Put in new solar fence this weekend...........

[CathyA]

Solar electric fence, that is.

So far, it isn't up and running yet, since the charger needs sun for 3 days to charge the batteries. I sure hope it works. My garden is surrounded by a 4' utility wire fence and is 40'x25'. The raccoons have destroyed much of the tomatoes, so an electric fence was the only option. I hope we put the single wire in the right place and I hope it works. I know coons are exceedingly smart. Talk about the cost per tomato in a home garden! I think our cost is up to about $80 per tomato, at least. haha

I told DH........."What's the prize for the first one of us that gets shocked?" haha

I absolutely hate the garden looking so "industrialized".......but there's just no other defense, unless we fenced in the top of the garden too.
Fingers crossed, that all this work/sweat/expense works........

To protect the garden until the fence is working, I've piled chicken wire and other types of fencing all over the place. I can hardly walk through it myself. Hopefully that will keep the coons out for another day or 2. I also hung a solar light out there and put up a fake owl...........
It would be nice if I could have found a motion sensor that would set off a loud lion roar, but I couldn't find one.

[Tybee]

Solar electric fence, that is.

So far, it isn't up and running yet, since the charger needs sun for 3 days to charge the batteries. I sure hope it works. My garden is surrounded by a 4' utility wire fence and is 40'x25'. The raccoons have destroyed much of the tomatoes, so an electric fence was the only option. I hope we put the single wire in the right place and I hope it works. I know coons are exceedingly smart. Talk about the cost per tomato in a home garden! I think our cost is up to about $80 per tomato, at least. haha

I told DH........."What's the prize for the first one of us that gets shocked?" haha

I absolutely hate the garden looking so "industrialized".......but there's just no other defense, unless we fenced in the top of the garden too.
Fingers crossed, that all this work/sweat/expense works........

To protect the garden until the fence is working, I've piled chicken wire and other types of fencing all over the place. I can hardly walk through it myself. Hopefully that will keep the coons out for another day or 2. I also hung a solar light out there and put up a fake owl...........
It would be nice if I could have found a motion sensor that would set off a loud lion roar, but I couldn't find one.

It will work. We had two solar charged horse fences and they worked well. And yeah, you will get shocked, sooner or later, lol.

[CathyA]

Thanks Tybee. Just went out to test it again, and it's working. Now here's hoping we put it where the coons can't get over or under it.
I went to check to see if the plastic knobs were tight enough on the electric and ground plugs on the charger and got shocked. hahaha I thought since they were plastic, I'd be okay. Well.......at least that's over with.
Did you ever have a fence tester? We bought a cheaper one at Tractor Supply and you can't even see if the lights are blinking, they are so faint. Maybe a digital one would be better, and let us know the voltage of all the lines?

[Tybee]

Thanks Tybee. Just went out to test it again, and it's working. Now here's hoping we put it where the coons can't get over or under it.
I went to check to see if the plastic knobs were tight enough on the electric and ground plugs on the charger and got shocked. hahaha I thought since they were plastic, I'd be okay. Well.......at least that's over with.
Did you ever have a fence tester? We bought a cheaper one at Tractor Supply and you can't even see if the lights are blinking, they are so faint. Maybe a digital one would be better, and let us know the voltage of all the lines?

No, we just used a straw.

[CathyA]

Hey Tybee..........how does the straw work?
I just ordered a device that seems pretty good........it hangs on the wire and only puts out a bright flashing red light if the wire is not longer electrified. That will be nice to see from a distance, rather than having to walk out there and test it.

[Tybee]

Hey Tybee..........how does the straw work?
I just ordered a device that seems pretty good........it hangs on the wire and only puts out a bright flashing red light if the wire is not longer electrified. That will be nice to see from a distance, rather than having to walk out there and test it.

Hi Cathy, you pick up a piece of hay or straw, long, and touch the fence with it; if it burns the straw or hay, it's on.

[CathyA]

Hmmm.....I just watched a video about electric fencing, and they said that was a myth. I'll have to try it! They said that it's a myth that it can cause a ground fire....if weeds touch it.