Questions about electric fence energizers

[OzarksRider]

I have a Speedrite 3000 electric fence energizer that was installed in 2021. The fences are not hot when cows are not in the fields, so the energizer has only been active for about 18 months out of almost 3 years. Now it’s blinking red and the problem appears to be the energizer and not a fault on the fence line. (There are cutoff switches on the fence, so I can isolate the energizer from the fence.) The energizer is located inside a shop building, so not exposed to weather. Grounding wires look ok, as far as I can tell. We’ve had no storms in a couple of weeks, and the energizer just failed in the last day or so, so lightning didn’t cause this.

So here are my questions:

First, how long should a fence energizer last? I’ve only had about a year and a half of use out of this one before it failed, and that seems like pretty poor performance.

Second, is it worth getting this one fixed or should I just hold my nose and buy a new one?

And last, what brand fence energizer do you use, and how do you like it?

[clanter]

@OzarksRider

First, how long should a fence energizer last?

ours is nearly 30 years old, stated for interior mounting only but has been hung outdoor all its life, Last year we know a lightening blot hit the corner metal post less than five feet from this charger and within three feet of one if the fence ground rods, it still works very well.

Have had the replacement setting around for at least 20 years

I saw that Speedright 3000 has a three year warranty including lightening

[OzarksRider]

Unfortunately I’m just beyond the warranty period even though the energizer was only turned on about half the time. It didn’t even last 30 months, let alone 30 years. Local farm store says they can repair them in house and it should only take a few days, so I’ll try that first.

@clanter what brand is your energizer?

[clanter]

@OzarksRider

what brand is your energizer?

bought it at Tractor Supply in the early 1990s, I will need to look at it to see if there a manufacturer’s ID on it