The Best Solar Fence Systems

• In the past few decades our knowledge about how to utilize solar energy has grown. Farmers and gardeners rely on fences to contain and protect their plants and animals. Although the initial costs of building a solar-powered fence might be greater than those for a traditional electric fence, you will save money in future electric bills.

Solar Energy Facts

• Solar panels are expensive because of the process to turn silica into silicon. Solar image by Thomas Leiss from Fotolia.com

  Solar energy is a completely renewable resource, which is important when the supply of oil and natural gas is being depleted. Making the switch to run completely off solar energy may seem risky when relying heavily on other energy sources, but small improvements, such as fences, help to conserve energy for future generations. The sun is a powerful source of energy that will not run out anytime soon. One hundred square miles of solar panels placed in the Southwest would generate enough energy to power the United States, according to solarpowerathome.com. Solar energy is a huge investment up front, yet the money saved in utility bills over the years makes up for the investment. Spending $1,500 to $3,000 for a solar water heater will pay for itself with lower heating costs in fewer than seven years, according to solarpowerathome. For a typical American home that is a savings of 50 percent to 80 percent each year. Investing in a solar-powered fence could provide similar benefits.

Buying Tips

• Electric fences can get expensive when protecting vast areas; solar fences run free of cost. Fences in landscape image by Dave Boin from Fotolia.com

  Measure the length of the perimeter where the fence will go. This will give you an idea of how big and how many volts your solar panel will need. Solar fences will come with the appropriate amount of wire. It is not advisable to add to this wire, but to buy the next size up in voltage for any solar charger. The charger will store the energy needed to power the fence through the night or through days without a lot of sunshine. Make sure you have an area where the solar panels can get anywhere from four to six hours of sunshine a day, but once fully charged most solar fence systems can work for up to two weeks without any direct sunlight. Solar fences operate freely. There are no costs outside of what you pay for the fence and no worries about electrical outages or huge storms. Solar fence chargers are relatively small and can be moved easily but still provide up to 30 acres with coverage.

The Best Solar Fence

• Solar panels generate energy through the sun's rays. solar panels image by Yali Shi from Fotolia.com

  The best solar fence really depends on the amount of area you want covered. Gallagher, a company based almost solely on animal management systems, offers both small, portable solar fence systems and large permanent systems with varying degrees of battery power. With few products outside of animal fencing systems, Gallagher knows what kind of fencing systems work best. Zareba Fence Systems is another animal management specialist. Zareba has a number of different fencing systems, including solar, and each fence comes with a number of accessories, such as gates, alarms and voltage testers. It offers a product warranty on all its fences and guarantees that all its products are made according to "exacting standards."