Wiktor Wise
Electric dog fences are a great way to keep your dog within a certain boundary, but what happens when the fence breaks? Locating a break in an electric dog fence can be a tedious task, akin to finding a needle in a haystack. However, with the right methods and strategies, you can simplify the process and save yourself from digging up your entire yard. In this paragraph, we will explore the steps to finding a break in your electric dog fence and offer some suggestions for prevention and repair.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First Step | Visual Inspection |
| Common Places Prone to Damage | Freshly Mowed, Plowed, or Tilled Region, Heavy Traffic Areas, Garden Beds |
| Tools | Multimeters, Ohm Meter, RF Choke, AM Radio, Wire Break Locator |
| Wire Break Locator | Cheap Radio Transmitter and Receiver |
| Multimeters | Measure Small Electrical Values like Voltage, Resistance, Current |
| Ohm Meter | Checks Continuity on Disconnected Wires |
| RF Choke | Requires Disconnecting Wires from Transmitter and Replacing with Choke |
| AM Radio | Detects Break by Audible Pulsing and Silence |
| Prevention | Purchase Strong Electric Dog Fence Wire with HDPe Coating, UV Rating, and 7 Strand Copper Core |
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What You'll Learn
Check if the break is in the wire or transmitter
If your electric dog fence has stopped working, the first thing to do is check whether the issue is with the wire or the transmitter. If your fence has a transmitter box, it will usually alert you to a break in the line by beeping and flashing. You may also notice that your receiver collars are no longer reacting when you approach the wire.
If your transmitter is beeping, this is a good sign and most likely indicates a break in the wire. You can test this by performing a short loop test, which will stop the beeping and test the transmitter. If the beeping stops when you make a short loop, there is a break in the wire somewhere.
You can also use a multimeter or ohm meter to check for continuity on the disconnected wires. If the meter beeps, this means the wire is not broken. If there is no beep, the wire is broken.
If you don't have access to a meter, you can perform a visual check of the wire. Begin at the transmitter, where the wire first appears above ground, and follow the wire around your property, looking for any signs of damage. Pay particular attention to areas of heavy traffic, such as pathways and driveways, as these are common places for breaks to occur.
If you are unable to find any breaks in the wire during your visual check, the break may be underground. In this case, you may need to test the circuit between the fence and the transmitter or use a wire break locator kit to find the break.
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Inspect areas where digging has taken place
Inspecting areas where digging has taken place is an important step in finding a break in an electric dog fence. Start by considering if there has been any recent digging by gardeners or other workers. Go to the area where they were working and inspect the wire there for any signs of damage or breaks. Exposed wire or weeds tangled around the cable could indicate that the wire has been unearthed.
If you are unable to identify any visible breaks in the wire, you may need to test the circuit between the fence and the transmitter. Cut the wires at the fence and join them together to send the radio signal back to the transmitter. If it stops beeping, there is no break in that section.
Another method is to use a multimeter, a simple digital meter that measures electrical values such as voltage, resistance, and current. By connecting the metal legs of the meter to the twisted wires of your fencing system, you can determine if the wire is broken or not. If the meter beeps, the wire is intact. If it doesn't beep, the wire is broken.
Additionally, you can use an AM radio to detect the break by walking along the perimeter and listening for silence. You should hear audible pulsing where the wire is intact, and silence where the break is located.
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Use a multimeter to check for continuity
A multimeter is a tool used to measure electric current, voltage, and resistance. It can be used to test electric dog fences. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use a multimeter to check for continuity in an electric dog fence:
Firstly, ensure that the multimeter is set to the correct voltage measurement, which can be found in the fence's user manual. Set the multimeter to the continuity setting, which is usually indicated by a speaker symbol. Disconnect the wire from the transmitter circuit. Then, connect the end of the metal legs of the multimeter to the twisted wire ends of your fence.
If the multimeter beeps, this indicates continuity, meaning there is no break in the wire. If there is no beep, this means there is likely a break in the wire. To confirm, set the meter to read ohms, indicated by a symbol that looks like an upside-down "U" or a horseshoe. If the resistance reading is infinite, there is no continuity, and the wire is broken. If the reading is between 1-5 ohms, the wire is continuous.
If you suspect the break is due to a partial break, you can switch to a higher scale on the multimeter, such as the 2K ohm scale, and repeat the process. If there is still no reading, the break may be more severe, and the transmitter may not have enough power to detect it.
It is important to note that a standard multimeter may not accurately test an electric dog fence, and a specified electric fence tester may be required for higher voltages. Additionally, ensure that the circuit has no power to avoid any incorrect readings.
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Try the RF choke method
The RF choke method is one of the ways to find a break in an electric dog fence. This method requires the purchase of an "RF-Choke" from an electronics supply or hardware store. The RF choke #273-102 is 100 microhenries +-10%, 2 amps max, rated at 1kHz.
Firstly, disconnect the boundary wire from the terminals on the transmitter. Then, wrap the boundary wire around the choke leads and connect the choke leads to the terminals on the transmitter. The choke has now completed the loop as far as the transmitter is concerned.
Next, turn the range adjustment knob up by 1/4 to 1/2 a turn. Take a transistor radio and set it to AM 600. Stand outside the structure where the twisted wire exits and listen for the pulsating static of the transmitter. Gently swing the radio back and forth across your body and follow the wire out to where the loop begins.
There should be audible pulsing where the wire is intact, and silence where the break is located. If you do not hear a strong pulsing signal, try completing the circuit by reconnecting one of the boundary wires that was wrapped around the choke.
It is important to note that if your dog fence wire is old, consider replacing it before investing time in locating and repairing a break.
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Use a break locator
A wire break locator is a device that can be used to detect a broken wire underground. It is a cheap radio transmitter with a receiver keyed to a particular frequency. The PetSafe® Wire Break Locator, for example, uses dual-tone and light indicators to locate wire breaks. The green light indicates a continuous tone, while the red light indicates an intermittent tone.
To use a break locator, you must first unplug your dog fence transmitter and connect the break locator to your twisted wire. Ground the sending unit by attaching the enclosed wire to the centre screw of an electrical outlet. Plug in the sending unit and ensure both lights on the transmitter are lit. Turn on the AM radio and adjust the station to 530 KHZ. You may need to adjust the dial to a channel that does not have a radio station.
Begin to follow the twisted wire with the radio towards the main dog fence loop. You will hear a combination of two sounds as you follow the twisted wire. If there is a break in the twisted wire, the sound will slowly switch from two sounds to one. If the twisted wire is intact, begin to follow the main dog fence loop. You will hear one steady sound. Follow the dog fence wire until this tone gets softer or begins to change, indicating a break in the wire.
You can also use the RF choke method in conjunction with a break locator. First, purchase an RF choke from your local electronics supply or hardware store. Disconnect your wires from your transmitter and replace them with the choke, ensuring that one end of the choke is in each lead on the control box. Turn the signal strength all the way up. There should not be any wire break error when the choke is in place. Attach your two end wires to either side of the choke, wrapping the wire around the choke and ensuring that the choke is touching the uninsulated end of each wire. Use the AM radio to detect the break by walking the perimeter and listening for silence. There should be audible pulsing where the wire is intact, and silence where the break is located.
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Frequently asked questions
Your transmitter box will notify you of a break in the line by beeping incessantly and flashing. You may also notice that your receiver collars are no longer reacting when you approach the wire.
The simplest method is to do a physical and visual check of your fence wire. If you marked the whole boundary before burying the wire, spotting a breakage will be much easier. Start with the most common places that are more prone to damage, such as freshly mowed or plowed areas, or places with heavy foot or vehicle traffic.
You can use a multimeter, ohm meter, or wire break locator to check for continuity and locate the break. If you want to save money on tools, you can build a simple AM transmitter and follow the signal around your property until you lose it, then repeat the process on the other side of the loop. The area where you lose the signal both times should be close to the break.
First, purchase an RF choke from your local electronics or hardware store. Disconnect your wires from your transmitter and replace them with the choke. Turn the signal strength all the way up and attach your two end wires to either side of the choke. Use an AM radio to detect the break by walking the perimeter and listening for silence.
If you are experienced with electrical work, you can attempt to fix the break yourself. Otherwise, you should seek help from a professional to avoid ruining your entire dog fence wire system.
