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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. What causes an electric fence to fail?
2. What does the term "low impedance" mean?
3. Does Parmak manufacture low impedance models?
4. Does Parmak sell more than electric fence chargers?
5. What is a Joule?
6. How does the Joule relate to the performance of an electric fence charger?
7. What is a Stored Joule?
8. Is the amount of Stored Joules (energy) the same amount of joules produced on the fence wire?
9. Why is a good ground important?
10. Can Parmak fence chargers be used on high tensile multi-wire fences?
11. Why are AC models damaged by lightning more often than battery operated models?
12. Why is the U/L listing important?
13. What type of fuses are used in Parmak fence chargers?
14. What do the performance meters do?
15. How do you troubleshoot a fence charger?
16. Recommendations on which fence charger to use under various needs.
17. What are the output specifications for Parmak fence chargers?
18. Fence chargers and phone, radio, and modem interference.
19. Charging a solar battery before use.
    1. How do I replace the battery in my solar fence charger?
    2. How do I test the battery in my solar fence charger?
    3. How do I test the solar panel on my fence charger?
20. When my Parmak fence charge is operating, I hear a clicking sound.  Is this normal?
21. How do I get my Parmak fence charger serviced?
22. How do I store my solar battery?
    

1. Q. What causes an electric fence to fail?
A. The biggest cause for a failed electric fence is HUMAN!! Most people do not fully understand what it takes to correctly install and maintain an electric fence. They do not understand that any electric fence requires routine maintenance to keep adequate power on the fence or maybe they just are too busy to take the time to do the required maintenance.

The biggest maintenance problems are inadequate ground (poor ground), poor connections, using wrong wire size, using too small of an electric fence charger for the job (under powered fence charger), etc.

It all goes back to the "human factor":

If you decide to use electric fence, take the time to learn how to correctly build the fence and maintain it. Buy the correct electric fence charger for the job and read your owners manual thoroughly.

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2. Q. What does low impedance mean?
A. In non-technical terms, low impedance means the fence charger is designed to effectively shock through vegetation and other foreign matters contacting the charged wire. Vegetation such as grass, weeds, vines, etc., contacting the charged wire tend to impede or stop the flow of electricity by "grounding out" the fence. This is a common problem which exists on most electric fence installations.  The low impedance fence charger is a solid-state capacitor discharge design and has enough power to force the shock through vegetation.

It is recommended that the charged fence wire be kept clean of all vegetation, etc. to ensure maximum performance from your fence charger.

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3. Q. Does Parmak Manufacture low impedance models?
A. Yes. The Parmak models DF-SP-LI, EM-200, Mag 12 U.O., Mag 12-SP, HS-100, FM2, Mark 7, S.E.4, and RM-1 are low impedance, UL listed models. See Parmak's full line catalog or website for details on these and other top quality Parmak & Baygard electric fence products.

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4. Q. Does Parmak sell more than electric fence chargers?
A.  Yes.  Parmak offers a complete electric fence system including fence insulators, ground rods, fiberglass & poly fence posts, etc. 

Baygard by Parmak, the leading brand in temporary fencing, offers a complete line of heavy duty 1/4" electric fence rope, polywire, and polytape in 1/2", 7/8", and 1 1/2" widths.  Available in black/yellow or all white.  Ideal for temporary pastures and rotational grazing.  Super strength and conductivity.  Excellent weathering properties. 5 year U/V warranty.

Baygard offers 3 choices in portable wire and tape:  Light duty - Pasture Pride, Heavy Duty - Baygard, and Super Heavy Duty - Platinum with its exclusive black and silver color.

Refer to our website or our full line catalog for complete product offering and product specifications.

5. Q. What is a Joule?
A. The joule is defined as a unit of energy used to measure the distance a given weight can be moved in a unit of time or the amount of heat produced in a resistor by electrical current.  The joule is commonly described as one watt second.  The joule does not measure the effectiveness or safety of electric shock.

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6. Q. How does the joule relate to the performance of an electric fence charger?
A.  It doesn't.  It would take a lengthy discussion to explain all of the different factors which make an electric fence effective and safe.  The joule does not measure the effectiveness or safety of electric shock.

Two  easily measured factors determine fence charger performance.  Guard voltage and shock current.  Safety dictates that the amount of shock current, on time (the amount of time the shock is on the wire) and pulse rate be held within strict tolerances established by recognized safety agencies such as Underwriters Laboratory (U/L) and Canadian Standards Assoc. (CSA).  The value expressed in the joule does not decode to the user the effectiveness of a shock.

What controls livestock is voltage and current. You must have voltage in order to force electricity through the conductor (fence wire) as well as vegetation touching the fence, etc., and you must have current in order for the livestock to feel the shock.

The most effective fence charger will have the highest, safest power (voltage and current) possible with the shortest on-time, thereby allowing the fence charger to develop a shock which is more effective and at the same time is safe to use.

Example of how misleading the Joule rating is: The Parmak model Pet Gard is a continuous current, non-pulsing type charger designed for very small animals in backyards, gardens, etc. Using the joule rating (Voltage x Amps x Time) the Pet Gard (PG-50), because it is a continuous current fence charger, would have an unlimited joule rating making it the most powerful fence charger, which it is not.

In summary, it is important to point out that Underwriters Laboratories (U/L) or Canadian Standard Assoc., (CSA) do not recognize the joule as a measurement when applied to electric fence chargers.

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7. Q. What is Stored Joules?
A.  The term "Stored Joules" refers the the amount of energy stored in the fence charger capacitor.

Low impedance fence chargers are equipped with one or more capacitors which store energy until that energy is released to the fence wire through the the fence charger's output circuitry.

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8. Q. Is the amount of Stored Joules (energy) the same amount of joules produced on the fence wire?
A. NO.  It is important to know that the amount of Joules produced on the fence wire is much less than the amount of stored Joules.

As an example, a fence charger that claims to have 15 stored Joules may only produce 2 Joules on the fence wire.  The loss of energy between stored Joules and the amount of Joules actually produced on the fence wire is caused by the loss of energy within the discharge circuitry of the fence charger.  Poorly designed fence chargers can lose up to 90% of the stored Joules resulting in substantially reduced shock on the fence wire.

Knowing the stored Joules of any fence charger is useless information and can not be relied on to determine the shock power on the fence wire.

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9. Q. Why is a good ground important?
A. Regardless of make or model of fence charger, it is essential the fence charger be grounded properly. Think of an electric fence as an independent electrical circuit. In order for the circuit to operate properly, it must be grounded. AC models operated on poor ground will continuously blow fuses and will eventually be damaged by a poor ground. Battery models operated on a poor ground will have little or no shock on the fence.  It is recommended that the higher performance, low impedance models Mag12 U.O., Mag12-SP, M7, S.E.4, and RM-1 have three ground rods to insure proper ground. Remember, poor ground costs you. Refer to the fence charger Owner's Manual for detailed grounding instructions.

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10. Q. Can Parmak fence charger chargers be used on high tensile multiple wire fences?
A. Yes. The Parmak models Mag-12-U.O., Mag-12-SP, M7, S.E.4, and RM-1 are all high performance, low impedance fence charger chargers specifically designed to use on high tensile fences. The model RM-1 is the most powerful model, capable of charging many miles of fence. All five models are equipped with Parmak's exclusive performance meter which tells the customer the exact condition of fence. SPECIAL NOTE: For those customers using Poly wire or Poly tape, any of the Parmak low impedance models can be used with this type of fence without difficulty.

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11. Q. Why are AC models damaged by lightning more often than battery operated models?
A. Battery operated fence chargers are not connected to AC power lines.  Most lightning damage to AC powered fence controllers comes in through the AC power line. The lightning may actually strike a long distance away from the fence charger but is transmitted through the power line and will damage equipment connected to power lines, such as televisions, stereos, fence chargers etc. Parmak AC powered fence chargers are equipped with lightning arresters and a 1 amp fuse (model HS-100 has no external fuses) on the AC line. These lightning arresters help to eliminate much of the lightning damage, however, it is impossible to stop lightning damage 100%.  It is recommended whenever possible that the fence charger be disconnected from the AC outlet during electrical storms. We also recommend that you plug your AC fence charger into a surge protector (see information on the Parmak Electro-Gard).  The surge protector will give additional protection to your fence charger.  If a Parmak fence charger is damaged by lightning, it is covered by warranty and the fence charger can be returned for service.

When using an AC operated fence charger, we recommend using the Parmak Electro-Gard lightning protector for increased protection of your AC fence charger from lightning damage.

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12. Q. Why is U/L listing important?
A. An electric fence charger is different from any other electrical appliance. All other electrical appliances are designed not to shock where an electric fence charger is designed to shock. That shock must be effective and at the same time safe.  The maximum safe limit for electrical shock is defined by International Standards.  In North America (U.S. and Canada) there are two accepted safety agencies for electric fence chargers, Underwriters Laboratories (U/L) and Canadian Standards Association (CSA). Parmak elecrtic fence chargers are listed by both agencies.  The continuous inspections at the factory by both U/L and CSA insures that Parmak fence chargers comply with both electrical shock and fire safety standards.  It is important that the fence charger you use be U/L or CSA listed because this is your assurance that the fence charger has been thoroughly tested and is safe to use.  NOTE: There are fence chargers on the market which are not U/L or CSA listed and are potentially dangerous to use.

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13. Q. What type of fuses are used in Parmak fence chargers?
A. All AC models use 1 amp fuses. These fuses are designed to help protect the fence charger against lightning and poor ground damage. When replacing fuses, use (3AG) 1 AMP fuse only. Do not use slow blow type fuses or any fuse rated higher than 1 AMP, doing so will damage the fence charger and void all warranties.

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14. Q. What do the performance meters do?
A. The Parmak models Mag-12-U.O., Mag-12-SP, DF-SP-LI, M-7, S.E.4, and RM-1 are equipped with exclusive performance meter. This meter tells the customer the exact condition of fence at all times. The meter takes the guess-work out of electric fencing and eliminates a lot of unnecessary returns.  The Mag-12-UO, Mag-12-SP, and DF-SP-LI  have an analog meter and the Mark 7, S.E.4, an RM-1 have a digital meter.

The meter can also be used in troubleshooting.  Pease refer to question 15 below for more information on troubleshooting using the built in meters.

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15. Q. How do you troubleshoot a fence charger?
A. Over the years it has been proven that the biggest problem with electric fence is a direct result of poor fence installation (i.e., poor ground, shorts on fence, weeds, etc.) and not the fence charger.

ALL FENCE CHARGERS

If the fence charger is equipped with a performance meter (analog or digital), the meter can also be used in troubleshooting the fence line. If the meter is down in the yellow or red section on the analog meter or below 2.0 on the digital meter, you should turn off the fence charger and disconnect the fence and ground line from the charger. Turn the fence charger back on and see if the meter goes back into the green or above 2.0 on the digital meter. The analog meter should always read at the top of the green arc without the fence connected and the digital meter should read above 10.0. If you get the correct meter reading, this indicates the fence charger is operating properly and the problem is somewhere on your fence line. If the meter does not go to the top of the green arc or reads below 10.0 without the fence line connected, the charger may be in need of repair.  Contact the factory for additional troubleshooting information.

Next check output voltage of the fence charger by itself without the fence connected. You can do this by using an electric fence tester (Baygard #815) as this is the most accurate way to test your fence charger. You can also test your fence charger by taking a plastic handled screwdriver and shorting across the terminals on the fence charger. Place the base of the screwdriver on the red fence terminal and bring the tip of the screwdriver about 1/8” from the black ground terminal. You should get a blue spark that will jump a gap between the screwdriver and the terminal (approximately 1/16" to 1/8"). If you are getting a good charge (spark) from the fence charger then the fence charger is OK and the problem is somewhere in either your ground or your fence. You can also use this same test on the fence line if you are using metal T-posts, you can short between the post and the fence line. While this is not the most accurate way to test a fence, it will show you if you are getting voltage on the fence line.

Next check your ground rods. Here are some good tips:

• Use at least two or three 3/8" -- 5/8" diameter, 6 to 8 foot long copper clad or galvanized rod. Drive ground rods a minimum of 6 to 8 feet deep into permanently moist earth.
   
• DO NOT use painted fence post or any metal rod which has a painted surface because paint is an insulator and will not conduct electricity.
   
• DO NOT use utility ground or water pipe to ground your fence.
   
• DO NOT install fence ground rods within 50 feet of any utility ground system. This causes a poor ground condition. Your fence charger MUST HAVE its own separate ground system.
   
• DO install first ground rod within 20 feet of fence charger.
   
• DO use ground clamp to attach ground wire to each ground rod.
   
• DO replace ground rods every two years or so. The ground rods will rust under ground and over time will no longer be a good ground.
   
• Sandy, rocky, frozen, dry, or clay soil can reduce the effectiveness of your ground rods so additional rods may be needed to increase the shock delivered.

If you are still having problems, you should then check you fence line. Make sure that you are using insulators on all of your posts unless they are fiberglass or plastic posts. Wood posts DO need insulators because while wood is an insulator, it absorbs water and then it can cause a short in the fence.

Make sure there is nothing leaning against or in contact with the fence wire that can cause a short.

 If fence charger still does not operate return it to the factory or authorized service center for service. REMEMBER, any electric fence requires routine maintenance.

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16. Q. Recommendations on which fence charger to use under various needs.
A. The application of electric fence varies widely from fencing small pets such as cats, dogs to domestic livestock, cattle, horses, hogs, sheep to fencing wild animals, deer, bear, (elephants in Africa), etc. The model you choose will depend on the fence construction and the animals you are controlling.

Parmak offers ten (10) models which will meet any fencing requirement. We make the following suggestions on our most popular models:

MODEL DF-SP-LI (BEST) This is a six volt, solar powered model designed to be used on clear weed free fences. The DF-SP-LI is low impedance and will shock through a light amount of wet weeds and brush. It is designed for small to medium size pastures and is ideal for hogs, cattle and horses.

Model MAG-12-U.O. (BEST) MAG-12-SP (BEST) These are 12 volt models designed for medium to large pastures. Both models are low impedance and will shock through weeds and brush and are ideal for cattle, horses, hogs, sheep, deer, etc. The MAG-12-U.O. and MAG-12-SP can be used to fence large animals and larger pastures. The MAG-12-SP is solar powered.

Model HS-100 (110v-120v AC) and EM-200 (12v battery)  Safe, effective, shock.  Works well with small to large size animals including dogs or horses.  UL Listed (U.S. & Canada) Shocks through a light amount of weeds & brush, advanced solid-state circuitry.  Quick, easy installation.  Dual flashing operating light (red/green) on the HS-100 and single operating light on the EM-200.  Rugged ABS housing. Ideal for small to medium pastures.

Model FM2 (110v-120v AC) (GOOD) This AC model is for small to medium size pastures and will shock through a medium amount of weeds, brush, etc. The FM2 is ideal for hogs, cattle and horses.  The FM2 is not recommended for sheep or deer fences.

Model MARK 7 (BETTER) Model S.E.4 (BEST) Model RM-1
These are the top AC models for the medium and larger fences. Ideal for all livestock or deer fences. The S.E.4 and RM-1 are the best choice for high tensile fences and can charge over 50 miles (S.E.4) and 100 miles (RM-1). The M7, S.E.4, and RM-1 will shock through medium to heavy vegetation. The S.E.4  and RM-1 are also excellent for sheep, deer, or predator fences.

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18.  Fence chargers and phone, radio, and modem interference. 
A.  All Parmak fence chargers are thoroughly shielded and filtered against radio, television, and telephone interference. When interference occurs, it is usually caused by one or more of the following:

1.  A current leak (spark) to ground at some point along the fence line. This may be a result of very dirty or cracked insulators, wire touching a post, trees, a building, or vegetation.
   
2. A loose connection in the fence wire, possibly due to poor splices, gate opening, or a rusted wire causing a spark.
   
3. Poor ground connection.