Operating Guide PIG00-14673 Rechargeable In-Ground Fence™ Please read this entire guide before beginning
Thank you for choosing PetSafe® Brand. You and your pet deserve a companionship that includes memorable moments and a shared understanding. Our products provide you with the tools and technologies to successfully train your pet. If you have any questions about our products or training your pet, please visit our website at www.petsafe.net or contact our Customer Care Center at 1-800-732-2677. To get the most protection out of your warranty, please register your product within 30 days at www.petsafe.net.
• Risk of injury. Wire placed on top of the ground may be a trip hazard; use care in how you place your wires. This PetSafe® Rechargeable In-Ground Fence™ system is not a solid barrier. This system is designed to act as a deterrent to remind pets, by static correction, to remain in the boundary established. It is important that you reinforce training with your pet on a regular basis. Proper fit of the receiver collar is important.
• Plug the surge protector into a grounded (3-prong) outlet that is within 5 ft. of the fence transmitter. ALWAYS use a grounded (3-prong) outlet to ensure maximum protection. • Do not remove the ground prong from the surge protector plug. Do not use a 3-prong plug to 2-prong outlet converter. Doing so will make the surge protector ineffective against surges or spikes. • You should expect hundreds of recharge cycles from your battery. However, do not charge your receiver collar every night.
Table of Contents Components ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������6 Other Items You May Need �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������6 How the System Works ������������������������������
Components Operating and Training Guide Opera PIG00- Rechar14673 geab le Please In-Gr read this ound entire guide Receiver Charger ting Gu ide Fence ™ Test Light Tool before beginning RFA-67 BATTERY 6V Power Adapter Fence Transmitter Long Contact Points Receiver Collar with Short Contact Points Gel-filled Capsules Surge Protector Mounting Bracket Boundary Wire (USA & Canada Only) Wire Nuts (50) Boundary Flags Other Items You May Need • • • • • • • • Additional wire and flags (Part
How the System Works A radio signal travels from the fence transmitter through a buried wire, marking the boundaries you wish to set for your dog. Your dog wears a receiver collar that detects the signal at the boundary. As your dog approaches the boundary, the receiver issues a warning tone. If he proceeds further, he receives a safe but startling static correction. While harmless, the correction will persuade him to stay in the containment area you have established.
Operating Guide Step 1: Have Your Utilities Marked 1A 1. Call your utility company to have your utility lines marked. If you have neighbors using an in-ground pet containment system, you will want to ask them where the boundary is located. Trust us, you really do not want to skip this step. 2. Make a plan for how you will work around any large metal objects (like sheds) or wires. You can cross utility lines but only at 90° angles (1A).
• We recommend using an outlet at least 30 ft. from the breaker box. • Both the surge protector and transmitter should be indoors, in a dry, ventilated and protected area (3A, 3B). • You will need to run wire from the transmitter to the boundary wire, so it must be near window or a wall that you can drill through (3A). The wire should not be pinched or cross any utility lines. • The temperatures in that location should not fall below -10°F or -23°C.
Step 4: Design Your Boundary Zone Basic Planning Tips • Always design your layout, position the boundary wire and test the system as outlined in this guide before burying the boundary wire. You do not want to find out after burying the wire that there is a problem with your layout or a loose connection somewhere. • Sample layouts are provided in this section, and a grid for designing your layout is provided on the back of this guide.
Single or Double Loop Layout The containment area can be created by using either a single boundary wire that is placed around the entire property (4C) or by doubling the boundary wire along the same path (4E).
Double Loop Boundary 4E • To section off only one boundary area or one section of your yard (e.g., front yard only, or waterfront property) • The 2 parallel sections of the double boundary wire must be separated by a minimum of approximately 5 ft.
Step 5: Position, Twist and Splice the Boundary Wire Once you have designed your layout, the next step is to position the wire along your property. Hold off on burying the wire until you have tested the system first. 1. Start with one end of the wire at the surge protector, but do not plug it in yet. Run the wire outdoors all the way around your planned perimeter and back to the surge protector. 2.
Additional Boundary Wire Extra spools of boundary wire can be purchased in lengths of 500 ft. per spool where you purchased the kit or through the Customer Care Center. Acres Feet of Wire Needed Number of Spools Needed ⁄4 ⁄3 1 ⁄2 1 2 5 10 25 415 480 590 835 1180 1870 2800 4500 1 1 2 2 3 4 6 9 1 1 Note: When adding boundary wire, it must act as a continuous loop. The table on the right indicates the approximate length of boundary wire needed for a square, single loop layout.
Verify that the boundary loop and transmitter wires are connected to the proper surge protector terminals. Reversed connections will result in an increased risk of surge-related damage. For added protection, when unused for long periods of time or prior to thunderstorms, unplug from the wall outlet and disconnect the loop boundary wires. This will prevent damage to the transmitter due to surges. Transmitter Setup (Australia and New Zealand) 1.
Step 7: Prepare the Receiver Collar 7A In order to test the system you will need to use the receiver collar. Your receiver collar comes installed with short contact points. If your pet has long or thick hair, use the long contact points instead. Tighten or switch the contact points by using the contact point wrench (7A). Turn the Receiver Collar On To turn on the receiver collar, press and hold the mode button continuously for 5 seconds (7B).
Set the Static Correction Level The static correction levels increase in strength from 2 to 5, with level 1 being tone only (no correction), and level 5 being the maximum setting. Refer to the table below to choose the static correction that best fits your pet. 1. Press and hold the mode button (7B) until the receiver collar illuminates a red light. 2. The receiver collar will then emit a series of red flashes representing the static correction level (e.g., 4 red flashes means level 4).
Step 8: Set the Boundary Width and Test the Receiver Collar With the boundary wire in place and properly connected, and the receiver collar fully charged, it is time to set the boundary width and test the system. The receiver collar should not be on your dog when the system is tested. Note: The receiver collar is waterproof, which can make the tone hard to hear. The flashing test light, when held to the contact points, indicates that the receiver collar is delivering static correction.
7. To prevent the receiver collar from going into Over Correction Protection mode, walk back into the pet area until the toning stops. If the receiver collar does not tone at the desired range, adjust the boundary width control knob to obtain the desired range. Turning the boundary width control knob clockwise increases the boundary width while turning it counterclockwise decreases it (8E). Repeat this activity as needed until the receiver collar tones between 6 to 10 ft. from the boundary wire.
Step 9: Bury the Boundary Wire • Underground cables can carry high voltage. Have all underground cables marked before you dig to bury your wire. In most areas, this is a free service. Avoid these cables when you dig. • Before you begin installing the boundary wire, turn the fence transmitter off and unplug the adapter from the surge protector. Burying the boundary wire is recommended to protect it and prevent disabling the system. 9A 1. Cut a trench 1–3 inches deep along your planned boundary.
Follow all safety instructions for your power tools. Be sure to always wear your safety goggles. Cross Hard Surfaces (driveways, sidewalks, etc.) 9C 9D • Concrete Driveway or Sidewalk (9C): Place the boundary wire in a convenient expansion joint or create a groove using a circular saw and masonry blade. Place the boundary wire in the groove and cover with an appropriate waterproofing compound. For best results, brush away dirt or other debris before patching.
Step 11: Fit the Receiver Collar Proper fit of the receiver collar is important. A receiver collar worn for too long or made too tight on your pet’s neck may cause skin damage, ranging from redness to pressure ulcers. This condition is commonly known as bed sores. • • • • • • • • • • Avoid leaving the receiver collar on your pet for more than 12 hours per day. When possible, reposition the receiver collar on your pet’s neck every 1 to 2 hours.
Important: The proper fit and placement of your receiver collar is important for effective training. The contact points must have direct contact with your pet’s skin on the underside of his neck. 1. Be sure the receiver collar is off before placing it on your pet. Then with your pet standing (11A), fit the receiver collar snugly onto your pet’s neck so that the contact points make contact with your pet’s skin on the underside of his or her neck. 2.
Training Guide Important: Proper training of your pet is essential to the success of the Petsafe® Rechargeable In-Ground Fence™ system . Read this section completely before beginning to train your pet. Remember that this PetSafe Rechargeable In-Ground Fence system is not a solid barrier. S 1 M 2 T 3 W 4 T 5 F 6 S 7 • Pets respond to our emotions. You should stay upbeat and have fun 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 with your pet throughout the training process. • Train for 15 minutes or less at a time.
Phase 1 Day 1—Tone-only Training for Boundary Awareness Perform 3 training sessions per day, each lasting 10–15 minutes. 12A Goal: To have your pet learn that the boundary flags and warning tone from the receiver collar define the new pet area. Setup: • Program the static correction level on the receiver collar to level 1, which is tone-only training mode. • Put a separate non-metallic collar on your pet’s neck below the receiver collar and attach a leash.
Phase 2 Days 2 Through 4—Boundary Awareness with Static Correction Perform 3 training sessions per day, each lasting 10–15 minutes. Goal: To train your pet to stay in the pet area and respect the boundary. Setup: • Program the static correction level on the receiver collar to level 2. • Put a separate non-metallic collar on your pet’s neck below the receiver collar and attach a leash. Be sure the extra collar does not put pressure on the contact points.
• Have small pieces of your pet’s favorite treats available. • Have your pet’s favorite play toy available. • Stage some distractions to tempt your pet to enter the static correction zone. Start with temptations that are of lower value for your pet, and work your way up. It is typically harder for pets to resist temptations that are close by than those further away: - Have a family member cross from inside the pet area to outside of it. - Place a ball, treat or toy outside of the pet area.
Phase 5 Days 15 Through 30—Pet Monitoring Your pet is ready to run! Just make sure to check on your pet at regular intervals. Note: After you are satisfied that your pet’s training is complete, remove every other boundary flag every 4 days until all flags are removed. Save your boundary flags for future use. Taking Your Pet Out of the Pet Area 12E Important: Remove the receiver collar and leave it at home. Once your pet learns the boundary, he will be reluctant to cross it for walks or car rides.
System Test 13A The system test is used to determine the cause of system problems that have not been addressed elsewhere in this guide. You will need a piece of boundary wire greater than 15 ft. long with 3⁄8 in. of insulation removed from each end to use as a test loop wire. Make a note of your boundary width dial setting, and receiver collar setting before beginning the system test. Follow the steps below to perform the system test: 1. 2. 3. 4.
13. Interpreting the results with the surge protector: a. If both the power and loop indicator lights are on and the receiver collar is activating at different distances on the test loop wire, the problem is in the containment boundary wire. Perform the wire break location test. b. If the loop indicator light is off with an alarm on the fence transmitter, there is a problem with the surge protector. Contact the Customer Care Center. 14.
If you still cannot find the break in the boundary wire, there are 2 options for locating it: Option 1: It is recommended to contact the Customer Care Center to purchase a wire break locator (RFA-450) (14B). 14B Option 2: Follow the procedure below: 1. Unplug the fence transmitter. 2. Connect both ends of your twisted boundary wire to one loop terminal on the surge protector. 3. Measure and cut a test wire which is half the length of your total boundary wire footage. 4.
Troubleshooting 32 The receiver collar is not beeping or correcting. • Charge the receiver collar. • Make sure the receiver collar is turned on and the battery status lights are flashing every 4–5 seconds. • Check that both lights are lit on the fence transmitter. If not, perform the “System Test” on page 29. The receiver collar is beeping, but the pet is not responding to the static correction. • Make sure the static correction is set at level 2 or above.
The power and loop indicator lights are off. • Check that the power adapter is plugged into the fence transmitter. • Check that the power adapter is plugged in properly. • If the system is plugged into a GFCI or RCD outlet, check to see if the circuit has been tripped. Reset the GFCI or RCD circuit if required. • Verify that the outlet is working properly by plugging in a known working item such as a radio. • Try plugging the fence transmitter into another 120-volt outlet.
Compliance FCC/IC This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian RSS-310. This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a residential environment.
Warranty One Year Non-Transferrable Limited Warranty This Product has the benefit of a limited manufacturer’s warranty. Complete details of the warranty applicable to this Product and its terms can be found at www.petsafe.net and/ or are available by contacting your local Customer Care Center.
Radio Systems Corporation 10427 PetSafe Way Knoxville, TN 37932 1-800-732-2677 www.petsafe.net For a list of patents protecting this product, please visit: http://www.radiosystemscorporation.
