How to Use an AM Radio to Detect a Break in an Invisible Fence

An invisible fence helps you keep your animals within an area without the expense of traditional fencing options. However, unlike traditional fences, it may not be apparent that there's a break in the invisible fence. The company that installed it can come out and check for breaks in the wiring, but that is often very expensive. You can do it yourself using an AM radio.

Things You'll Need

  • RF choke
  • Metal paper clip
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Instructions

    • 1

      Locate your radio transmitter. If there is a break in your invisible fence, it may be beeping or flashing a light to indicate that. Verify it is an actual fence break and not a short in the radio transmitter. Remove the two wires that connect the invisible fence to the radio transmitter from the transmitter jacks. Unbend a metal paper clip and place the two ends into the transmitter jacks. If the error indicator stops beeping or flashing, you do have a break in the invisible fence.

    • 2

      Place the leads of an RF choke into the transmitter jacks. Wrap the ends of the fence wires around the RF choke leads, near the coils. This will complete the radio circuit and allow the transmitter to send out the radio frequency, even though the fence has a break in it.

    • 3

      Tune a radio to the 600 AM radio frequency. This is often the radio frequency that invisible fences use, but it may vary from brand to brand. Check the instructions for the actual radio frequency or search the AM airwaves using the radio. When you hear a fast-paced clicking, tapping or beeping noise, you will know that you have the right frequency.

    • 4

      Walk along the invisible fence carrying the AM radio tuned to the correct frequency. When the tapping, beeping or clicking sounds stop coming from the radio, this indicates a break in the wiring. Walk the entire length of the invisible fence at least once. There may be more than one break in the invisible fence.