Petsafe YardMax Rechargeable In-Ground Fence User Manual

™

yardmax

rechargeable in-ground fence

operating and training guide

Model Number

™

P I G 0 0 -11115

PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE GUIDE BEFORE BEGINNING

2 Customer Care Center 1-800-732-2677

Thank you for choosing PetSafe®, the best selling brand of electronic training solutions in the world. Our mission is to be the most trusted brand in the pet ownership experience. We want to ensure your pet’s safety by providing you with the tools and techniques to successfully train your pet. If you have any questions, please contact the Customer Care Center at 1-800-732-2677 or visit our website at www.petsafe.net.

To get the most protection out of your warranty, please register your product within 30 days at www.petsafe.net. By registering and keeping your receipt, you will enjoy the product’s full warranty and should you ever need to call the Customer Care Center, we will be able to help you faster. Most importantly, we will never give or sell your valuable information to anyone. Complete warranty information is available online at www.petsafe.net.

www.petsafe.net 3

Important Safety Information

Explanation of Attention Words and Symbols used in this guide

This is the safety alert symbol. It is used to alert you to potential personal injury hazards. Obey all safety messages that follow this symbol to avoid possible injury or death.

WARNING indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in death or serious injury.

CAUTION, used with the safety alert symbol, indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in minor or moderate injury.

CAUTION, used without the safety alert symbol, indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in harm to your pet.

NOTICE is used to address safe use practices not related to personal injury.

• Not for use with aggressive dogs. Do not use this product if your dog is prone to aggressive behavior. Aggressive dogs can cause severe injury or death to their owners and others. If you are not sure that this product is right for your dog, please talk to your veterinarian or a certiﬁed trainer.

• 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.

• Follow all safety instructions for your power tools. Be sure to always wear your safety goggles.

• Do not install, connect, or remove your system during a lightning storm. If the storm is close enough for you to hear thunder, it is close enough to create hazardous surges.

• Risk of electric shock. Use the Fence Transmitter and Surge Protector indoors in dry location only.

• Turn off power to outlet before you install or remove your Surge Protector.

• Risk of electrical shock or ﬁre. Use Surge Protector only with a duplex outlet with center screw. Attach using long screw supplied.

• Risk of injury. Wire on top of the ground may be a trip hazard; Use care in how you place your wires.

• Do not install the Surge Protector if there is not at least 30 feet (10 meters) or more of wire between the electrical outlet and electrical service panel.

4 Customer Care Center 1-800-732-2677

This PetSafe® In-Ground Fence™ is not a solid barrier. This system is designed to act as a deterrent to remind dogs by Static Correction to remain in the boundary established. It is important that you reinforce training with your dog on a regular basis.

Proper ﬁt of the collar is important. A collar worn for too long or made too tight on the dog’s neck may cause skin damage. Ranging from redness to pressure ulcers; this condition is commonly known as bed sores.

- Avoid leaving the collar on the dog for more than 12 hours per day.

- When possible reposition the collar on the dog’s neck every 1 to 2 hours.

- Check the ﬁt to prevent excessive pressure; follow the instructions in this manual.

- Never connect a lead to the electronic collar; it will cause excessive pressure on the contacts.

- When using a separate collar for a lead, don’t put pressure on the electronic collar.

- Wash the dog’s neck area and the contacts of the collar weekly with a damp cloth.

- Examine the contact area daily for signs of a rash or a sore.

- If a rash or sore is found, discontinue use of the collar until the skin has healed.

- If the condition persists beyond 48 hours, see your veterinarian.

- For additional information on bed sores and pressure necrosis, please visit our website.

These steps will help keep your pet safe and comfortable. Millions of dogs are comfortable while they wear stainless steel contacts. Some dogs are sensitive to contact pressure. You may ﬁnd after some time that your dog is very tolerant of the collar. If so, you may relax some of these precautions. It is important to continue daily checks of the contact area. If redness or sores are found, discontinue use until the skin has fully healed.

You may need to trim the hair in the area of the Contact Points. Never shave the dog’s neck; this may lead to a rash or infection.

• The Receiver Collar should not be on your dog when the system is tested. Your dog may receive an unintended correction.

• The Boundary Width of the system must be tested whenever an adjustment is made to the pet area to prevent unintended corrections to your dog.

• Do not change transmitter setting from Traditional mode (B) to YardMax will still contain your pet.

• If you use a collar and leash for training, be sure the extra collar does not put pressure on the contact points.

• Always remove your dog’s Receiver Collar before performing any Fence Transmitter testing.

• If possible, DO NOT use an AC circuit protected with a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) or Residual Current Device (RCD). In rare cases, nearby lightning strikes may cause the GFCI or RCD to trip. Without power your dog may be vulnerable to escape. You will have to reset the GFCI or RCD to restore power to the system.

• If the Receiver Collar fails the ReadyTest®, the collar is automatically turned OFF. Your pet will not be contained.

• Plug the Surge Protector into a grounded (3-prong) outlet that is within 5 feet 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.

• Use care when mowing or trimming your grass not to cut the loop wire.

• Verify that the boundary loop and transmitter wires connect 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.

• Do not charge your Receiver Collar every night. Charging too often can reduce battery life. Charge your Receiver Collar when the Receiver Indicator Light blinks yellow; or when the light blinks red.

• Avoid damage to the jacket of the loop wire during the install; damage may cause areas of weak signal and lead to early failure of the loop (wire breaks).

• To prevent an unintended correction, after the Boundary Flags have been placed, be sure to set the Static Correction on the Receiver Collar back to level 1 tone only.

™

mode (A) without verifying that the Receiver Collar

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Table of Contents

Components ..................................................................................................................................................... 7

Other Items You May Need.............................................................................................................................. 7

How the System Works .................................................................................................................................... 8

Key Deﬁnitions ................................................................................................................................................. 8

Operating Guide ....................................................................................................................................... 9

Install the Fence Transmitter ............................................................................................................................ 9

Charge the Receiver Collar .............................................................................................................................. 9

Prepare the Receiver Collar ........................................................................................................................... 10

Lay Out the System ....................................................................................................................................... 12

Position the Boundary Wire ........................................................................................................................... 14

Install the Surge Protector & Connect the Wires ........................................................................................... 16

Verifying Transmitter Boundary Wire Connection using Receiver Collar ....................................................... 17

Test Receiver Collar in YardMax

Test Receiver Collar in Traditional Mode ....................................................................................................... 18

Install the Boundary Wire ............................................................................................................................... 19

Place the Boundary Flags ............................................................................................................................... 20

Fit the Receiver Collar .................................................................................................................................... 20

Training Guide ......................................................................................................................................... 22

Be Patient With Your Pet ................................................................................................................................ 22

Day 1 - Boundary Awareness ......................................................................................................................... 22

Days 2 thru 4 - Continue Boundary Awareness.............................................................................................. 23

Days 5 thru 8 - Distraction Phase ................................................................................................................... 23

Days 9 thru 14 - Unleashed Supervision ........................................................................................................ 24

Days 15 thru 30 - Pet Monitoring ................................................................................................................... 24

Working with PetSafe

Accessories ..................................................................................................................................................... 25

Additional Information ................................................................................................................................... 25

Pawz Away® Pet Barriers ............................................................................................ 25

Frequently Asked Questions .......................................................................................................... 26

Troubleshooting ...................................................................................................................................... 26

System Test ....................................................................................................................................................... 28

Wire Break Location Test ................................................................................................................................... 29

Terms of Use and Limitation of Liability ......................................................................................................... 30

Compliance .................................................................................................................................................... 30

Customer Care International .......................................................................................................................... 31

Warranty ......................................................................................................................................................... 31

Layout Grid ........................................................................................................................................................ 32

™

Mode ......................................................................................................... 17

6 Customer Care Center 1-800-732-2677

Components

Receiver Collar w/Short Contact Points

Long

Contact Points

Boundary Wire - 500 ft.

Fence Transmitter

fter verify

operation at the

ing R

eceiver Colla

labels

to i

dentify

connectio

nda

ry ,

the Boundary

use the

the Bou

n s

to the

to the Surge Pro

ary

r a

nsmitt

Wire conne

ire

convenient

r and

ct t ect

ions

ires

This wil

become disconnected.

should

l be

of the

Tra

nsm

Conn

it t

tions

Red

a c

Bla

Loop

eft

Sur

op Le

g e

Pro

Loop Ri

Connection

cto

ght

o op Ri

ght

Left

X Lef

TX R

i ght

T X

Righ

40 2-02

Transmitter &

Surge Protector

Labels

Wire Nuts

Boundary Flags - 50

A B

9 1 0

M o

PIG00-11115

del

Number

rechargeable in-ground fence

yardmax

™

ope

ting

REA

and

D T

trai

HIS

n i

N T

guide

IRE

GUI

D E

™

FORE BEGIN

NING

Receiver

Charger

(6 ft.)

Test Light

Tool

Contact Point

Wrench

Mounting

Anchors

Mounting

Surge

Protector

(USA & Canada only)

Power

Adapter

Screws

Gel-filled

Splice Capsules

Operating and Training Guide

Other Items You May Need

• Additional wire and ﬂags (Part # PIG00-13769)

• Tape measure

• Small Phillips screwdriver

• Drill

• Spade shovel or lawn edger

• Pliers

• Wire stripping pliers

• Scissors

• Lighter

• Electrical Tape

• Additional wire nuts and gel-ﬁlled splice capsules

• Waterprooﬁng compound (e.g. silicone caulk)

• PVC pipe or water hose

• Circular saw with masonry blade

• Staple gun

• Non-metallic collar and leash

• Temporary marking paint

Fence installation and training help: www.petsafe.net

Want professional installation help? Invisible Fence® Brand installers will come to your home and install your new PetSafe® System for an additional cost. Contact your local dealer at 1-877-866-DOGS (3647) or visit our website at www.invisiblefence.com for more information.

www.petsafe.net 7

How the System Works

The YardMax™ Fence Transmitter sends a radio signal 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. The Receiver Collar offers 5 levels of correction plus toneonly, adjustable to your dog’s temperament. The Fence Transmitter operates in two modes: YardMax™

YardMax™ Mode Boundary

Surge

Protector

with Power

Adapter

Fence

Transmitter

Pet

Area

Static Correction

Zone

Warning

Zone

or Traditional.

In YardMax™ mode, the Receiver Collar issues a warning tone when your dog crosses the Boundary Wire. If your dog continues beyond the boundary, the Receiver Collar issues a correction to persuade

Boundary

Wire

your dog to return to the Pet Area. Even if your dog continues beyond the Static Correction Zone, the Receiver Collar continues correction giving your dog the perception of an endless boundary. The YardMax™ mode is ideal for small yards as it allows your dog use of up to 30% more of the Pet Area. This mode may

Static Correction

Boundary

Wire

Zone

Warning

Zone

Static Correction

Zone

also be used in perimeter layouts up to 10 acres. In Traditional Mode, the Receiver Collar issues a warning tone when your dog approaches the Boundary Wire entering the

Warning Zone. If your dog continues further, he receives a safe but startling Static Correction. While harmless, the correction will persuade him to stay in the containment area you’ve established.

The PetSafe® YardMax™ Rechargeable In-Ground Fence™ has been proven safe, comfortable and effective for dogs over 5 pounds.

Traditional Mode Boundary

Surge

Protector

with Power

Adapter

Boundary

Wire

Correction

Boundary

Wire

Fence

Transmitter

Static

Zone

Warning

Zone

Pet

Area

Static

Correction

Zone

Warning

Zone

Boundary

Width

Key Definitions

Fence Transmitter: The system’s control center that transmits the

radio signal through the Boundary Wire. Receiver Collar: Detects the radio signal in the Boundary Wire issuing warning or correction as necessary. Receiver Collar Charger: Charges the batteries inside the Receiver Collar. Pet Area: Area within the boundary wire where your dog can roam freely. Warning Zone: Outer edge of the Pet Area where the Receiver Collar warns your dog not to go into the Static Correction Zone. Static Correction Zone: Area beyond the Warning Zone where your dog’s Receiver Collar emits a correction, signaling him to return to the Pet Area. Boundary Width Dial: Controls the distance from the wire that the radio signal is emitted to deﬁne boundaries. Boundary Width: The area on each side of the boundary wire within range of the radio signal. Receiver Indicator Light: Reﬂects the battery status and correction type. Contact Points: Deliver the correction when your dog moves into the Static Correction Zone. Mode Button: Turns Receiver ON/OFF and adjusts the level of Static Correction your pet receives in the Static Correction Zone. Power Jack: Where the Power Adapter plugs into the Fence Transmitter. The Fence Transmitter is powered by a standard 120-volt outlet.

Power Switch: Fence Transmitter ON/OFF switch. YardMax™ Fence Mode (A/B)

Switch: Allows you to select YardMax™ (Setting A) or Traditional (Setting B) mode.

YardMax™ Mode (Mode A): Sets Warning Zone to start at the Boundary Wire. Traditional Mode (Mode B): Sets the Warning Zone to the Boundary Width as deﬁned by the Fence Transmitter. Loop Wire Terminals: Where the Boundary Wires connect to the Fence Transmitter in order to complete a continuous loop.

Fence Transmitter

Power

Indicator

Light

YardMax

™

Mode

(Mode A)

Power

Switch

Boundary

Width Dial

Receiver Collar

Receiver Indicator

Light

Receiver

Warning Light

Boundary Wire

Connection

Charge

Jack

Wire Break

Traditional

Mode

(Mode B)

Mode

Selection

Switch

Mode

Button

Contact

Point

8 Customer Care Center 1-800-732-2677

Operating Guide

Step

Install the Fence Transmitter

Place the Fence Transmitter:

• In a dry, well ventilated, protected area (1A, 1B).

• In an area where temperatures do not fall below freezing (e.g., garage, basement, shed, closet).

• Secured to a stationary surface using supplied mounting hardware.

• At least 3 feet from large metal objects or appliances as these items may interfere with the signal consistency (1C).

• In an area that can be accessed easily so that you can hear and respond to alarms.

A B

1 0

To Install the Fence Transmitter

1. Remove the mounting bracket from the back of the Fence Transmitter.

2. Using the screws and anchors provided, drill 3/16" diameter holes.

3. Mount the mounting bracket to the wall within 5 feet of a standard, grounded (3-prong) outlet.

4. Slide the Fence Transmitter over the mounting bracket.

Once you have mounted the Fence Transmitter, the Boundary Wire must exit the building. This can be accomplished via a window or through a hole drilled through the wall. Ensure the drill path is clear of any utilities. Make sure the Boundary Wire is not cut off or pinched by a window, door, or garage door, as this can damage it over time.

To prevent ﬁres and electrical hazards, install the Fence Transmitter in buildings that are in accordance with state and local electrical codes.

3ft.

Step

Charge the Receiver Collar

To Charge the Receiver Collar

1. Lift the rubber cover protecting the Receiver Charging Jack.

2. Connect the Receiver Collar Charger connector to the Receiver Charging

Jack. Note: The connector only ﬁts one way, do not force it into the Charging Jack.

3. Plug the Receiver Collar Charger into a standard AC wall outlet. The

Receiver Collar light will glow red when the charger is properly seated and charging.

4. Charge the Receiver Collar for 2-3 hours. The light will turn green when

charging is complete. A built in safety circuit prevents the Receiver Collar from overcharging.

5. After charging, replace the rubber cover to protect the Receiving

Charging Jack.

Each charge can last up to three months depending on frequency of use.

Do not charge your Receiver Collar every night. Frequent charging can have a negative effect on the battery. We recommend that the Receiver Collar be used until the Receiver Indicator Light blinks yellow or red.

The Receiver Charger has two jacks to allow you to charge two Receiver Collars at the same time.

It does not matter if the Receiver Collar is On or Off while charging. As soon you plug in the Receiver Charger it moves into charging mode.

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Step

Prepare the Receiver Collar

Your Receiver Collar comes with short Contact Points installed. Use the long Contact Points for dogs with long or thick hair. Tighten the Contact Points using the Contact Point Wrench (3A). Check the tightness weekly. The Receiver Collar is waterproof.

To Turn On the Receiver Collar

Press and hold the Mode Button for 1 second (3B). The green or yellow or red Receiver Indicator Light will turn ON for 5 seconds (3B) to indicate battery status, followed by the red Receiver Indicator Light ﬂashing the Static Correction Level.

To Turn off the Receiver Collar

Press and hold the Mode Button continuously for 5 seconds. The red Receiver Indicator Light will be ON during this time. The red Receiver Indicator Light will then turn OFF and all Receiver Indicator Lights will stay OFF indicating that the unit is turned OFF. To extend the time between charging the Receiver Collar, consider turning OFF the Receiver Collar when it is not in use.

Receiver Collar Status Indicators

The Receiver Collar Status Indicator Light along with the alarm tones are used to determine the operational mode, the battery status, and the correction type. Refer to the Receiver Collar Status Indicator Table below to understand the status lights and tones for the Receiver Collar. During normal operation, the Receiver Collar Indicator Light will ﬂash every 4 seconds to indicate the battery status as shown in the table below. If your Receiver Collar hasn’t been moved for at least 20 seconds, the battery status light will function but the collar will enter sleep mode to conserve battery life. To wake up the collar simply pick it up and ﬂip it over or shake it.

Mode Button

Receiver Collar Status Indicator Table

Status Light Alarm Tone Condition

While Plugged Into Receiver Charger

Solid Red No Tone Charge in progress Solid Green No Tone Charge complete No Light No Tone Charge failure, contact Customer Care Center

After Removing From Charger Or Turning On Performs ReadyTest®

Off (1 second) No Tone Continuous Green or Yellow or Red (5 seconds) No Tone Battery Charge Indicator Continuous Red 20 sec.

Static Correction Report Level

Flashing Red from 1 to 6 times No Tone Receiver Collar is reporting Static Correction level from 1 to 6

PerfectFit™ Test

Flashing Red & Green together (every 1 second) No Tone Flashing Green (every 1 second) Chime; 5 consecutive

Fast Pulsating Green Warning Tone Warning tone Fast Pulsating Red Continuous Green (10 seconds) No Tone Slow Blinking Green (every 4 seconds) Slow Blinking Yellow (every 4 seconds) Slow Blinking Red (every 4 seconds) No Tone

chimes for conﬁrmed ﬁt

Receiver Activation Status

Duration of the Correction

No Tone Collar battery charge 100% - 60% No Tone Collar battery charge 60% - 20%

Unit is performing ReadyTest

ReadyTest® failure; unit is not operational, contact Customer Care Center

Unit is in PerfectFit™ mode for 90 sec. after turning on PerfectFit™ mode indicates collar is making true contact with

dog's skin

Static Correction being delivered (up to 10 sec.) Over Correction Protection; collar locked for 10 sec.

Collar battery charge 20% or less; charge immediately

ReadyTest® Feature

ReadyTest® gives you added conﬁdence that the Receiver Collar is working and ready to use. When you remove the Receiver Collar from the charger, or turn the Receiver Collar ON, the Receiver Collar will automatically go into selftest mode for approximately 8 seconds. The receiver’s internal diagnostics will check that the battery charge is full and that all circuits are working correctly.

Do not touch the Contact Points while the Receiver Collar is in test mode. This will cause the Receiver Collar to fail the ReadyTest Collar to fail the ReadyTest®.

10 Customer Care Center 1-800-732-2677

. Do not turn the Receiver Collar ON while it is placed on your pet. This will cause the Receiver

If the Receiver Collar fails the ReadyTest®, the collar is automatically turned OFF. Your pet will not be contained.

When the collar is removed from the charger, or turned on, the indicator light will go off for 1 second. The indicator light will come back on for ﬁve seconds to indicate the status of the battery (green, yellow or red). The ReadyTest® is complete once you see the battery indicator status. You may place the Receiver Collar on your pet after the ReadyTest® is complete.

If the Receiver Collar beeps and the indicator light glows solid red for 20 seconds, the ReadyTest® has detected a problem, and the Receiver Collar turns OFF automatically. Your pet will not be contained. Turn the Receiver Collar on and repeat the test. If the Receiver Collar continues to fail the ReadyTest®, call the Customer Care Center.

PerfectFit™ Test for Collar Fit

This test is an added feature to verify ﬁt but is not required for the system to function. After the ReadyTest®, the Receiver Collar will go into PerfectFit™ test mode. This mode begins with ﬂashing simultaneous red and green lights. To use this feature, you must place the Receiver Collar on your dog within 90 seconds of disconnecting the charger from the Receiver Charging Jack or turning the Receiver Collar ON. The Receiver Collar will emit an alarm tone as the Contact Points touch your dog’s skin. You will know you have the proper ﬁt when the collar tones and ﬂashes green 5 consecutive times. After 90 seconds, the Receiver Collar moves into normal operation mode.

Set the Static Correction Level

The Static Correction levels increase in strength from 1 to 6. Refer to the table below to choose the Static Correction that best ﬁts your dog. The Receiver Collar will emit a Warning Tone whenever your dog enters the Warning Zone, no matter what correction level is selected. If your dog continues into the Static Correction Zone, and the Receiver Collar is set to level 2 or above, your dog will receive a correction.

1. Press the Mode Button and release (3B) when the Receiver Indicator Light illuminates Red (3C).

2. The Receiver Indicator Light will emit a series of Red Flashes representing the Static Correction Level.

3. Increase the Static Correction Level by pressing and releasing the Mode Button within 5 seconds of the previous

series of ﬂashes. Pushing the Mode Button while the Receiver Collar is on Static Correction Level 6 will cause the Receiver Collar to revert to Static Correction Level 1.

Static Correction Level Table

Indicator Light Static Correction Level Receiver Collar Function Dog Temperment

1 ﬂash 1 No Static Correction, Tone only Initial Training Mode 2 ﬂashes 2 Low Static Correction Timid 3 ﬂashes 3 Medium-Low Static Correction Timid or Average 4 ﬂashes 4 Medium Static Correction Average Energy

5 ﬂashes 5 Medium-High Static Correction Average or High Energy 6 ﬂashes 6 High Static Correction High Energy

Anti–Linger Prevention

The Anti-Linger Prevention feature keeps your dog from staying in the Warning Zone for long periods of time and draining the Receiver Collar rechargeable battery. Your dog will hear a two second warning tone when he reaches the Warning Zone. If your dog does not return to the Pet Area after two seconds, he will receive a continuous Static Correction until he returns to the Pet Area or until the Over Correction Protection is enabled.

Run Through Prevention

This system includes a unique “run-through” prevention so that your dog cannot escape the Pet Area without receiving an increased level of Static Correction.

In YardMax™ mode when your dog crosses over the wire and passes the Warning Zone, Static Correction is activated at a variable distance dependent on the height of the dog and the height of the Receiver activation distance setting. The ideal Warning Zone distance is where the Receiver Collar activates between 1 to 1 1/2 feet above the dog’s neck height.

If you have a very timid dog, you may increase the Warning Zone distance to allow more distance before the higher level Run Through Prevention Static Correction is generated. You can accomplish this by increasing the height of the Receiver Collar activation.

In Traditional Mode, the Receiver Collar automatically increases the Static Correction when your dog continues more than 20% of the way through the Boundary Width.

For example, if the signal is detected 10 feet from the wire and your dog enters the Static Correction Zone, this feature is activated when he is approximately 8 feet from the Boundary Wire. Your dog will then receive a Static Correction that is at an increased level corresponding to the Static Correction level setting on the Receiver Collar.

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