Remote controlled electric fence charger

[Black Forest]

We use electric fence on our farm to manage the horses and sheep. Today I was repairing the fence at the other end of the farm and had to call to have someone plug and unplug the charger while working on the fence. There are chargers available that have this feature. The remote is placed on the fence wire and a signal is sent to the charger to turn it on or off.

It is not possible to buy a add on unit to do the same with a normal charger.

So just how hard would it be to build a unit that is either controlled by cell phone or a special remote that sends a signal up the fence wire to the charger?

Something that could be added to most any charger.

[Jeremy_BP]

I would think that it wouldn't be terribly difficult. A remote switch (RF would work nicely for short distances) triggering a relay for the power would do the job. It is possible to get interfaces that communicate over GSM, so you could trigger it with a text message.

[coalsmok]

Black Forest can you post a link to the remote controlled fence charger you mentioned. Would save me a lot of walking if it is not to high.

[Evan]

Wear insulated gloves.

[Mike Burdick]

Here you go...

http://www.gsm-auto.com/

I'm sure there are others on the market.

[The Artful Bodger]

Hmmmmm...... we used to just short the fence to ground when needing to work on it, maybe modern charges are too savage for that..

[Black Forest]

That GSM-auto sounds like it would work. Thanks for the link.

Gallagher makes one and there are others. I don't have a link.

[GKman]

.... had to call to have someone plug and unplug the charger while working on the fence...

Sounds like you already have a remote controlled wife or daughter, why do you need anything else?

[Evan]

Undependable. They might just suddenly remember something that annoyed them and plug it in.

[sasquatch]

Isn't there a plastic or?? something disconnect that one can use to cut the power, think i've seen those many times, it just unhooks by spring tension, then rehooks again the opposite way.

I'd be careful allowing those girls to control the current on and off while working on the fence, untill you get that coffee maker fixed again.