The right energizer is not necessarily the most powerful one available, but the one that matches your power source, your animal type and the length of your fence. The choice between mains, battery and solar power affects the running costs, maintenance and reliability of your whole electric fencing system throughout the season. Below we summarize what is worth paying attention to when choosing.
Four power sources
You can power your energizer with 230 V alternating current from a socket, 12 V direct current from an accumulator battery, a combination of a solar collector and an accumulator, or 9 V direct current from a dry battery. Each has its own advantages:
- 230 V from a socket: the device costs significantly less, power consumption is low, and it is the easiest to use whenever a socket is within reach.
- 12 V accumulator: a good solution when no socket is available; consumption is still acceptable, but recharging the battery can be time-consuming.
- 12 V solar collector with accumulator: recommended to avoid regular charging, at least from spring to autumn.
- 9 V dry battery: the most expensive way to power a fence continuously; its advantage is simple use, its drawback low power.
Animal type determines the power you need
The type of animal you are fencing determines how powerful a device you actually need. Animals that are hard to control, such as wild animals, sheep, goats and poultry, require more powerful units. Animals that are easier to control, such as cattle, horses, pigs and other domestic animals, can use a lower-power device for the same fence length.
Energy in joules and voltage under load
Two figures describe a device's performance best. Pulse energy, measured in joules, states how strong a jolt the device delivers to the fence: low-energy devices (under 0.5 J) are enough for easily managed animals and short fences without undergrowth, medium-energy devices (1 to 5 J) suit heavier grazing animals and normal undergrowth, and high-energy devices (over 5 J) are for long fences with heavy undergrowth.
The second figure is voltage under load. Under the VDE standard, a protective fence must maintain at least 2000 volts even under load, while in practice we recommend a voltage between 3000 and 4000 volts. What matters is precisely the voltage under load, that is, when the fence is actually in contact with vegetation or an animal, not the device's no-load voltage. PATURA units are designed to keep voltage high even under load, which is key to reliably deterring animals under demanding conditions.
Device categories
PATURA groups its energizers into three classes: Compact, Profi and ProfiPlus. Compact and Profi offer the best balance between price and performance, while ProfiPlus is a premium class with extra conveniences, such as a digital display showing output voltage, battery charge level or grounding voltage, and on some models a remote control for switching power settings without touching the fence. Across all classes, the sensitive electronic components are protected against moisture, water and pests, which reduces the risk of faults. Devices running on a 12 V battery also have deep-discharge protection: once the battery is significantly drained, the unit switches to a power-saving mode and, after a set time, shuts off entirely, preventing damage to the battery.
Where and how to install the device
Whichever power source you choose, installation determines whether the system stays reliable long term:
- Install a battery-powered unit directly on the fence, somewhere accessible to you for regular charging but less visible to strangers.
- Protect the device from wind and weather with a carrying case, and from theft with a security box.
- Use batteries that do not leak and need no maintenance, sized to run for at least 14 days.
- Mount a mains unit on an exterior wall under sufficient overhang, close to the socket; never use extension reels or cords outdoors, as they are not permanently weatherproof.
- Indoor installation is allowed only in a room with no fire risk, and lightning protection must be fitted before the cable enters the building.
- Install the grounding near the device, ideally where the soil stays damp year-round, and check it immediately after installation.
- Always mark the fence with the appropriate warning signs.
If you are considering mains power, the running cost is negligible: multiply the device's power in watts by 24 and 365, then divide by 1000 to get annual consumption in kWh. A 7-watt device consumes around 61 kWh a year, which is just 5.1 kWh a month.
Kancler Sistem Pro, as the Slovenian partner of the German manufacturer PATURA, helps you choose a device that suits your pasture, whether or not you have a socket within reach.
Need advice?
If you are unsure which power source suits your pasture, send us a message and we will help you pick the right energizer.