Frequently Asked Questions
The most commonly asked questions by users like you
What is Twisted Wire?
Twisting the boundary wire cancels the signal and creates a dead zone for the duration of the twisted wire but it's important to know when and how to do it.
Do I need to Twist the Wire?
There are 2 key reasons you twist the wire:
- The majority of installations will incorporate a transmitter that is inside the boundary, so you will want to deactivate the boundary wire until it reaches your outside boundary, will enable your pet to cross it without receiving a correction.
- The transmitter is the mothership of the system and if you do not add twisted wire the transmitter will effectively be “live” & an active part of your boundary. We do not want that because your pet may receive an accidental correction when it walks near it and having a “live” transmitter can create inconsistent responses from the collar around the boundary.
At a minimum we recommend twisting the 2 ends of the wire together from the transmitter to the point you want your boundary to begin. To be clear each end of the wire gets inserted into its own terminal in the transmitter and then from that you need to braid/twist the 2 ends together until you want the boundary to be live. Please stay within 1 to 2 twists per inch. If using a drill go nicely a slowly to avoid over-twisting.
If your installation is going to be a complete loop of your property - all 4 sides and not a “backyard only” installation - then from the transmitter to the loop outside is the only place you can twist the wire together.
Important notes
- You can not twist a single end of a wire on itself to cancel the signal
- You can not splice in a strand of wire and twist around another strand to cancel the signal. All splices need to be a 1 to 1 connection.
- You can over-twist the wire. Think of the boundary wire like pipe that runs around your property and over-twisting will create a serious chokepoint.
- If you need to cancel the signal in parts of your loop or boundary the look at the section on the “double loop”
Backyard Only Installations
A common installation plan is to contain your pet in the backyard, however a normal single loop will not allow you to create ingress & egress points into the boundary for your pet. You have 3 options to consider:
- If your backyard has an existing physical fence we recommend using the Double Loop method (see below).
- Over-the-house method. By running the boundary wire in the air your pet will be able to walk under it without receiving a correction
- Backyard w/shallow front. Complete the loop by running the wire up close to the sides and the front of your property. Keep in mind the radio frequency will travel through walls and may accidentally correct your dog inside the house. Keep this in mind when running the boundary, so you allow a little buffer between the walls and the wire.
What is a Double Loop?
It is commonly known as the “double loop” but we prefer to call it the “skinny loop”. The boundary will look like a train track running around your property and like train tracks there will need to be a 3 to 5 foot gap of separation between the wire.
Why do I need it?
Why do I need it?
In short the skinny loop occurs when the return path of the boundary wire follows the initial path out. In the case of a physically fenced yard you will run the wire (weave through or attach) along the top of the fence around the 3 sides of your backyard you then drop the wire down to the bottom of the fence and take back the way it came, all the way to the transmitter.
Should I Bury the Wire?
You do not have to bury the wire.
The system will operate the same if it is above ground or buried (with a slight difference in the width of the correction area) but it will not impact consistency which is the most important thing.
If you are going to leave the wire above ground we recommend keeping it away from foot traffic and use lawn staples to affix it to the ground.
The system will operate the same if it is above ground or buried (with a slight difference in the width of the correction area) but it will not impact consistency which is the most important thing.
If you are going to leave the wire above ground we recommend keeping it away from foot traffic and use lawn staples to affix it to the ground.
How Do You Charge the Collars?
For rechargeable batteries the number 1 rule is not overcharge.
DO NOT LEAVE THE COLLARS PLUGGED IN OVERNIGHT.
DO NOT LEAVE THE COLLARS PLUGGED IN OVERNIGHT.
Can I Add Wire?
Yes, you can add by simply strip a ½ inch of the coating off of each side of the wire. Then, use a weatherproof wire nut to connect to the 2 sides.