Energizers

Our first energizer was a Gallagher  and we have continued using and selling them ever since. When necessary, we are able to repair the units, no matter how old, since Gallagher continues to provide repair parts for all their energizers.  (We are still using a 30+ year old unit.) All Gallagher energizers carry a two-year warranty (they must have a Gallagher lightening diverter to qualify for damage due to lightening strike).  We have a complete selection of repair parts, including module boards and transformers for the units we sell and can frequently repair them “while you wait.”  The most popular units include the B11, a battery operated unit; solar units: S17, S20 and S50; and plug-in models, M150, M300, M600 and M1000. We keep these chargers in stock and can easily order any unit that Gallagher carries and expect it to be here within a week or so.

When considering your energizer purchase, it is wise to keep the following in mind:

“Miles of Fence.”  The standard “miles of fence” in describing the power of a fence controller has been in use for many years. Although this standard is still used in evaluating energizers, a unit which is rated as a fifty mile unit only means that it can effectively power 50 miles of a weed free, properly insulated, single strand of 14 to 18 gauge wire that is 30 to 36 inches off the ground. It does not take into consideration the weed loading or the electromagnetic resistance that occurs in multiple wire fences. A 50 mile energizer will not necessarily power 10 miles of five wire high tensile fence. Although an energizer rated in “Miles of Fence” may be as good as a unit rated in joules, it is difficult to make a fair comparison using this method of rating. It would be like comparing two cars on how many miles they will go on a tank of gas without taking into consideration horsepower or any other factors.

Choosing the Right Energizer for the Job:  There are many fine products being produced today, both in the United States and overseas, which have truly opened up a whole new area of livestock management in recent years. Choosing the “right” energizer for the job is not an easy process. The power of the unit required for a fencing job will vary greatly depending on many factors, such as, the area to be fenced, the number of wires, the animal being controlled, the use of higher resistance temporary fencing and the expected weed pressure. As in the case with any farm equipment which is purchased, especially an electrical device such as an energizer, one of the most important factors in deciding on what kind or make of energizer to buy is the dealer’s knowledge about what he is selling. A responsible energizer dealer should set a novice fence builder up with the right energizer for the job.  Since the value of an electric fence is based on its ability to deliver an adequate electrical charge to keep animals away, purchasing an energizer that is ill equipped for the job you are asking it to do makes a fence useless. On the other hand, purchasing a high power energizer to do a small job can be a waste of money. (Originally printed in a Gallagher Power Fence Manual and written by Thomas Cadwallader of Wisconsin.)

If your energizer, for some reason, cannot be repaired while you wait, loaners are available on a first come-first serve basis. There will be a $3 daily charge for loaners not returned within 3 days of notification that their unit has been repaired.