New regulations regarding high powered energisers.
From 1st of September 2010, European electric fencing manufacturers were obliged to adhere to new safety guidelines regarding high powered electric fence energisers. Products manufactured after this date are limited to a maximum of 5 joules when operating under heavy fence loads. Those of us with long fences and less than perfect maintenance will no longer be able to buy high joule energisers to power through the problems and maintain an effective voltage.
What is the future for higher power energisers?
Energisers with high joule outputs will need to have an intelligent control governing the controlled release of power onto the fence. Many manufacturers have technology which increases power as the load on the fence rises. This is deemed potentially dangerous if someone is entangled in the fence because power could increase to harmful or even fatal levels.
The new Hotline Phoenix models HMX1600 & 2500 will operate from a platform of 7 joules with a boost capacity of 16 & 25 joules respectively. If the fence load increases gradually to a point where 7 joules are not sufficient to maintain an effective voltage, the energiser will boost output within the constraints of the 5 joule rule (the energiser can boost up to 25 joules as long as the fence line is not heavily loaded).
However, if a sudden heavy load which could represent an animal or person caught on the fence the energiser only enters the full boost mode following a 45 minute safe mode. On detection of the sudden heavy load, the energiser sounds an alarm and enters a slower pulse rate for the period of the safe mode before continuing normal operation.