How I found the break in the wire.

[someguy]

here is how I found the break in my wire the other day:

1)  obtain a wire tracker.  I used one from "BG Instruments" called "Wire Tracker GET-4110R Receiver".
2)  Disconnect one of the perimeter wires where they connect to the inside of the charing station.
3)  Put the tip of the wire tracker on the outside of the wire and press the button on the wire tracker.  You'll hear and intermittent whistle, almost like the sound of a truck backing up.  I've found that the signal is better if you lift the wire off of the ground.  You'll find that the wire going one direction from the charging base has the tone in it and that the other wire doesn't (because you disconnected it).  If I remember correctly, the red / positive side is the one that generates the tone.  I did not find the tone generator that came with the wire tracker to be useful.  The signal that creates the perimeter generates a better tone.
4)  Every 10 or 20 feet, find the perimeter wire and see if you get a tone as you make yourself around your yard.  At some point, you'll find no tone.  Then back up and find the spot where it is cut.

Worked great for me. 

by the way:  I use soldering and black electrical tape for repairs, because I don't want to go back.

[jzawacki]

Ive been using crimping butt splices for the past 3 years and so far have not had any issues.  The only time one has let go was from a vehicle cutting through the corner of my yard and tearing the wire out.  But, butt splice or not, it would have let go.

[AGR]

Where did you get the "Wire Tracker GET-4110R Receiver"?

Do any of these spices cause resistance (or what ever it would be called) such that it would decrease the signal down the line? I have a lot of wire over my 1.2 acres and I wonder if all the splices have caused it to lessen the signal. What splice method creates the least resistance?

[jzawacki]

They are also called "tone generator/induction amplifier kits". You can buy them at any electronics related store, as well as most hardware stores (home depot, lowes, menards, etc.).  They are used for tracing telephone, cable TV, network wires, etc.

As for splicing with the least resistance, I'd say actually soldering them and using waterproof heat shrink wrapping would give you the best connection.  But, that's a lot of work and you need a cordless soldering iron.

[cullen]

I found my tone generator & induction amplifier at Sears for what seemed to be a reasonable price.  It turns the task from an impossible one to a relatively simple (though sometimes tedious) one.

I've recently seen something fail in an area not near any splices I can recall.  Wiggling the wire fixed it (after digging up the wire from under the grass roots).

[AGR]

they seem to be about 100 to $150 at sears. Is that about correct?

[jzawacki]

That seems a little high.  Probably a higher quality one than you need.  I'd suggest checking home depot.  They have the $90 ones as well, but I could have sworn I bought a cheapo $40 one there when I was at remote location and forgot my good one.  Otherwise, I would search google shopping for a "tone probe" as they have them listed for $15.  You only need the probe/induction amp side, you can hear the signal on the wire from the lawnbott supply.

Just make sure you disconnect one side of the wire from the charging base, as it can be heard in both directions.

[AGR]

Thanks to all. I just bought a Paladin Tools Tone Probe 1573 on ebay for $25. Fingers crossed.

[someguy]

They are also called "tone generator/induction amplifier kits". You can buy them at any electronics related store, as well as most hardware stores (home depot, lowes, menards, etc.).  They are used for tracing telephone, cable TV, network wires, etc.

As for splicing with the least resistance, I'd say actually soldering them and using waterproof heat shrink wrapping would give you the best connection.  But, that's a lot of work and you need a cordless soldering iron.

I had problems where I simply twisted the wire together and put a wire nut on it.  I have sen this lose the connection and also to increase the resistance and cause blackouts.

Here is how I do a repair:

-get out the 100 + foot extension cord and soldiering iron.
-strip about 6-8 inches of wire on both sides of the repair.
-twist the wire together.
-soldier the two wires together along the 6-8 inches.
-wrap with black electrical tape.
-go check the resistance by looking at the number of green and yellow flashes.

someguy

[AGR]

what does the number of green and yellow flashes tell you about resistance? I think I need to get an iron.

[someguy]

One (green or orange) of them tells how long your wire is and the other has to do with resistance.  I don't really know much more about it, but hopefully someone will chime in here and answer this one better than that.

[jzawacki]

Borrowed from samelung on "other forum"

The led meaning is the following:
- Green is the tension transmitted on the perimeter.
- Yellow is the target which should always be 9/10 flashes, otherwise you need to install a 48V charger.  The following examples are very explicative:
o 40 mt wire garden: 2 green 10 yellow
o 600 mt wire garden: 10 green 10 yellow
o 700 mt wire garden: 10 green 8 yellow

[prb238]

Just FYI I got my signal tracker from Harbor Freight for $20. I believe they have it on sale right now for 13.99. Works great and has helped me find a couple of wire breaks over the past couple years.

[yyzdnl]

After buying a wire tracer from Menard's only to find out it wasn't sensitive enough to hear the signal on my buried wire with it's generator or the Lawnbott's, I did some Goggling.  The trick for dog invisible fences is to use an AM radio, so I went for it.  Worked like a charm.

• Remove signal filter if you have one.
• With radio near signal generator, tune the AM band to receive a strong Lawnbott signal pulse.
• At the charging base, disconnect one side of the fence wire.
• Follow the wire until you loose the pulse. Mark the spot.
• Go back to base and swap wire connection so the opposite side is disconnected.
• Follow the wire until you loose the pulse. Mark the spot.
• The break should be 1/2 way between the two marks and you should have narrowed it down to 6".

Good Luck