Hello all!
I am trying to make a very short zap line (electric fence type of idea), like for deterring animals. I only need it to be 8 feet long though. Im thinking maybe a module like this will work?
Would this work? How would I wire it? It says that it cannot run continuously, so I'm thinking I can maybe control it with an Arduino and a PIR sensor.
Thanks in advance!
Please post schematics showing the surrounding circuitry.
Hello @Railroader !
Oh, I don't have any! Im just brainstorming right now. Actually, I'm a little confused how to wire the module I linked to act like a zapper 
.
Basically, there is nothing else to this project; just a zapper and an Arduino, and maybe a PIR sensor.
That device is a transformer and needs to be operateted like the ignition coil in a car.
This is a noice generator and will not be easy to control by an Arduino. You need to study noice supression to make any code run.
Noise generator?
I was thinking I can switch it on and off with a MOSFET from the Arduino. Couldn't I be able to get it work like an electric fence controller ?
Basically, both of the high voltage wires run parallel and bare, so an animal would make contact between the two and get shocked.
Try it. Don't forget the kick back effect switching inductive devices.
In principle, yes, but redesign it so the switch swithes the low side of the load. Using a logic level N channel MOSFET You're close to an Arduino interface.
Ah, yes. I reused someone else's schematic. I just wrote my own. Is this right?
The KEY is the Arduino pin. What value should R1 be?
Edit:
After more thought, should R1 even be there?
Do You have access to a DMM, multimeter? Measure the resistance of the coil being powered. What's the voltage of the intended power supply?
Electric fences used by farmers usually send out a short pulse some every 2, 5,... second.
Not a transformer, but a complete high voltage generator. Same as use to ignite propane in a barbecue. Just needs to be turned on and off.
OP beware of local laws concerning electric fences and the amount of time between pulses.
At that high voltage, regular electric fence insulators will not be insulators, but conductors!
Good luck! Regular electric fences work great for deer control.
I think it's highly unlikely that anything that size can generate 400kv! Look up Tesla coil on the Internet, that voltage will create a spark of 8 to 10 cm.
Are you going to eat'em after you electrocute them? Most fence chargers are around 5kV... with effective current limits.
I'd suggest spending $30 and picking one up from Amazon... if you want to control it by an Arduino you can do that... but you won't be harming animals.
Unless you know what you are doing, like with encryption, don't 'hand roll' stuff that can harm living animals...
The link had that opinion... Could be anything... Looks like cheap crap to me.
Hmmm...
I have an electric fence, and my charger is 12kv minimum.
It really depends on the current. If the current is low enough, it should be just a slight shock. Either way, I definitely don't think that thing will actually generate 400kv; I'm thinking it'll be more like 4-40kv.
Yep, I have a DMM.
Im intending the voltage supply to be +5V.
Also, I'm thinking I should have the circuit pulse maybe for 10ms, then wait 1-2 seconds in between pulses; that way no animals get "electrocuted".
I agree! I was just thinking that it might work.
Most of the ones I've used, pulse really quick every few seconds or more... Most animals are not trying to 'bust' through.... just leaning and pushing...
Was hunting in Texas, one of the guys took a 'leak' right on a 'hot' fence in a bunch of weeds...
He advised "it wasn't a pleasant experience"...
Study the theory of the transformer! It is alternating voltage, and current, that creates something. Using long pulses ends in giving a DC current through the transformer primary winding and nothing comes out on the other side, and useless heat!
Use an oscilloscope and check how long time it takes for the current to reach its maximum. Then it's time to end the pulse.
What is the resistance in the coil? The DMM used....
You’re right 
. Thanks @Railroader !
Ah, I don’t actually have it. I was trying to brainstorm before I bought something. But if you think I could make it work, I could go ahead and buy it.
Edit:
From the description of that item, I did get the impression that you could have it run for a full minute using 5VDC though .
The link doesn't tell much. It's a sales link, not an engineering link.
The inductance affects the time it takes for an applied voltage to reach the maximum current. The resistance tells what the DC current will be when the pulse is steady on.
Using a resistor might be safe at least in the beginning. When knowing the raise time for the current and pulse length made less, or equal to, that I think the resistor is not needed. However, if the inductance is low an Arduino might not create enough reliably short pulses.
