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Zareba Yellow Jacket, Low Impedance Electric Fence Charger, UL Listed, 0.25 Stored Joules
The versatile Yellow Jacket electric fence charger can run on 4 D-cell (flashlight) batteries and also on a 6-volt or 12-volt battery. Fully portable and easy to use, the weather-resistant Yellow jacket can be mounted directly on a temporary electric fence system’s ground rod. The Yellow Jacket puts out only 0.25 joules, but it uses special circuitry and transformers to maintain high energy levels on the electric fence. It also has a three-position switch that allows it to be turned “off,” on to “maximum” output, or on to “battery-saver” output. The unit comes with instructions and a one-year manufacturer’s warranty covering defects and lightning damage. A light on the Yellow Jacket indicates when it is operating properly. Batteries not included. Voltage data: When powered by four D cells or a 6-volt battery the Yellow jacket can be set to maintain 3500 volts on a perfectly connected electric fence with no weed burden. If a minor weed burden provides a 400 ohm path to the ground, the maximum voltage falls to 2900 volts, which is still enough to reliably shock horses. The same is true if the unit is powered with a 12-volt battery, only in this case the maximum (open circuit) voltage is 7000 volts, falling to 3700 volts in the face of a 400-ohm weed burden. Other animals: Animals do not understand electricity, so there is a reasonable chance they will be frightened off by even a very weak shock if they run into it for the first time. That’s why campers seeking to keep away foxes, coyotes, wolves and bears commonly carry light chargers like the Yellow Jacket, DS 140, or DSX 140 that are powered by a few flashlight batteries. The arrangement offers no sure-fire deterrent; but even so, where weight is at a premium, many feel the arrangement beats packing in a more cumbersome charger and heavy battery. In the case of bears, however, one would be better off not choosing the Yellow Jacket, because while the charger typically maintains the 1000 volts on the line that are recommended for shocking coyotes, wolves, and mountain lions, even with a perfect fence a D-cell-powered Yellow Jacket will not maintain the 4000 volts on the line that are recommended for shocking bears.