Electric fencing ..

[jnixon]

Quick question for anyone with electric fencing experience, is it normal for the energizer's to constantly 'click' while powered on? Or are they only supposed to click when the fence is touched? We have all wooden fencing at our facility but we have an energizer here that I was considering using for a temporary pen and was wondering if that's normal behaviour..

 

[tile]

We installed this unit Parmak Fence Chargers, SOLAR Fence Chargers, Parmak Solar Fencers 12 Volt Battery Operated for our garden fence to keep deer out and it constantly 'click' while power is on.

Been working great so far no deer and just clicks away.

Ron.

 

[LarryD]

Two chargers in use and they both click.

 

[tallyho8]

If you listen to the clicks and time it perfect, you can touch the wire between the clicks without getting shocked. If you get shocked, your timing is off.

 

[MrJimi]

It's maybe just because we live in Florida but we had a large section of chain-link fence hooked up to a fence charger and lightning hit our fence, traveled through ground and did over $7,000 damage and our insurance co. dropped us like a hot potato.
Be careful of electric fences and the charger was NOT plugged in..

 

[Sigarms]

Mine clicks once the power is turned on.

One thing I've learned is that a simple inexpensive electric fence tester (about $10) is worth it's weight in gold if you have a problem with the fence and trying to locate it.

 

[weldingisfun]

We have a Zareba, they call it an "Electric Fence Controller" and yes, it clicks. The User's Manual says it is supposed to click 40 to 60 times per minute. This tells you there is enough voltage to deliver a shock.
We are containing goats and need a lot of voltage. Our system puts out 10K volts.
While working on the fence the other day, I learned that the handles on my pliers were not well insulated. I was squatting down beside the fence and the jolt set me on my backside. Now I know why my big buck stays well back from the fence.

 

[horsebroke]

The Click is NORMAL. If it ain't clicking, it ain't working right.

 

[TwinWillows]

On our charger, Zarba, it clicks when it sends a shock out. Our unit also has a yellow light that flashes @ the same time the click sound is heard. If the light is dim I know I have a grounding out problem & go around looking for something, usually tall weeds, on the hot wire.

I'd second the recommendation to get a tester. They are cheap & a good way to track down sections where a short exists.

 

[tallyho8]

If you have a short, you can drive the fenceline with your radio tuned to am. When you get close to the short you will hear it clicking on the radio.

 

[schmism]

most high voltage fences use a capacator to build up a charge, then dischages quickly. The clicking is when the cap fires. which is why you can touch the wire in between pulses with little to no effect.

 

[MikePA]

The Click is NORMAL. If it ain't clicking, it ain't working right.

I used to think if the charger is clicking, all's well. Not true. Now I check the meter on my solar Parmak to make sure the fence is working.

 

[riptides]

I used to think if the charger is clicking, all's well. Not true. Now I check the meter on my solar Parmak to make sure the fence is working.

Yep!

Just went through this a month or two ago. I had a jumper that wasn't jumping so that jumped line was dead. This was right next to the charger.

Very strange. You'd think metal is metal?

-Mike Z.