Installing a Zareba Electric Fence to keep the animals out of our garden: Learn from our Mistakes!

Amateurs building an electric fence…will it work? Shockingly, it does! This video is not sponsored, its a documentary of our adventures building an electric fence to keep the nuisance animals out of our garden. I hope you enjoy! Here are Amazon affiliate links for some of the items shown in this video:
This is the battery we should have purchased - DC Battery 35 AH: amzn.to/3hl7RHJ
Instead of using a finger, use this Electric Fence Tester: amzn.to/3hl79dx
Important Warning Signs: amzn.to/3biwKjr
Grounding Kit: amzn.to/3hfnctm

[@dma9646]

Thoroughly enoyed your candid honesty. No frills, fillers or stalling - just facts. Loved your "zingers" too!!!!!! Great info. 👍

[@gregdoh]

We thought we finally had critters under control, but this year we have a new invader: groundhogs! They break right through the chicken wire. I'm hoping that the electric fence will be the last barrier we need to keep all larger pests out of our garden. I went with the Zareba plug-in version since we have electrical hook up close to the garden. Thank you for your video!

[@wesleyvanauken]

I love your video. I found it much more helpful than some of the more professional videos because of your honesty and straight forward method of delivering information.

[@kgreene863able]

Lmao love the comedy while learning. Thanks for the laugh. Ask hubby to demonstrate the fence for us 🤣

[@theQiwiMan]

Thank you for sharing this!

[@AChickandaDuck]

Great explanation, helped me a lot when planning my garden defense system. Thank you!

[@onemadamerican1776]

Better than you think... a lot of us are amateurs this year ! Supplying food for your family and friends is going to be paramount this year (2022) and man do we have squirrels! Thanks for sharing!

[@supramby]

Thanks for the video. Wondering how effective it is over time. One concern I have is squirrel just leaping over the electric wire and onto the deer fence and climbing over. Squirrels are the worst

[@karenshepley1768]

good job!!! ill give a try to setup mine this weekend. this was very helpful!!

[@Nifty-Stuff]

Great video! I'm installing one this week!

[@donaldli1535]

It is very helpful for my future project and thanks for the great information!

[@douglascaridi8920]

Like your attitude! ... New to the idea myself I started viewing videos yesterday and have watched 4 or 5 so far. I also plan on watching several more. I assume a woodchuck family lives in my neighborhood. I planted about 60 tomato plants this year and so far these critters have devoured over 100 (1.5 lb. to 2 lb) tomatoes ... I've only harvested a half dozen. I mean total destruction. I mean they don't just take a bite they're eating the entire fruit! Anyway ... back to review ... This wasn't the first video I saved ... but so far was the best. Electric fencing seems to be simple ... but just as yourself ... it's my first rodeo. and so I would like to get it right when I make the investment. Thanks to your video, I feel I'm on the right track. I found your garden to be similar in size to mine and it was quite informative. You speak clearly, kindly, have a sense of humor ... Great job with illustrations as well. I even paused to take pics with my phone. I'll watch again for sure. Thanks for taking the effort to publish your video. Wishing you the best with your garden!

[@EthanSethAda]

Thank you, this is what me and the hubby will be doing as well!

[@TikkiOOO]

So far its been working. Now its just the bugs! Good luck to you and Hubby, Kathy!

[@EyesOnReality]

Instead of added expense for a larger battery that still has to be regularly charged, a separate 15 Watt (or larger) Solar Panel (with built-in charge controller) should keep the battery topped up even on cloudy days. Also the grounding rod(s) can be buried horizontally for a larger surface area for the best ground connection. Thank you for all your videos as they are both educational and enjoyable to watch.

[@TikkiOOO]

Thanks EyesOnReality, I didn't know you could bury the grounding rods horizontally, brilliant! We already bought the larger 35 ah battery, I wasn't sure about what wattage solar panel to buy, but great advice, thank you!

[@EyesOnReality]

​@@TikkiOOO Bonus: The specs on the Zareba EDC15M-Z current draw is not listed anywhere yet by your experience, the 7.2 amp battery preformed 2 days (stopped on the 3rd day), @ 12V = 0.160 amp draw. So the 35ah battery (by math) should last 9.11 days between charges. If you do opt for a solar charging option, a 12V 50W to 100W panel (climate dependent) will do nicely for the 35ah battery size. A charge controller is needed to ensure no battery overcharging happens and also ensures the battery voltage does not drop too low causing shorter battery life charge cycle issues. If you have any questions, ask away. Happy Growing!

[@Honestandtruth]

Enjoy your Video and Well described your circumstances and Hopefully it still works...👍❤️

[@sheri023]

That looks like a good solution! Yes, I wouldn't mind photos of raccoons getting a buzz or two, but maybe they only eat cat food. Thanks for the tutorial, Tikki. Hope your hubby doesn't get too much shock--remember Frankenstein...yikes!

[@TikkiOOO]

I will be sure to post if I get video! Thanks Sheri, we are desperately hoping this works!

[@d.t.4523]

Congratulations! 👍 I've had electric fence experience, and from the point you're at I'll offer a couple ideas. Move the charger as close to the house as you can. Then run it on a 12 volt power supply. According to the label, even if your house is 15 miles away it will still work. A 12 volt trickle charger will work great, and give you a way to turn it off from the house if necessary. Our charger was mounted on a wall in the barn. You can fold short pieces of the wire in half and drape them over the fence wire to fill in gaps, without running more wire. The way you ran the wires makes the setup a "custom" install, so just tell people it's an "art project". Good luck, and fight for your produce! 😂 👍

[@TikkiOOO]

Its an art project...great one liner! If I mount the charger near the house I would have wires running across the grass, right? That's why I didn't get the AC unit. Thanks for the advice!

[@d.t.4523]

@@TikkiOOO If you have a way to put the wire on a pole, try it. Where it has to touch something for support, use a spark plug wire for insulation. That way you can zip tie it to metal if you had to. Good luck!

[@lesliebooth2833]

I chuckled all the way through this as well as received great info! Like “dinner and a movie”!

[@ramonlarios1050]

Great video simple and very well explained thank you

[@SD-qo2jq]

Great video thank you

[@jadelpino10]

Nice Job!

[@purpleraindropstudio6697]

Nice video thanks for sharing

[@ScottWen-fencemanufacturer]

Thank you for sharing , We learn a lot from your video

[@terrabalos]

Great job. To cover the small holes, caulk can be used. Still, I would ensure that some form of ventilation is used to deal with moisture. Other than that, you’d have to use an enclosure that keeps moisture out. Best wishes to you. By the way, I like your sense of humor 😅!

[@sbdr.1241]

It definitely inspired me 😊 cause I’m about to start a vegetable garden

[@danielcraig9349]

Enjoyed your video. Appreciate the helpful hints. I am going to buy one, but I think I will get one that is much much more powerful that chops away the grass and weeds. But I loved ur tote idea. I am going to do that with mine too !!!

[@rubenmartinez2011]

I love you thank for this video helped me so much

[@keithf2512]

Can you do an update on your electric fence? Are you happy with it? Has it lasted? LOVE YOUR VIDEO!! Very FUNNY! Thanks.

[@RaraAvis1138]

You are hilarious! Good video, thank you!

[@rosemagazine]

You have a short drain to ground that is why the batteries are discharging so quickly. Maybe grass touching the hot wires or the hot wires are touching your wood posts to ground. Also if you are using copper wires for power then clean them once a year at the termination points since copper wires oxidize.

[@mediasmoker]

Tell Hubby, he can use a blade of grass or a thin piece of straw to slide across the wire instead of his fingers...As you slide it, it will give a minimal sensation without getting shocked.

[@baebae6223]

😇your a life saver your video was on point THANK YOU

[@Sandy-_s]

I bought an owl decoy at Menards today $10 -squirrels. I hope it works. Lol he touches it just for kicks, lol!

[@TikkiOOO]

Sandy, is the owl electrified? That would be a hoot! Good luck!

[@marilynm8812]

Sure hope it works well after all your efforts. Would love to see a squirrel "get the message".

[@TikkiOOO]

Thanks Marilyn! and I have a specific squirrel in mind too, he is a real nuisance!

[@terryward162]

Hello, Just came across your video. New to channel. Just buy a solar pannel battery charger and it would keep batteries charged. Make sure you buy a pannel that provides about 5 amps of power to provide power for the wire and also charge the batteries. Take solar pannel watts devide by battery voltage. 60 watts / 12v = 5 amps.

[@dmonk2545]

Wondering if a 12 volt car battery, some connectors, capacitors, etc would do the same??

[@kakolesha1]

Interesting! However, do not discharge those batteries more than 50% of their capacities for fear of permanently damaging their cells, making the batteries useless.

[@ianbutler1983]

This is nonsense.

[@rob8969]

Did you need to run the ground next to the hot wire the whole way and they need to touch both at the same time? Or as long as you have the rods the subject doesn’t need to be on the ground?

[@johnmirbach2338]

if you decide that you need wire higher up , may i suggest using electric poultry fence ??? it keeps all of the critters running around here at bay ... it will hook up to the system that you "currently" have (couldn't resist the pun) ... 😁✌🖖👍👌😎

[@TikkiOOO]

Good advice, and good pun....I will keep it in mind, thank you!

[@johnmirbach2338]

@@TikkiOOO 😁✌🖖👍👌😎

[@steggc85]

I’m taking on this same challenge only I have to take into consideration of my dog. I use blood and bone meal to feed my tomatoes and my big ol husky loves it and has torn down my fence more than once. Wanted something safe to discourage him but also last year raccoons ate all of my corn. Didn’t get a single ear, they ate it all! Not this year!

[@teebee1204]

Nice videos you do. Have you considered renting out Hubby?

[@genevieve8873]

I love your videos. Oh and hubby's are great things to have for just this type of situations lol Let them stick their finger on a hot wire! lol!! Don't feel bad its too cold and wet to plant here in 6b so I'm hoping to get my plants in the ground maybe this sunday *fingers crossed*

[@georgea6403]

Is the chicken wire energized?

[@jagtrader6433]

Will this keep out ground hogs

[@sinulariasin4887]

Does hubby have adequate life insurance ? If yes, keep asking him to check the system frequently.

[@TikkiOOO]

I'll check on the life insurance..... Thank you Sin!

[@ianbutler1983]

Touch the fence with a blade of grass. You should just barely feel a tingle. A much more pleasant way of testing.

[@TikkiOOO]

Thanks for the tip!

[@litahsr.8226]

[CC] PLEASE!!

[@Govstuff137]

Awesome! I'm sure your husband will have a long and shocking life.

[@spyone7851]

To enlarge the autonomy of the systems you should to consider to link the batteries in series (link the - pole to the + pole of the other battery). In a more complex configuration you should to consider to buy a charging controller and a solar panel to make indipendent system and forget to charge the batteries. To make a diy insulating box you should use the hot glue or silicon. In my opinion you use too much amazon, consider that all of the equipment that you need exist in all DIY store, the planet will say thank you. Apart for the amazon abuse (probably I'm wrong, but this video is shooted with materials that cames only by amazon) I appreciate a lot this channel, best regards :)

[@gth042]

Almost every inexpensive silicone sealant (RTV) outgasses an electronics-corroding acid (acetates, in fact). In enclosures, that shock-box might not last the season. Hot glue works well for things that only need okay sealing -- Gorilla Glue brand hot glue with a hot gun being an exception (good stuff). Rubber cement works surprisinglly well for tighter fits.

[@TikkiOOO]

Thanks Spy One, you are right, I rely on Amazon, maybe too much, because I don't live so close to the shopping areas. There are no cheap DIY places here, Home Depot has gotten more expensive since it drove out all the Mom and Pop stores, they used to be cheaper but now Amazon has taken over, which is scary, but very convenient and usually better prices. I appreciate the technical advice you gave, what wattage solar panel would be sufficient I wonder? Thanks again!

[@TikkiOOO]

Thank you gth042, I assume you are talking about sealing the small holes to keep out the rain. I wonder if some putty might also work...thanks for the advice!

[@spyone7851]

@@TikkiOOO For the solar panel you need to consider the amount of Watts that in a day use the sistem to work, based on that you need to consider at least more 50% of the amount to choose the solar panel. EG: 100W for 24H. The solar panel should support at least 150W. anyway googling you should find much more information than I can write in this comment...happy googling and wiring :)) PS: don't be scared by the topic of solar panel, once you understand the mechanism all will be easy

[@gth042]

@@TikkiOOO Just about any indoor/kid-safe putty will work well enough for that box (assuming kid-save means Fewer chemicals...). Worst case, you cram a low quality putty in there every month or two (old-school packing approach to sealing). Polypropylene is a pain to glue properly, and it's never going to be completely watertight anyway. Drips and ants (your local circuit-shorter) are about all you can keep out of something you need to regularly service... To address drip entering from the top edge of the lid/cover, I do suggest some tape to "extend" the upper lip of the lid/cover. The goal here is just to guide water away. You can test with the garden hose. Lastly, consider what happens to the water WHEN it gets in. It's better to leave a Tiny hole or two at the bottom of the bilge area rather than where the wires come out. Don't give minerals in the water and electrochemistry any corrosive ideas. Yup, comment's long enough. Best of luck, and have fun!!

[@lromeroyt]

Excellent but complex?

[@ChristopherAMacleod]

Squirrels are my nightmare. Thanks!!!!

[@edjobkarjr.7650]

Poor Hubby! Sorry my man.

[@johnmirbach2338]

😁✌🖖👍👌😎