This might be dangerous so I need you guys to advise me. I'm thinking of using an automotive ignition coil by itself connected to its own 12 volt battery, so it can be portable. From what I know, the ignition coil stores a big jolt of electricity which instantly flows out when it's grounded at the spark plug side. So I would feed the coil with 12 volts, and hook up the jolt wire to the spark plug output. The ground would be strategically placed sheet metal strips with a wire going to each one, then finally a wire going back to the negative post on the battery. I need this to deter bears who are damaging my property, but I can't afford to buy a real electric fence charger that's strong enough to deter bears. Anyone dare to advise me?
[mod edit: merged from two separate threads]
I have a serious bear problem, I think it's their hobby to break into my trailer, garage, to jump through my open windows at night, tear off the trim around my doors trying to get in, etc. Please don't tell me to not put bear attracting garbage outside, because I put all of my wet waste in my freezer until I go to the dumps. I can't afford a fence charger strong enough to deter bears. But it occurred to me I might be able to use an automotive ignition coil. The coil would be connected as usual so the positive side of a 12 volt battery. The jolt wire would come out of the spark plug output end of the coil. The jolt wire would be about 50 ft long, probably number 12 AWG bare copper wire. To ground the system I would lay strategically placed strips of galvanized sheet metal on the ground each connected to the other with number 12 AWG insulated copper wire and then back to the negative post of the battery. So when the bear touches the jolt wire he will be standing on the sheet metal strips. The one thing I can think of that's concerning is that once a bear grounds himself, the high voltage current would be constant and might actually hurt the bear. Is there some kind of automatic on-off switch that could turn the 12 volt feed to the coil on and off about four times a second? Do you guys think there's too much amperage in the system to use on a bear?
[mod edit: merged from two separate threads]
I have a serious bear problem, I think it's their hobby to break into my trailer, garage, to jump through my open windows at night, tear off the trim around my doors trying to get in, etc. Please don't tell me to not put bear attracting garbage outside, because I put all of my wet waste in my freezer until I go to the dumps. I can't afford a fence charger strong enough to deter bears. But it occurred to me I might be able to use an automotive ignition coil. The coil would be connected as usual so the positive side of a 12 volt battery. The jolt wire would come out of the spark plug output end of the coil. The jolt wire would be about 50 ft long, probably number 12 AWG bare copper wire. To ground the system I would lay strategically placed strips of galvanized sheet metal on the ground each connected to the other with number 12 AWG insulated copper wire and then back to the negative post of the battery. So when the bear touches the jolt wire he will be standing on the sheet metal strips. The one thing I can think of that's concerning is that once a bear grounds himself, the high voltage current would be constant and might actually hurt the bear. Is there some kind of automatic on-off switch that could turn the 12 volt feed to the coil on and off about four times a second? Do you guys think there's too much amperage in the system to use on a bear?
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