Electric Fence Light Company: A Conversation with the President & Inventor

Like most great inventions, the Electric Fence Light stemmed from an unfulfilled need for farms and ranches. Living on a farm in Tennessee presented its fair share of challenges, especially in times of inclement weather. When severe storms came into town, there wasn’t a simple way to check if the electric fencing was working.

Before the Electric Fence Light, farmers and ranchers would have to get outside and check the fence to make sure it was in proper working condition. A storm one evening left Mr. John Bishop with two blown fuses. Bishop, now with a damaged fence, sought a way to make conditions on the farm better. Thusly, the Electric Fence Light was born. Following three years of extensive testing, the Electric Fence Light first hit the market in 2014. Each light is visible up to one mile away, 360 degrees.

According to the official product description:

The Electric Fence Light will light up with a very bright flash every time your electric fence is charged. It is made so you do not need to go out and test your fence to see if it’s working. As long as the light is flashing with every pulse of the fence charger this means that all is OK. If the light starts acting a little funny and is not flashing normally this means that something is wrong and you may have something lying on the fence or the fence is grounding out somewhere.”

Simply put, the Electric Fence Light emits a pretty intense flash each time the current flows to the light’s location. If no current is detected, the EFL will not flash, indicating that something has gone wrong. On the Z-Bulb version EFL, “the light will last up to 3 years, but should probably last a lifetime.”

More Than Just a Bright Light

In regards to the T-Post Brackets, well, “they’re selling like hotcakes.” It’s not difficult to believe due to the product’s versatility. At one point during our interview, Mr. Bishop jokes with me, stating that if I can find him someone who’d rather dig a hole, he’d give me $100 (I’ve yet to find that person). No, that offer doesn’t extend to anyone else.

The T-Post brackets easily attach to any T-post (or flat surface) with ease. So far, customers have used the bracket for an extensive array of purposes ranging from target practice to garden owls. John also invented his own lightning fuses for fence chargers, and his own lightning diverters as well. All current EFL products are being sold at Jeffers. Not only are these products useful, but they’re American-made! Additionally, all products are handmade except for the T-Post brackets.

The T-Post brackets were outsourced to a nearby plant in Tennessee due to volumes and stamping requirements. Mr. Bishop believes that a product that customers can believe in, as well as good, quality customer service are two key factors in Electric Fence Light Company’s success. Each package shipped contains a business card with his personal information, giving consumers a direct line to President and inventor of the products they’ve just purchased. Additionally, he states, “When service and support have all the knowledge, that accessibility lends itself to the popularity of products.”

To sum it up simply, take care of the customers and they will take care of you. This is especially true in an age where word-of-mouth reviews can sink or swim a company, “you can sell any item once, but service and support sell it the 2nd time.” Overall, John hopes that his products make day-to-day life for farmers and ranchers a little bit easier. At this time, I can’t disclose any information on upcoming products, but I can say with certainty that the future of the company is very bright. Need help with an unfamiliar fencing term? Read our Glossary of Electric Fencing Terms here.