Frequently
asked questions about wire
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All PetSafe Radio Fence Products carry a Lifetime
Warranty.
HOW DO I FIND A BREAK IN MY WIRE?
What type of wire do you
sell with your kits?
Can I splice the wire?
Why is it vital that my
splices be waterproof?
Why do I need to keep the
wire away from chain link fences or other large metal objects?
Does my wire have to form
a complete loop for this system to work?
How do I cancel the signal
in certain areas of my boundary?
What can I do to give my
wire extra protection?
What can I do to protect
my wire and transmitter from damage by an electrical storm?
Can I install the wire in
the same location as my electrical, telephone, TV cable or antenna wires?
What size and type of
wire should I run to my grounding rod?
How do I find a break in
my wire ?
There are basically two options, but this one
gets a page all to itself - Click here.
What type of wire do you
sell with your kits?
The Standard & Deluxe PetSafe Radio Fences
& Guardian Underground Fence systems come with PetSafe's own
20-22 gauge copper, insulated wire.
This wire must be protected and is
intended for direct burial only - as advised by the
manufacturer. At Canadapets, as an added bonus for a better quality system we offer an optional Upgrade in our systems to a Heavy
Duty 16-18g Polypropylene coated wire. This Heavy Duty wire is
more than three times thicker than any wire sold in pet stores or elsewhere Online. It is stronger
and far more durable than the retail issue. Also, this wire can be kept
above ground or tacked onto existing fence lines for easier installation. It is hardier
than the retail issue and has performed excellently in the Canadian climate. It is
strongly advised to maintain the same gauge wire
throughout your boundary system to prevent any drop in signal strength.
Can I splice the wire
along my boundary?
Yes. Splicing is not a problem as long as it is done properly. It is vital
that moisture be kept out of any splices or wire connections. Be
sure to always use the same type and gauge of wire, and also be sure that the splice
is completely waterproof. This can be easily accomplished by using a commercially
available waterproof splice kits from a hardware store or simply by siliconing all around
your spliced area and twist cap. If water does get into your wire boundary, the first
indicator will be a blown fuse on the transmitter. This problem can be easily avoided by
correctly waterproofing all splices.
Why is it vital that my
splices be waterproof?
If moisture gets into your wire it will cause erosion, resulting in signal
failure and a blown transmitter fuse. We recommend that you purchase waterproof splice
kits from your local hardware store, or use silicone gel and wire nuts wrapped securely in
electrical tape. Also, be sure to note the location of your splices for future reference,
because almost all breaks in the system are located at splice points.
Why does the manual
suggest that I keep the wire away from chain link fences or other large metal objects?
Large quantities of metal can deflect or absorb the radio frequencies
emitted from your boundary wire. When this happens, your fence may have either a
diminished range or erratic signal. When installing near metal, we recommend that you stay
as far away from the metal object as your boundary on one side of the wire is wide.
As always do a test run on any installation prior to burying
or permanently installing your wire.
Example: If your range is set at 5' on each side of the wire (10 foot
wide total), than you would want to keep the boundary wire at least 5' from the metal.
Does my wire have to
form a complete loop for this system to work?
Yes. This wire must be one continuous loop. There are two ports on your
transmitter. One is the "OUT" to your boundary wire - if you will - and the
other is the returning "IN' from the wire.
How do I cancel the
signal in certain areas of my boundary?
The Radio Fence signal can only
be cancelled by twisting two opposing strands of wire together. The wires must be part of
your continuous loop, and must be travelling in opposite directions. The tighter the
twist, the better your cancellation will be. However, you must be sure not to over-tighten
the wire and cause a break in the wire's outer insulation. We recommend a minimum of 12
twists per foot - but you may need to go tighter than this. The easiest way to accomplish this is with a cordless drill
on a low setting and wrapping periodically along the length with tape in order to hold the
weave in place.
Example: Start with one end of the wire attached to your transmitter (A).
Take wire out to the edge of your boundary (B), make your loop which encloses your
property, then come back to point (B). Between point (B) and the transmitter (A), twist
the wire against the initial strand of wire that you started with - this will cancel the
signal in this area. This same principle can be applied to enclose pools, ponds, gardens,
barbecue areas, outbuildings, etc..
Also, another tip will be to bury the twisted wire deeper than 8 inches at this point to
help dampen any missed signal.
What can I do to protect
my wire and transmitter from damage by an electrical storm?
We highly recommend our Lightning Protection Module
be added to any system in areas where thunderstorms are common - for more information on
the Lightning module click here.
Even though our systems have built-in lightning protection, we recommend that you
always unplug the transmitter from the outlet and disconnect the boundary wires from the
terminals if an electrical storm is approaching your area. This is the only way to have
100% protection from lightning damage. Remember, for our built-in lightning protection to
work, your system MUST be fully grounded to an electrical grounding rod or plate. We also
sell additional Lightning Protection Kits as an accessory item for your system if
requested.
What can I use to give
my wire extra protection from damage?
In areas that may experience particularly high traffic, or areas prone to small animals
digging or chewing, we recommend that you run the wire through a PVC pipe ( conduit ) or rubber
garden hose, then bury it 3-4 inches deep. This will not affect the signal, but will give
the wire additional support and protection if necessary. NOTE:
It is NOT advised to use use metal piping, culverts or any garden hose containing metal
filament strand in the weave. The use of these items can impede the RF signal.
Again, be certain to test run any installation prior to
burying or permanently installing your wire.
Can I install the wire
in the same location as my electrical, telephone, TV cable or antenna wires?
It is best advised to try and avoid close proximity to these other
underground cables. Essentially if you keep at least 2 feet distance from them, there
should not be a problem with interference in your continuous signal loop. If you must
cross cables, do so perpendicularly or at cross angles. Never run the boundary wire
immediately parallel to any other electrical wires. Above ground ( telegraph poles ) power
lines, telephone and cable lines will not affect or impede the signal in any way.
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