Zareba ESP5M-Z 5-Mile Solar Low Impedance Electric Fence Charger, Black

On a chicken coop with a 100' perimeter, I installed this as predator protection. It was simple to put together, and I used a T-shirt as a template. to serve as a foundation I decided to put it to the test by grabbing the wire, but I was disappointed to find that I didn't receive much of a shock. The battery was completely charged when I checked it. I was irritated that I had squandered my money on such a dreck. I decided to try a different ground, so I drilled a 7-foot hole in the ground with a scrap piece of 8-foot rebar. To ensure a secure connection, I wrapped my ground wire 50 times. I turned it on and then grabbed a hold of it to test it once more. My mouth made a very feminine scream sound. Not only did it surprise me, but it also made me believe I was living on borrowed time. br>br>Be sure to use a good ground and test with a volt meter.

Aden Moss

| Jan 08, 2021

I noticed that Zareba products had a lot of negative reviews, but I didn't have time to read them all, so I took a chance. I'm glad I took the opportunity to do so. br>br>At first, I thought I'd made a mistake because I couldn't get the fence to perform consistently. It was possible to touch it for a brief period of time and have nothing happen. You'd get a small shock at times, and then you'd be blasted at other times. I knew there was a problem with the device. Actually, I have both this and the 2 mile Solar unit, and they were both acting the same way. "Well, that's what you get for jumping in without doing your homework," I reasoned. "br>br>However, as a math/science guy, I reasoned, "I can't say for sure that these units are defective without testing them. " So I went out and purchased a fence tester for $29 dollars. I'm grateful I did. br>br>It turns out that these devices emit an electrical pulse every one or two seconds. I'm not sure what time it is. But I assumed it was an open circuit that would explode if you touched it. Not true. When you're in between pulses, you can often touch the fence for a few seconds and nothing will happen. You will, however, be blasted if you touch it at the correct time. br>br>As a result, the tester assisted me in comprehending the operation of these units. The second thing it helped me with was determining whether or not I had a bad ground. With each shock, the tester will show you how many volts you're getting. You first test it on the unit, then on the fence to see how much you're losing. I was getting around 9,000 volts out of both units at the fence with a clean fence and a pretty good ground. When I tested the unit, I received 12,000 volts. Those were the most accurate figures I could come up with. But take my word for it. A shock of 9,000 volts is a powerful one. Remove your shoes and stand on the ground barefoot, touching the fence. You'll take a two-foot leap into the air. br>br>So, if this is your first time working with electric fences, keep two things in mind: 1) Purchase an electric fence tester. You can use it to diagnose a bad ground during installation, as well as test the fence on a regular basis to see if weeds are grounding it out. You'll notice that the voltage begins to drop. When it falls below 8,000 feet, I clear the fence again, and it rises to around 9,000 feet. 2) You'll need a fantastic base. I don't know who you are or what you have set up, but I can tell you right now that your ground is the issue. It's really the only issue you could have with such a straightforward setup. If the unit functions properly, all you need is a solid ground to get started. Check that you have at least two (preferably three) long ground rods installed according to the instructions - Approximately 10 feet apart. br>br>There are a lot of negative reviews on these fencing units, but I can tell you from experience that the majority of the time the unit is fine; the installation wasn't done properly, and the fence wasn't properly tested.

Lorenzo SLATER

| Feb 21, 2021

I used 1 1/2 inch tape style fencing to set this up for my horses. I'm sick of them laying on fences, which I then have to re-erect. I'm picky about how my fences look, so I'm always stretching and fixing them. Installed quickly; however, the unit must be charged for three days before it can be used, so get it outside as soon as possible. It's already weathered a HURRICANE! For about 20 minutes, there was a golf ball-sized hale, followed by dumping rain and 80mph winds for well over an hour, as well as a day of fairly consistent rain and drizzle the day before. I was afraid my new expensive charger would have a busted solar panel from the hale, but there was NOT A SCRATCH to be found! The voltmeter is pulsing between 985 and 1200 volts; I'm not sure why it isn't the same on every pulse, but 985 should be enough to keep my horses from laying on it, and 1200 should be plenty. SIDE NOTE: I am satisfied with my product. The red and green screw down caps appear flimsy, and I was afraid to overtighten them on the wire for fear of stripping them, so I just snugged them down. And why anyone would label their electrical output in "joules" for any reason other than a universal scientific reason is beyond me. Because no one has time to convert energy from joules to watts to volts, Zebera should just put it in volts and call it a day. This is why I gave it four stars; despite being a science major, I still needed to brush up on joules and how to convert them. I gave it four stars because of the screw-down caps and the joules measurement.

Gerardo Davenport

| Aug 18, 2021

I've used a number of solar electric charge fences in the past. This one is simple to set up and use. Warning: Please read the instructions carefully. In the off position, the first charge must be completed in the sun for a full 24 hours. Installing in a very shady area is not a good idea! If you follow these steps, everything should go smoothly. Solar chargers are fantastic if they are properly grounded and placed in the sun. When the internal battery runs out and the internal connectors rust, they will eventually wear out. Fortunately, this usually takes a long time to occur. I've used both wired and solar boxes, and I prefer solar because it can be placed anywhere the sun shines. I've tried and liked this brand (and others).

Kamari Buck

| Dec 24, 2020

The response time of customer service is poor. My review is currently being revised. To improve the ground, I used an old Army trick, which worked. The trick is to dig about 6 inches down and around your grounding rod for a total of 12 inches. Then pour about a gallon of hot water into the hole, along with a pinch of salt. Your ground will be improved as a result of this. This greatly aided in the proper operation of my fence. Because of the numerous negative reviews, I initially had very low shocking and contacted their customer service. It took an unusually long time for them to pick up, which is something I find unacceptable.

Marlowe Monroe

| Oct 25, 2021

I worked for hours in the hot sun to get this electric fence just right, only to turn it on and have nothing happen. The charger was completely useless. I needed to go to the hardware store and purchase a replacement - Spend your money wisely. I'm apparently out of luck for a refund because there's only a 30-day return window, and I didn't have it packed and ready to go in time. What a waste!.

Ricky Spencer

| Jan 05, 2021