When it comes to farming near woods especially in bear territory, your normal fencing isn’t going to be of much help. Getting through these normal fences can be a walk in the park for bears. The only thing that can give you ample protection from the bears is an electric fence that can make a clear mental imprint in its minds.
The effectiveness of an electric fence against bears depends entirely on the charger that you choose to install in the fencing. Because bears are large animals and they won’t retreat easily like the smaller animals. There are quite a few factors to be considered while you choose an electric fence charger to use against bears.
For instance, impedance, output voltage, input voltage, frequency of the pulses, and a lot more. Apart from being effective, these fences have to be safe as well which is why it is important to choose the right electric fence charger.
When there is an umpteen number of parameters to be considered, choosing the right one isn’t any different than searching for a needle in a haystack! But don’t worry, for we have you covered here.
In this article, we have compiled a list of the Top 7 Electric Fence Charger for Bears. This list has been made after consulting with people who have first-hand experience in using these chargers.
Let’s get going!
7 Best Electric Fence Charger For Bears
Parmak MARK8 Low Impedance Electric fence charger
This outstanding electric fence charger changed the out-dated trends in the field of the fencing chargers. Being a charger with low impedance (resistance), it can give a constant output of 110/120 Volt in a 30-mile range.
The in-built Advanced built-in computer controlled circuitry monitors let you take the guesswork out of the fencing. The digital meter on the charger gives you a real-time update on the voltage on the fence & faults in the line.
Apart from keeping the predators at bay, it can also burn out the weed climbing on to the fence. Being easy to install is an added advantage.
The product arrives at Amazon with great reviews and more than a 4-star rating. Though it may look a bit costly on a first look, it is indeed a bang for a buck deal!
Pros
- Low Impedance
- Advanced Solid-State circuit
- Advanced built-in computer controlled circuitry
- Digital display
Cons
- Repairing & Servicing is difficult
- The charger unit only works with high power
Fi-Shock SS 725CS AC Powered Light-Duty Electric Fence charger
A plug and play charger, that can give you a continuous AC output from a 110/120V DC power source. The high power, low impedance can effectively energize a fence covering an area of 5 acres.
Let’s now get into the technical details of this product. The Fi-Shock SS 725CS is, in fact, a step-up transformer that uses a steel-shunt to limit the output current. Which means it can effectively cover an area of 5-acres as they claim.
The one thing that worries most customers is the fact that the steel-shunt used in the product can be removed easily and the output voltage rises to levels that aren’t safe for animals & humans. And there aren’t any built-in safety components.
Pros
- Can effectively cover a larger area
- Affordable pricing
- Continuous output
Cons
- No built-in safety
- Can be potentially harmful to humans & animals is the steel-shunt is damaged and you would never know
ZAREBA EA5M-Z5 AC Powered Electric Fencer
The Zareba EA5M-Z5 comes can be an effective fence charger that can give you a range of 5 miles in ideal conditions. It can effectively work in an input supply of 110-120 VAC, 60 Hz, 1VA while giving you a pulsating output supply.
What makes the Zareba EA5M-Z5 the best in this price range is the built-in 1-Amp fuse along with a fused panel.
These built-in protective devices can give you adequate protection in the event of an unexpected power surge.
Encased in an all-weather resistant cabinet makes it ideal for use in all topographies & climate.
Pros
- Built-in Protective fuse
- Pulsating output supply
Cons
- Cannot be used with household wiring
- Lacks an On/Off indication light
PARMARK MAG 12-UO Low Impedance Electric Fence Charger
The PARMARK MAG 12-UO is a 12-volt magnum impedance charger with an effective range of 30 miles. Similar to the Parmak MARK8, the PARMARK MAG 12-UO also has a built-in performance meter giving real-time information on the condition of the fence.
What makes this model attractive is that the connected battery can give up to up to three months of continuous operation between charges. You can even connect a solar trickle charger to keep the battery running without having to take it out for recharging.
Pros
- Weatherproof outdoor model
- Longer life
- Analog display giving real-time information on the fence
Cons
- No user-serviceable parts
- The output voltage drops with time
Parmak Super Energizer 5 Low Impedance 110/120 Volt Electric Fence charger
The Parmak Super Energizer 5 Low Impedance Electric Fence charger is a heave-duty charger that can give an effective range of 50 miles.
This device is known among the professionals for its 8,000 volts of holding power with 500 OHM load. Similar to all other models of Parmak, this one too has a built-in display unit that gives the exact condition of the fence.
This product is ideal for both single or multi-wired high tensile fences making it the best when it comes to any topography!
Pros
- Designed for large pastures
- Low-Impedance
- Low power consumption
- Built-in safety fuses
- An effective range of 50 miles
Cons
- Small mounting holes
- Loud clicking sound
Red Snap’r EAC25M-RS 25-Mile AC Low Impedance Fence Charger
The Red Snap’r EAC25M-RS is known in the market for its 115-Volt, 60 cycles, pulsed output with a frequency of 1 second that gives it an effective range of 25 miles. This charged can be used with all types of fence including high tensile, poly wire and poly tape.
Being a low impedance fence charger, the Red Snap’r EAC25M-RS can supply increased joules to the fencing that can keep the fence hot and clean from weeds that may grow over it. This device delivers safe, effective high voltage shocks with digital timing that can keep the predators at bay.
Pros
- Maintains maximum energy on the fence
- Rugged & weather resistant casing
- Light for On/Off indication
- Low Impedance charger
Zareba EAC75M-Z 75-Mile AC Low Impedance Electric Fence Charger
The Zareba EAC75M Low Impedance Electric Fence Charger with an effective range of 75 miles is one of the most used products in the market.
This powerful charger can deliver a pulsed output of 115 volts, 60 cycles with a frequency of 1second. This product can be seamlessly used with all types of fences including high tensile, poly wire and poly tape.
This low impedance Ac-Powered charger can maintain maximum energy on the fence and delivers safe, effective high voltage shocks with digital timing. It is also capable of working in heavy weed conditions owing to its low impedance.
Pros
- Low Impedance charger
- 75 miles’ effective range
- Can be used with all types of fence
- Capable of working in weed conditions
- Rugged & all-weather casing
What Power Should an Electric-Bear Fence be?
There isn’t a specific voltage that can be effective when it comes to keeping bears and animals at bay. That being said, the experts in the field of fencing says that a minimum of 2000v is needed for effectively tackling animals.
Similarly, as per international regulations, the maximum permissible voltage in an electric fence is 10000 volts. This means you can choose any voltage between 2000 & 10000 volts.
The voltage to be set in an electric fence depends on:
- The desired power of the shock
- The distance on the fence that can be shocked up to
- Size of the property
For a longer shocking distance range, a lower voltage would be used. However, for a greater shock, a higher voltage would be used. In all practical sense, a higher voltage will give you a better edge over the bears. Considering their thick skin and size.
How do I Bear-Proof My Yard?
Bears aren’t like the common intruders you might have come across, for instance like a coyote or a raccoon. They are bigger, stronger & obviously hungrier most of the time which means keeping them at bay isn’t an easy feat to achieve.
There is no doubt that an electric fence is the most effective way to stop the bear from getting into your property. That being said, there are indeed some ways in which you can prevent bears from being attracted to your property.
Let’s have a look at the simple steps that you can take:
Eliminate the tempting odors: Bears are excellent sniffers and they can smell their food from a mile away. If you are living near bear territory, the best way is to avoid them being attracted to your property because of the smell of food.
Make sure that you regularly clean the bird feeders if you have one & never feed your pets outdoor. Even if you feed them outdoor clear away the leftovers fast.
Use a bear-resistant trash can: Bears are opportunistic hunters and they wouldn’t mind eating from the garbage. Make sure that you leave the garbage out for collection shortly before they arrive and that you leave it in a bear-resistant trash can.
Grills: Always be on the watch for bears when you are having an outdoor party. Nothing tempts the bear than the smell of grilled meat. Don’t leave the food unattended when cooking on the grill.
Can Electric Fences Cause Fires?
Yeah, electric fences can cause fires when they aren’t used properly. For instance, during summers the spark from these fences can trigger a fire. One needs to be very cautious while using an electric fence, especially during the dry season.
It is always advisable to check the electric fences to make sure the wires are free of grass, weeds and other vegetation.
Not just the electric fences, any electric device when used improperly can cause severe accidents. Make sure that you adhere strictly to the manufacturer’s guide while using an electric fence charger.
Are Electric Fences Dangerous?
It is a common notion among many that electric fences are dangerous. From what we have understood, we feel that it’s the voltage rating given on the electric fence chargers that scare people. You need to understand that it is not the voltage that kills but it’s the current that’s dangerous.
The purpose of an electric fence is not to kill an animal rather it is to scare away the animal. When it comes to these fences most of them have high voltages running through them for instance 110/120 volts and very small currents in the range of 120 mill amperes.
If you didn’t know, the deadly electrocution stories that you might have heard needs a minimum of 10 amperes. Which is a thousand times more than the current flowing through these fences.
That being said, electric fences aren’t completely risk-free. There are chances for a sudden surge in current due to many reasons. This is where the importance of having a good electric fence charger comes in as most of them have built-in protective fuse panels to avoid this sudden rise in current.