Electric fence charger

[Rocky Top]

Last year I had my first pair of Martins with five babies and I think a snake got them. Instead of using an electric fence charger, can I use just a 12 V battery by running two wires that is insulated from the pole so that when a snake crosses the wires it closes the circuit.

Dale
Godley Texas

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

I would not recommend that, and I never tried that. Some problems could occur if a child falls onto it, or even an adult gets against it. The CURRENT could be extremely high (maybe 1000 times the amount that an electric fence charger puts out), and could KILL. Also, it may not work, a battery requires a firm contact, and you may not get that. A snake may not be bothered by the low voltage, their tough hide may require a higher voltage to shock them.

An electric fence charger has a much higher voltage which will shock something, but in general, it will not permanently hurt anything but something small like a lizard. The CURRENT is very low, and goes off and on. The electric fence chargers are safe to use. High current is what kills people.

The above is my opinion

[Vern1]

A piece of snake netting would be cheaper, more reliable and a lot less maintenance.

I use fence chargers for cattle control and the "hotter" ones are uncomfortable when you touch them, to say the least but do pulse so you can get off of it.

An AC powered one will require an extension cord.
A solar one will kill the batteries usually once a year, even with good sunshine and if you have over a couple of days of cloudy weather, the battery will get weak and take a few days of bright sunshine to recharge.

Not trying to discourage you, just letting you know what you are up against.

[~Ray~Gingerich]

Also with an electric fence charger it's easy to run underground wire through sod from the charging unit to your houses. I just slice the sod at an angle with a shovel,tuck the wire under and tamp it back down. In a few minutes you can't even see the trench.

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

I agree with Ray, and at the farm stores that sell electric fence chargers, they also sell the underground wire that could be used for going to the martin poles.

[Rocky Top]

I would not recommend that, and I never tried that. Some problems could occur if a child falls onto it, or even an adult gets against it. The CURRENT could be extremely high (maybe 1000 times the amount that an electric fence charger puts out), and could KILL. Also, it may not work, a battery requires a firm contact, and you may not get that. A snake may not be bothered by the low voltage, their tough hide may require a higher voltage to shock them.

An electric fence charger has a much higher voltage which will shock something, but in general, it will not permanently hurt anything but something small like a lizard. The CURRENT is very low, and goes off and on. The electric fence chargers are safe to use. High current is what kills people.

The above is my opinion

I am not electrician and didn't know that 12 V car battery could kill anything unless it blew up. Thanks for let me know.

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

Normally, a 12v battery is not a concern, it depends upon the resistance that your hands or body has. Try touching two ends of the same wire with low resistance and it will burn the wire. If you have wet hands, and hold the post firmly, it may harm you. The 12v is not the problem, its the amount of current that flows thru the body. Any amount of current flowing thru the body harms you.

That is why it may not work on the snakes skin, a snake may have too much resistance on that tough skin. But keep in mind, I never tried it.

[Mike1624]

I would have to side with Emil's position on this topic. Having tried the netting and had it defeated a couple of times, the fence charger is the way to go. The netting is cheaper for sure, but the peace of mind that comes with a well installed fence charger is priceless ( I couldn't resist that)
A determined rat snake will explore a netting barrier until it can find a way through it. When mine have been breached going up, I caught them coming back down. To late for the babies. I'll try to find a picture to illustrate my point. It's also a real hassle to get the snake out and I've yet to get one out alive. I've extended my fence charger runs to include my Bluebird nest boxes, since that's where I had my last snake attack.
Batteries can cause some serious electrical burns under certain conditions.
Sorry, I couldn't attach the photo because I had exceeded my limit.

[Rocky Top]

I would have to side with Emil's position on this topic. Having tried the netting and had it defeated a couple of times, the fence charger is the way to go. The netting is cheaper for sure, but the peace of mind that comes with a well installed fence charger is priceless ( I couldn't resist that)
A determined rat snake will explore a netting barrier until it can find a way through it. When mine have been breached going up, I caught them coming back down. To late for the babies. I'll try to find a picture to illustrate my point. It's also a real hassle to get the snake out and I've yet to get one out alive. I've extended my fence charger runs to include my Bluebird nest boxes, since that's where I had my last snake attack.
Batteries can cause some serious electrical burns under certain conditions.
Sorry, I couldn't attach the photo because I had exceeded my limit.

Thanks Mike, I guess I'm off to get a fence charger. I have about 100 feet of cable to bury and I'm not looking forward to that. Last year I had only one nesting pair and I don't think they will return.

[M.Stephens]

They make solar fence chargers if you don't have a close electrical outlet.

[Mike1624]

If you have or know someone that has a gas powered edger, it makes the perfect tool to cut a small groove that will accept your underground feeder cable. Good luck with your project. If you do install the electric fence charger, invest in a flasher that will alert you if something goes wrong on your set up. The one I have clips on anywhere in the run and flashes a red light if the power is off. Real easy to check.

[Vern1]

All the newer solar ones have a LED on them that flashes so you know they are functioning.
You have to aim the solar panel to the south so you might night be able to see the flashing from your house but after dark, you can see the faint blink...blink...blink...

Given the limited time needed and also since our season is during the sunshine months, a solar will save you lots of headaches and you can mount the charger right on the pole.

If you have multiple poles, a good electric version would probably serve you better.

I have a few "barn cats" that hang around and take care of snakes, mice, rats, etc.
Being on a farm with a feed barn and round bales sitting on the ground, the cats are welcome.

[msalcido]

Rocky - did you have a pole guard on the pole?

[klcretired]

Hi Dale (Rocky Top)
just prepare your housing for protecting the martins , don't worry they will come...probly new visitors this year, put up plenty of decoys play the Dawn song...they will come... Glad you are trying to protect the martins and doing all you can to help them....Thank You.
Please be ready and get your Housing/Gourds up asap, the martins can sneak in w/o you knowing it and they need a good warm place now !!!!!
Thanks for all you do for our Martins, Have a Great Martin Year
Kenny

[JL Murray]

I have a quick question: where is the best place to put the ground rod in the ground?

My AC powered Charger will be about 40 feet from the pole itself inside my garage.

So do i put the ground rod in the ground by the pole or by the garage?

[Chris Brown]

When we use an elactric fencer for cattle we just drive the ground rod in right beside the charger. The hot wires can run a couple miles and you get a good jolt any where on the fence. So at the garage by the charger should work and be convinient. From what I have heard is for snakes you have to run hot and cold wires together at the pole probably alternating about 3" apart. I have never done this so I'm not sure how to rig it up. My dad had to do this around his corn patch to keep raccoons out so if I get a chance I will ask him about it. Anything that touches a hot and cold wire will get the maximum jolt this way and you don't have to rely on the animal being grounded.

[JL Murray]

Thanks Chris that is what i needed to know, Thanks!

[~Ray~Gingerich]

Yes, like Chris said your grounding rods should be near the charger, I use 3 about 6 ft apart with copper grounding wire from rod to rod then a single copper grounding wire to the ground terminal on the charger. If you have a metal pole you don't need a cold wire if the bare hot wire is insulated from the pole, your pole acts just like a cold wire. With a wood pole you do need a cold wire which can be provided by a short metal stake and a uninsulated wire connected to it.

[Vern1]

If your metal pole is painted or powdercoated and put in concrete, it may not be a good ground and will be worse in dry weather.
If you are having problems with that type of ground, dump some water on the area around the pole to get some moisture in the concrete and surrounding area to bring conductivity back up.
You don't even need to have a ground if you alternate your hot and cold wires around the pole.

[JL Murray]

Thanks for all the advice and info Ray and Vern1.

The Pole's are Aluminum and I have the EZ Off Insulated Pole Guards that i will be running the hot wires to.