Mains to 12 volt supply needed, but what type?

[mart]

I am needing a 12 volt power supply-the 2 wire type, to power a (vehicle type) coil in a DIY electric fence, instead of using a 12 volt battery. Is that appropriate instead of using a battery that needs to be kept charged up?

I say fence but it will just be a single 2mt piece of 2x2 timber bird feeder with wire wrapped around the bottom half of the timber to deter squirrels from eating the food in the bird feeder.

Where can I source one of these 12v power supplies, and does it matter about the amp/wattage specs , as long as the voltage is 12v?

 

[123hotchef]

Car battery charger

 

[S-Rail]

I am needing a 12 volt power supply-the 2 wire type, to power a (vehicle type) coil in a DIY electric fence, instead of using a 12 volt battery. Is that appropriate instead of using a battery that needs to be kept charged up?

I say fence but it will just be a single 2mt piece of 2x2 timber bird feeder with wire wrapped around the bottom half of the timber to deter squirrels from eating the food in the bird feeder.

Where can I source one of these 12v power supplies, and does it matter about the amp/wattage specs , as long as the voltage is 12v?

I am sure you’ve already worked it out but you will need to isolate / insulate the wire from the wood . As it the post will earth it , loosing the affect …

I only know this , after my partners horse escape several times thanks for the tape making contacting with the wood corner post ..

 

[My Old Landy]

The amperage matters if you don't have enough for the current draw.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

A car coil is a bit OTT and will use far more power to operate than a small coil off, say, a moped. Use a meter to measure the current needed for whatever coil is being used to get an indication of the size power supply needed

 

[GRW]

You could just go to a Farm Supply shop and buy a cattle Electric Fence?
Car coils are very high voltage output 30,000v plus - so a bit of care is needed.
I know someone who made an electric fence to stop their dog jumping out of the garden... After fitting it they let the dog out (a dirty great Newfoundland), and it went to sniff the new addition to the fence. It never got to touch it - as it got close there was a SNAP sound, as a big blue spark jumped across the gap to the poor mutts nose.
Dog screeched and legged it into the house so fast it near took the kitchen door off

 

[finyuk2005]

You could just go to a Farm Supply shop and buy a cattle Electric Fence?
Car coils are very high voltage output 30,000v plus - so a bit of care is needed.
I know someone who made an electric fence to stop their dog jumping out of the garden... After fitting it they let the dog out (a dirty great Newfoundland), and it went to sniff the new addition to the fence. It never got to touch it - as it got close there was a SNAP sound, as a big blue spark jumped across the gap to the poor mutts nose.
Dog screeched and legged it into the house so fast it near took the kitchen door off

most electric fencers are more like 10kv, so 30kv from a coil would have a fair crack!!

 

[Migmac]

most electric fencers are more like 10kv, so 30kv from a coil would have a fair crack!!

Fried squirrel is meant to be tasty

 

[mart]

Car battery charger

Does a battery provide 12 continuous? I have a trickle charger.

 

[123hotchef]

Does a battery provide 12 continuous? I have a trickle charger.

A old school one will, a tickle charger will not have the amps you need for that project.
Many of us use chargers to power our rust removal tanks.
I have a few old school battey chargers here actually, I now use a PC PSU to power my rust removal tank

 

[mart]

I am sure you’ve already worked it out but you will need to isolate / insulate the wire from the wood . As it the post will earth it , loosing the affect …

I only know this , after my partners horse escape several times thanks for the tape making contacting with the wood corner post ..

I was hoping the wooden post would insulate, but I can understand that when wet it will conduct to some degree.

 

[123hotchef]

I was hoping the wooden post would insulate, but I can understand that when wet it will conduct to some degree.

even grass, brambles and weeds conduct the power away from electric fences, the vain of my life makes the battery go flat in no time if this is happening

 

[123hotchef]

you could use cable clips turned the other way on the nail to insulate perhaps

 

[Anguz]

You can buy insulators off ebay

 

[Migmac]

Wrap the wire in rubber in several places, can hold in place with cable ties or just put staples over the rubber into the wooden post. Rubber will insulate and stand the wire away from the post.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Does a battery provide 12 continuous? I have a trickle charger.

Connect it to the battery. Trickle charge battery.

 

[mart]

L

most electric fencers are more like 10kv, so 30kv from a coil would have a fair crack!!

But keep in mind it is DC not AC.

 

[mart]

Wrap the wire in rubber in several places, can hold in place with cable ties or just put staples over the rubber into the wooden post. Rubber will insulate and stand the wire away from the post.

Like pieces of old cycle inner tubes cut up?

 

[mart]

Fried squirrel is meant to be tasty

Some of my inspiration came from this bloke on YT. There are some more simililar clips on there from others. I think some of them are putting capacitors in the circuit to increase the kick.

 

[eddie49]

Whatever source of 12-ish volts DC you use, it will not make an ignition coil produce high voltage without something that is going to periodically interrupt the current flow in the primary - i.e. a contact breaker thingy.
EDIT
Yes, adding a capacitor across the contact breaker will increase the output voltage, just like it does on a car engine.