Description

Thunderbird MB5600R Energiser

The Thunderbird MB5600R energiser helps large-property owners maintain powerful livestock fencing while spending less time manually checking extensive fence networks. Its digital display provides useful fence, earth and performance information, helping you recognise developing problems before livestock discover them.

Designed and manufactured in Australia, the MB5600R delivers 55.3 joules of stored energy and can operate from mains electricity or an external 12V battery. It can also form part of an appropriately designed solar installation.

Why Choose the Thunderbird MB5600R Energiser?

• 55.3 joules of stored energy
• Advertised for up to 350km under ideal conditions
• Mains or external 12V battery operation
• Compatible with an appropriately sized solar system
• Digital display shows fence and earth information
• Remote-control ready
• Automatic power boost responds to changing fence loads
• Three selectable power levels
• Multiple pulse-speed settings
• Built-in adjustable fence alarm
• Fence-return monitoring terminal
• Australian-made construction
• Weather-resistant O-ring sealed enclosure

Thunderbird MB5600R Energiser Monitoring

The digital display shows fence voltage, earth condition, current, energy use and operating mode without requiring you to continually switch between screens. This gives you a clearer picture of how the fence is performing.

When fence voltage drops, the information displayed can help you determine whether the problem may be caused by vegetation, a fence fault, inadequate earthing or another source of electrical load.

The built-in alarm can be set to activate when fence voltage falls below the selected level. Alarm-history records also help you review previous events, including their recorded time and date.

Thunderbird MB5600R Energiser Power Control

Fence conditions rarely remain constant. Growing vegetation, wet weather, damaged insulators and additional fence sections can all increase the load placed on an energiser.

The MB5600R’s automatic power-boost function increases energy when the fence requires it. Three selectable power levels and multiple pulse-speed settings allow the system to be adjusted for different operating requirements.

MB5600R Energiser Power Options

The supplied AC adaptor allows the energiser to operate from mains power, while the included DC lead allows connection to a suitable external 12V battery. Battery operation can provide flexibility for remote installations or backup power.

The MB5600R can also be used with an appropriately designed solar-power system. Due to the energiser’s substantial power requirements, solar-panel and battery capacity must be calculated carefully. Thunderbird’s catalogue nominates a large 12V solar system of approximately 480 watts for this model.

Please note: External batteries, solar panels and solar regulators are not included.

Optional Remote Fence Control

The MB5600R is compatible with an optional Thunderbird remote-control system. This allows the energiser to be switched off and restarted from the fence line, helping make repairs and fault finding faster and safer.

The remote-control unit is sold separately. Confirm compatibility before ordering accessories for an existing energiser.

Understanding the 350km Rating

The advertised 350km distance represents a clean fence operating under ideal conditions. It should not be interpreted as a guaranteed working distance for every Australian property.

The correct energiser size depends on the total electrical load, not simply the physical length of the fence. Important factors include:

• The number of electrified wires
• Vegetation touching the fence
• Wire type and electrical resistance
• Quality of joins and connections
• Condition of insulators
• Length and quality of underground cable
• Soil moisture and earth-system performance
• Future fence extensions

A shorter fence under heavy vegetation load may require more power than a much longer, clean single-wire fence.

Thunderbird MB5600R Energiser Applications

The MB5600R is designed for substantial electric-fence installations and can be used for correctly designed cattle, sheep, goat, horse and mixed-livestock systems.

Potential applications include:

• Extensive permanent fence networks
• Large cattle and sheep properties
• Multi-paddock grazing systems
• Long boundary and subdivision fences
• Large poultry-netting systems
• Fences exposed to significant vegetation pressure
• Systems requiring mains power with battery backup

Earth-System Performance

A high-powered energiser requires a substantial and correctly installed earth system. Insufficient earthing can prevent the energiser from delivering an effective shock, regardless of its power rating.

Use long galvanised earth stakes installed in permanently moist soil and size the system according to Thunderbird’s instructions, soil conditions and fence load. Dry, sandy or rocky properties may require additional stakes or an earth-return fence design.

The earth-monitoring display helps you assess the condition of the earth system. Keep electric-fence earth stakes separated from mains cabling, telecommunications equipment, water pipes and building earth systems.

What Is Included?

• Thunderbird MB5600R fence energiser
• Mains AC adaptor
• External 12V battery connection lead
• Operating and installation instructions

Not included: External battery, solar equipment, remote control, earth stakes and fence-installation materials.

Thunderbird MB5600R Energiser Specifications

• Brand: Thunderbird
• Model: MB5600R
• Product SKU: MB5600R
• Stored energy: 55.3 joules
• Common marketed power class: 56 joules
• Maximum ideal-condition distance: Up to 350km
• No-load voltage: Approximately 8.9kV
• Voltage at 100 ohms: Approximately 7.9kV
• Current draw: Approximately 1.2–6.6 amps, depending on operating conditions
• Power sources: Mains or external 12V battery
• Solar compatible: Yes, with a correctly designed system
• Recommended solar-panel capacity: Approximately 480 watts
• Display: Fence voltage, earth condition, current, energy use and operating mode
• Remote-control ready: Yes
• Country of manufacture: Australia
• Product warranty: Two-year Thunderbird manufacturer warranty plus one additional year from Horsley Wholesale
• Lightning-protection warranty: Six months

Power and Information for Serious Fence Systems

The Thunderbird MB5600R energiser combines substantial fence power with monitoring features that help you understand how the system is performing. This gives you greater control over extensive fencing and helps reduce the time spent searching for faults.

Contact Horsley Wholesale if you need help designing the correct energiser, battery, solar-power or earth-system setup for your property.

Browse our multi-powered electric fence energisers for other flexible power options.

Additional information