HPR: Don't buy this solar powered electric fence charger!

We made a mistake with the first fence charger we bought from Tractor Supply Company. Don't buy this one!

[@robertchester2801]

I was about to buy one of these, thanks for the feedback it was very helpful.

[@hyporedrogers6708]

Good stuff !!! Im in the market for an electric fence, and your review has been informative and provided good information points for me to consider. Thank you.

[@savingmiller]

I hope you find a good one!

[@donnakaptain2927]

Thanks -- loved your honesty! I'm shopping for chargers now and this really helped.

[@savingmiller]

You're welcome!

[@kathydills4050]

Appreciate this great info as I have been thinking about getting one in the future.

[@octo1965able]

I agree, Im also in the market for an electric fence, and your review has been informative and provided good information points for me to consider. Thank you.

[@savingmiller]

Glad I could help! Save yourself some trouble and get one from Premier One Fencing. I really like the 3 that I have. Very reliable.

[@paparomesoutdoors711]

Thank you for the honest review, I need to get one for about a 1 acre lot with mesh for chickens and rabbits as well. All new to me trying to learn. Loved the ending btw that you can say whatever you want 👍💪🙌

[@savingmiller]

Glad it was helpful!

[@OdangaIsaiah-rh3cm]

I love your farm sir more love from Kenya I need this

[@GabrielMillerd]

The rechargeable has a lifetime of a few years, just as the manufacture says. Then the batteries need replacing. The more the batteries are drained and the more severe the climate, the less life they will yield. So it's more important than on a direct connect system to make sure weeds and so forth don't impact the fence. As it is not just the fence power that is impacted, but the lifespan of the batteries. But again, this is right there on the care for these units. Don't get one because it's a hassle to run a wire, get one because you cannot run a wire or the fence is temporary.

[@josephsmith4143]

An honest review, thank you.

[@savingmiller]

Glad it was helpful!

[@doylecarver1498]

Thanks for this. I need a charger right now.

[@sandrarichardson2713]

Thank you. I think if more people were willing to stand up and calmly, plainly explain why a product is not up to standard according to their experience with it---it helps the consumers looking to buy and hopefully it will help the manufacturer to improve their product. Jesus bless.

[@rcrowman]

My wife and I recently bought a small 3-acre parcel. We want to keep our dogs in and predators out. Your information was very helpful, especially since that's the exact power supply I was considering purchasing. I like the convenience of solar-powered units vs AC-powered, but I had concerns about whether solar would have enough power to do the job I wanted it to do.

[@LeonDbull]

You're dead on brosky. Good job!

[@TheKajunkat]

yeah we learned that lesson too. I bought 3 of them and they all failed within a year and half. non repairable too. This is one item where you just have to spend the money and get the good stuff.

[@wkboggs5]

Hey buddy, thanks for that info! I just bought a 10 mile one from there yesterday and I will be taking it back to get something different. What did you end up buying if I may ask?

[@TheKajunkat]

@wkboggs5 we ended up changing our strategy a little bit and bought an AC unit from Gallagher big enough to run the whole place. That thing is still kicking. Any of the brands from New Zealand seem to be head and shoulders above everyone else. There is a guy on KZbin (fence fixer repair)who fixes chargers (they all fail eventually, a curiousbull or lightningwillkill anything) and shows what components are needed for reliability. He makes recommendations

[@fluffypeanutcat]

In process of setting up my AFmWks charger for small garden plot to keep racoons out of sweet corn. Up to about 2:15 on video, sounded like a great product. So any theory on why went bad? You mention unit perhaps not sealed well enough from the elements.

[@alfilkemper9240]

Thanks for the info, the coyotes have killed too many of my chickens, purchased a movable electric fence & want to move my chickens away from an extension cord. I'm looking at a solar charger & know zilch about electricity, so will check on how much joules (I had to look the word up, spelled it wrong, but Google came through) the charger puts out. We have lots of gray days in spring & fall, so need a well working charger.

[@a.randolph8112]

I purchased the Patriot SG80 to keep deer out of the garden. It only lasted two summers before failing and I only had it on at night.

[@davidfarm8095]

thank you

[@Zeke-kx3zw]

Ok so what kind did you buy that DOES work? I’m needing one of those.

[@plumobryant7573]

Thank you for your review!! Ours was the same.👎🏻

[@savingmiller]

So I got an Intellishock from Premier 1. Here is what happened to TWO of them: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bYvCo2tqg9amjdU

[@taurustruckingaljabery1563]

Thank you for your advance 👍

[@savingmiller]

Always welcome

[@rickdaugherty9412]

You are so right bought 2 of them and both are broke 6 months later what is a good solar brand?

[@jorgecasas8623]

So which one were you use for Electrical Fence

[@dianesherman1141]

Same problem with ours, it failed quickly within two years and even with a new battery the light flashes, but no charge is output.

[@rogersmith8464]

I have purchased 2 of the same chargers in the last 4 years and both quite working. I will never purchase another farm works charger

[@olddave4833]

no surprise here, TS Co, Harbor Freight and Walmart are three of Chinas largest offshore stores, buy American. I have one of those chargers, by the time I was ready to hook it up and use it, the warranty had expired, the thing was no good. I even invested in a new battery and battery charger, and it still didn't work.

[@rafterh2181]

If you want a GOOD solar charger buy a Cyclops 12v set up a solar panel with charge controller and a deep cycle marine battery and walk off. It will cost a lot more but 100 per cent worth it! Got one thats been up and running 5 yrs no issues.

[@bryjbry]

If buying several chargers from Tractor Supply, buy one extended warrantee and use it to cover several charger :D

[@savingmiller]

Great idea

[@matthewknecht2898]

Which brand are you using now?

[@williambuyarski2070]

I purchased one very similar for my bee hives...16 x 14 ft. Nay or Yay

[@nicholsonfamilyacresnfaokl6099]

I just brought one hope it works

[@pittielover8949]

Same! I wish i saw this video prior to buying. Fingers cross it works!

[@davidskinner3963]

I have same unit and the solar cell itself went bad. Looking for a replacement now. I'll post back when I find a solution.

[@savingmiller]

Maybe you can upgrade to a more durable solar cell.

[@slimpickens0000]

While I understand that it broke, and I understand that you don't like it and I appreciate the heads up, I didn't catch where you actually talked about what the straw was that broke the camel's back. Any further diagnostic on why it's not working other than the cracks in it? I appreciate it

[@savingmiller]

My best guess is that the board failed. I wish I had pulled it apart. That would have been the smart thing to do. That is what I did with my Premier 1 chargers, under their direction.

[@lounichol5423]

That's what I was waiting for, the WHY it stopped working. I wouldn't base my decision to buy unless I knew why it failed. I have the same one that's been under use for years without a problem.

[@WilliamJones-js1rn]

I bought one and it failed in a couple of months. I sent it back and they supposedly repaired it. It worked for maybe a week a quit again. Not happy about it.

[@3dservicesllc]

any amount of dirt or poop will effect the solar panal. They need to be kept clean.

[@notsure9853]

Ya mine stopped working after 6mnths

[@dugtrux686]

Geez I went and bought one today. think ill take it back.

[@savingmiller]

Yeah, I really don't think it will hold up. Just not a long term product.

[@dugtrux686]

@@savingmiller second thought I'll water proof it and give it a whirl

[@stevebillow395]

So what charger are you using now

[@savingmiller]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/paTWZ2WtnN1sg6c

[@joanborthwick2271]

You also need to clean the solar cells

[@GigglingButterfly]

Crap, I am trying to install the 18 mile American Farmworks now .. it’s not cheap and I was hoping to get at least 10 miles out of it. But so far I’m still struggling with how to hook it up and get it working 😣

[@savingmiller]

Make sure you have a good ground. Two 4 ft copper rods 6 ft apart is a good idea. And make sure the fence is clear of weeds. To be fair, TSC does have a good warranty if it fails soon. I took one of mine back and got a refund. But the other one was too old.

[@GigglingButterfly]

@@savingmiller thanks, I’m gonna try to get a better ground today. I only had 1 copper ground in and hooked it to my wire that is only about 150 ft long and I could grab it and hold it tightly in my hand and only get a small zap. Thanks for your response

[@RPSGT88]

My father in law has one like that. Not working well.

[@crash6493]

So, which one did you replace it with that works so well?

[@savingmiller]

Premier 1 Fencing. I have a review of it as well. Search the channel.

[@ericlassiter6718]

What charger are you using now I’ve got got to replace my charger today

[@savingmiller]

Maybe buy one locally then return it when you can get one from Premier 1. SLPT!

[@charlieabel1533]

If I want to waste my money and buy a super cheap low quality charger, I'll go to Tractor Supply

[@jayyoder503]

I bought one of those as well that I no longer use. I had some issues with getting my fencers to work this past summer when it was unusually dry for several months. Do you need to increase your grounding to compensate for your dry soil?

[@savingmiller]

Yes, I drove in two 8 ft. rods and hooked both of them up to the ground. That works pretty well, but then the charger has to stay in one place.

[@jayyoder503]

@@savingmiller that is the downside of a otherwise portable system. I am currently using two 6’ rods and that seems to work well here.

[@maryannthorpe286]

You have to wAter your ground stakry

[@williamguthrey5009]

You need to keep the screen clean

[@garden2tableproduce]

Is it like they just loose power mine seems its just not as powerful

[@clintelawson]

If the panel is covered with bird dung, it ain’t gonna charge. This video frustrated me. lol

[@dwkentinc]

put some bird spikes on the charger to keep the bird shit off.

[@FarmerJim]

What did you get?

[@savingmiller]

Premier 1 Fencing. I have 2 videos about it. Here is a link to one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4DdcoZqZcxroZo

[@clintelawson]

Clean that panel off. It needs sun ! lol

[@user-xq9bh7ex3s]

Hello Friends Farmers, although we are from different countries of the world and all of us are united that we are farmers. I have lambs, unih coast wool is notory. The cows have thin wool. I am from Kazakhstan, I am holding a farmer. I will be glad to get acquainted.

[@Angel283]

So which one DO you recommend??

[@savingmiller]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4DdcoZqZcxroZo

[@FSE_TV]

Can I still connect it to a battery?

[@savingmiller]

There is a battery inside. You could replace it or add an external one. But the circuit board is probably the failure point.

[@davebrittain9216]

Commenting just to help boost your views.

[@savingmiller]

Thanks! Hope you enjoyed the video!

[@amathonn]

Can't imagine that bird poop all over it helps.

[@savingmiller]

Probably not!

[@Anthony_Harper]

None are going to work well with bird crap all over the solar panels. Put some bird spikes on the roosting handle.

[@jonessmith9769]

If u cleaned the shit off it would power better

[@AshishJain-nb5vs]

You can't get more than a mile on 0.6 joules

[@savingmiller]

That sounds about right. I think I am about 1/2 mile and can get 8k volts. But weeds will quickly lower it.

[@AshishJain-nb5vs]

@@savingmiller Here in india we have thumb rule of 1.5 miles of multiwire fence for every joule of energizer.

[@bhuntn4life]

Did you try cleaning the bird shit off it

[@savingmiller]

Yeah, I made the video several months after it quit working.

[@garyp4374]

maybe if you cleaned the bird shit you might actually get something that works ?

[@savingmiller]

Haha, yes. I kept it clean till it quit working.

[@garyp4374]

@@savingmiller ok every other video I've looked at said that if they're not clean they don't work . need to keep human beings out of my yard the natives in Australia keep robbing me lol

[@paulcrave3112]

1 Joule per every 3 miles. Their math does't add up.

[@savingmiller]

Yup!

[@junkhondas481]

I just bought a charger. It was a patriot. Fucking garbage. I tested it myself. Thought it wouldn’t work. Watched a goat shew through it and watched all my cattle get out. Glad I was only using it to section off a pasture to keep grass length throughout

[@savingmiller]

I just wish companies took some pride in the products they produce.

[@magusomega]

Clean that sucker off

[@ThreePhaseHigh]

He does The video and doesn’t even bother wipe the bird shit off the damn thing

[@savingmiller]

Nope. Would have been a waste of effort.

[@ThreePhaseHigh]

@@savingmiller You know you’re probably right . And I’m betting inside your house looks the same way.

[@redhedhik-chik2510]

When your cows look as good as his who cares about bird shit. KEEP THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING 😂🤣