Why is it important to have high voltage and energy output?

Let’s start with the Basics

When an animal touches the hot wire of an electrified fence, it closes what was until then an open circuit. Electrical energy is allowed to travel from the energizer (along the wire), through its body, and back to the energizer (through the ground).

How easily that circuit can be closed is a function of the voltage established by the energizer. How large of a shock the animal feels is a function of how much energy the energizer delivers.

Higher Voltage – Better Connection

Voltage is a measure of the electrical “pressure” created by the energizer from hot wire to ground. The higher the voltage, the easier it is for a predator to close the connection, and the less that dry conditions can affect that connection.

5000V is generally accepted as the ‘bare’ minimum (it takes 5000V - 6000V to make a connection through a Black bear’s fur). The Bear Sentry energizer creates 8,500V - think big, hairy Grizzly.

Energy is Everything

Energizers are rated by how much energy they store and by how much energy they can deliver under load (“stored energy” is theoretical, “delivered energy” represents the real world).

That ‘output’ rating of a bear fence energizer is critical, because size does matter when you’re dealing with an apex predator. Research shows that at least 0.5 Joules of delivered energy is needed to turn away a curious bear. But if a motivated, hungry Griz comes round, you’ll want more than the minimum shock!

Bear Sentries Really Deliver

The Bear Sentry energizer stores 1.8 Joules and delivers at least 1.0 Joule when discharged. That’s twice the minimum. That’s deterrence.