Live Chat

Positioning and installing the boundary wire

When installing an in-ground fence system, lay out the boundary wire around your property. Use your proposed boundary and test the system before burying the wire. This will give you freedom to adjust your wire layout if you need to.

If you must cross underground utilities or buried cables with the boundary wire, do so at a 90-degree angle (perpendicularly). If you have a neighbor with a containment system, keep the boundary wires of your systems at least 5 feet apart. It may help to talk to your neighbor about the location of their boundary wire in their yard. If separating the wire by at least 5 feet from a neighboring containment systems wire does not reduce the inconsistent signal, contact our Customer Care Center.


Twist the Boundary Wire

Twisting the boundary wire cancels the signal and allows your pet to cross over that area without receiving a static correction. When twisting wire, you must be twisting wire that completes the radio signal circuit.  This means, there is a wire leading from the transmitter and the wire goes around your yard and returns to the transmitter.  You must be twisting portions of the leading and returning wires together in order to cancel the signal in that area. Plastic or metal piping will not cancel the signal.  Twist the boundary wire 8 to 10 times per foot to cancel the signal.

in-ground fence layout

Splice or Repair the Boundary Wire

If you need additional boundary wire to expand your wire loop, you will need to splice the wires together. Since wire breaks tend to occur at splices, it is helpful to note the locations of all splices for future reference.  We also recommend that you create waterproof splices using gel-filled splicing caps.  These are available for purchase online or by contacting our Customer Care Center. They are also included in current containment systems.

To create a splice or repair wire:

  • Strip approximately one-half inch of insulation off the ends of the boundary wires to be spliced. Make sure the copper boundary wire is not corroded. If the boundary wire is corroded, cut it back to expose clean copper wire.
  • Insert the stripped ends into the wire nut and twist the wire nut around the wires. Pull on the wires to make sure you have a strong splice connection. If you do not have gel-filled caps, apply waterproofing compound (e.g. silicone caulk) in and around the wire nut or wrap the wires and the wire nuts with electrical tape to prevent moisture from corroding the copper.

If your splice pulls loose, the entire system will fail.  Make sure your splice is secure.

repairing inground wire

Connecting the Wires to the Fence Transmitter

  1. Run the boundary wire to the fence transmitter through a window, under a door, through a crawl space vent, or any other appropriate available access. You can also carefully drill a hole through your wall.
  2. Strip the coating of the ends of the boundary wire approximately one-half inch exposing the copper wire.
  3. Insert the boundary wires into the boundary wire terminals on the fence transmitter.
  4. Turn the boundary width control knob to 10. This will set the warning zone at the maximum width.
  5. Plug the power adapter into the power jack and a 120-volt outlet.
  6. The power light and loop indicator lights should come on. If this does not happen, contact our Customer Care Center.