grazing out over the winter so need the fence all year, you’d need the same for horses.

If I were making it a permanent fixture I’d do it differently.

You can buy a domestic 450w panel for maybe €75

Charge controller for €50

Slightly larger battery capacity maybe €150

massive overkill for the summer but for the darker days like now the larger area of the panel would still collect enough power to keep it charged.

Been a pain for the last two/three weeks as with the dull weather I’ve been connecting the fencer to the tractor battery and starting that every few days to charge it back up. Should have electricity by end of the month.

Bass Reeves · 02-02-2026 01:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124199571#Comment_124199571

Home made ones are grand but are not very portable. I got a Farmstokk 4300 last year. Drew the grant for it. I think I got it for 450 euro. You can get the vat back as well. Its got a fair whack off it well capable of running a fence on 20-30 acres depending on amount of weed and briar on the wire. Its handy to be able to move easy to keep livestock away from it

https://www.coopsuperstores.ie/products/farmstokk-solar-energiser-fencer-s4200-upto-50-acres-0768966?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22441055273&gbraid=0AAAAADp56POa-zmRn5AJ7Jwx7uDcENVhM&gclid=CjwKCAiAs4HMBhBJEiwACrfNZU5uTe2PNCNGabnXy4gNd7HNJBahrz3nqetaWPCqmkORclWWEHwjJxoCkW0QAvD_BwE

Wildsurfer · 02-02-2026 01:47PM

I dont think revenue would be happy paying back the vat on something as portable as that. Did you put it under the guise of permanent fencing?

Bass Reeves · 02-02-2026 01:50PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124199893#Comment_124199893

its an allowable item no shenangians, pigtails, battery fencers and I think even batteries are reclaimable. A lot of accountants do not realise it.

emaherx · 02-02-2026 02:05PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124199850#Comment_124199850

Absolutely, but many are buying portable strip grazers and trying to cover large areas and then claiming all solar is useless, a home made one can be made as portable as you like, but like factory made units you can have max portability or max power but unlikely to achieve both without some compromise. My argument for a big DIY version is to cover the whole area without moving between paddocks or ever having to bring in to recharge. Being super portable probably means having to move it more often or having to worry more about the weeds and briars so in some situations is only creating more work. But I also accept that not all situations are the same so there is definitely a place for that nice all in one unit too.

I'm also pumping water with the same panel as the fence unit, so portability becomes moving with the front loader anyway.

Kevhog1988 · 02-02-2026 05:29PM

I use a gallagher s40 on rented ground. It's brilliant

Say my name · 02-02-2026 08:02PM

I have it in my mind to make up a unit in an IBC tank with a door made on the side. It can lifted in place with the pallet forks on the loader.

Two or three even, 12 volt batteries connected together in parallel. So + to +, - to -. And it'll be still 12 volt to the fencer.

Have the charge controller rated for the max amperage from the solar panel of course.

Typing it so it'll be probably be done next year or the year after.

emaherx · 02-02-2026 08:24PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124200678#Comment_124200678

Got to ask, have you sized the system you are planning or just going all in to be sure to be sure? Is going to be used in the winter months or just going to cover a big area?

Say my name · 02-02-2026 08:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124200741#Comment_124200741

I've just thought about it in the last five minutes. So to be sure to be sure, and what if a nuclear holacaust came to run the TV on with an inverter between to watch static.

Fine Day · 02-02-2026 08:48PM

I use a solar Lacme for the grazing season for abit of ground thats over the road. I find it a great Job. No issue only I do fear of it getting nicked even tho I have it hidden.

epfff · 02-02-2026 09:20PM

I have a few of the a shock rite ones.

I bought them online and they were dpd from Donegal.

Have the first one about 4 years now and no problems from April until about mid September early October they go dead.

They priced right so I have 2 spare to swop round that time of year.

DayInTheBog · 02-02-2026 09:31PM

A timely thread . I've just one question.

I'm planning on making an enclosure with weld mesh which Will be attached to wooden stakes. Would I be able to attach one of these to the fence or would doing this cause power to drain due to the stakes?

It's for poultry.

Thanks

Bass Reeves · 02-02-2026 09:38PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124200898#Comment_124200898

If it for poultry you will need the mest touching the ground or even under it. Whike with wooden stakes it might work during tge summer it would earth during the winter.

Clip the wings of the hens

Say my name · 02-02-2026 09:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124200898#Comment_124200898

You'd have to use insulators between mesh and stakes. Yes it would earth and drain through the stakes.

emaherx · 03-02-2026 08:13AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124200766#Comment_124200766

Probably a little off topic,

But if you are serious about a portable power solution with house backup in mind a single 48V 100Ah LifePo4 battery will run upto a 4KW inverter.

I was going to build something similar in a campervan, but I got an all in one portable power station for nearly half price in the Black Friday sales, which ended up being a similar price to a DIY solution.

There'd be no issue running electric fences anyway!

_Brian · 03-02-2026 09:16AM

I see these panels advertised in Athlone. Savage value for the output. This is that I’d use for a permanent solar fence. And a 200Ah leisure battery, two if you wanted to be sure. Decent Victorian Charge controller and you’d have a setup that you could rely on.

emaherx · 03-02-2026 11:14AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124201598#Comment_124201598

I was going to say the 200Ah battery is way overkill - but It's probably not if you have cattle out in Dec

But here is a helpful site: https://www.batterystuff.com/kb/tools/solar-calculator.html and for a 10J fence unit drawing 6W it's probably perfect with a little comfort.

	Calculation Type	Value
Estimated Watt demand
3	Total Watts Per Hour (DC) DC Amps x System Voltage	6 Watts
Hours per day
6	Hours Equip is expected to run (24hr) as per application	24 Hrs d-1
Watt-Hours per day
9	Total daily usage Watts x Hours	144.00 Watt-Hrs d-1
Amp-hour calculation
10	Total watts Daily requirements	144.00 Watt-Hrs d-1
11	Corrected for battery losses Assumes static average loss	146.880 Watt-Hrs d-1
12	System voltage DC voltage only	12 Volts
13	Amp-hours per day Watts divided by Volts	12.240 Amp-Hrs d-1
Battery bank calculation
14	# of days backup power required Average 24 hour periods	7 days
15	Amp-hour storage Raw capacity you need	85.6800 Amp-Hrs
16	Depth of discharge Assumes 50%	0.5 fraction (enter decimal)
17	Required amp backup Prevents excessive discharge	171.3600 Amp-Hrs
18	Battery Amp Rating (20 hr) Battery Capacity in Amps	200 fraction
19	Actual # batteries wired in parallel Raw number	0.86
20	Batteries wired in series Relates to system voltage	1.00
21	Rounded number of Batteries Always rounded up	1
Solar Panel Array calculation
22	Sun hours per day (Direct only) Be realistic!	1 Hrs
23	Worst-weather multiplier* 1.55 default	1.55 fraction
24	Total sun hours per day Assumes average sun	0.645 Amp-Hrs
25	Select panel size (Watt rating) Watt hour rating	400 Watts
26	Nominal Panel Voltage Approximate Solar output	16 Volts
27	Amps required from solar panels Total daily consumption	12 Amps
28	Peak amperage of solar panel Watts divided by Volts	25.000 Amps
29	Number of solar panels in parallel Raw Number	0.759
30	Number of panels in series (12 V) it is 1 for 12v, 2 for 24v, etc	1
31	Rounded number of solar panels Always rounded up	1

_Brian · 03-02-2026 07:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124201843#Comment_124201843

Electricians submitted cert for wiring so hopefully we will have power in the next few weeks. We rely on the fence on both farms all year round and my current setup of a 30w solar panel just struggles during winter long wet spells like we’re just having. Frosty bright days would be grand. But this lousy dark wet weather is no use.
Your best design any system for the most strenuous conditions and have excess at other times.

rje66 · 03-02-2026 11:23PM

Op here. Thanks for all replies. The area is a lot of small paddocks with a few drains. So lots of linear meters. There's a 'chance' of getting mains out of a near by building so this will be probably better option. Will need decent power year round as if horses get out of paddocks they could end up on a road, so need to be careful here.

DayInTheBog · 05-02-2026 04:11PM

Thanks all.most helpful

DayInTheBog · 05-02-2026 04:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124200921#Comment_124200921

Its more to stop foxes getting in. We used to free-range until a fox turned up recently

limo_100 · 11-02-2026 04:05AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124199842#Comment_124199842

how much is a farm connection as I need to get one myself. Are you just getting a fence connection or a full one?

limo_100 · 11-02-2026 04:11AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124199850#Comment_124199850

how many output joules is that fence ? I have applied for the grant and was think of getting the 6j solar fencer from stradbally but it’s abit of a unit.

That would be oversized for the job in fairness as I only need it over 40acres but I do find they overestimate there ranges. I have a g303 on another 40acres and cattle wouldn’t even think about it. That’s fencer is about 800 minus the grant

Bass Reeves · 11-02-2026 09:32AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124225371#Comment_124225371

I have a solar pump and have a 12v cheetah fencer on that. Portability was important to me. The reference cost is 475 so maximum grant is 190. You can draw vat back as well. It would do 40 acres but you would want very clean fences all the time. Its 4.2 joules Ian not sue if that is total or output

_Brian · 11-02-2026 10:06PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124225367#Comment_124225367

It’s part of the house renovation so it’s just disconnected while we’re refurbishing. We’re only having to pay for a meterbox move.

Water John · 11-02-2026 10:52PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124225367#Comment_124225367

Full one 12 kva is €3,600. 2 kva requires a technical assessment, charge €1,233 for that. Don't know if that's deducted then from the connection charge. The 12 kva seems better value.

limo_100 · 11-02-2026 11:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124228192#Comment_124228192

Do I just ring the ESB how long does a connection take? I'll have to get them out as I have two different power lines running through the yard a single phase and a 3phase

Water John · 11-02-2026 11:48PM

Depends on how near a transformer is on the single phase line.

Jimbo789 · 12-02-2026 12:18AM

Do you need to have cattle for the Tams 3 application for Solar electric fencer to be approved. In the list of eligible items it's listed in the Bovine Fencing section and not Sheep Fencing or Equine Fencing sections.

Solar electric fence- any good

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