How to Locate a Break in an Invisible Fence

If you are trying to keep an animal in a specific area but don't need the privacy or the security offered by a traditional fence, an invisible fence is a less expensive option. However, an invisible fence can be made useless if the fence wires are broken because of digging, lawn moles or tree roots. It doesn't take much to fix an invisible fence wire break, but you must first be able to locate the wire break. If you are handy with a little wiring, you can locate the wire break yourself with an RF choke and a portable radio.

Things You'll Need

  • RF choke
  • Portable AM or AM/FM radio
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Instructions

    • 1

      Check the radio transmitter for the invisible fence. Most brands have some sort of error indicator if they detect a break in the wires. Depending on your brand, it may be beeping or flashing a red light.

    • 2

      Remove the fence wires from the transmitter jacks. Replace them with the leads of an RF choke. Take the fence wires and wrap one end around each the leads of the RF choke. It's easiest to do this around the end of the RF choke leads closest to the coils.

    • 3

      Tune a portable radio to AM station 600. This is the radio frequency that most brands of invisible fence use. Check the instructions to your unit for the specific radio frequency. You can also search the lower AM frequencies with your portable radio until you find the correct one. You will know that you have the correct one when you hear a fast tapping or beeping noise through the radio.

    • 4

      Walk along the invisible fence perimeter with the portable radio. The places where you no longer hear the tapping or beeping are the ones where there is a wire break in the invisible fence. Do not confuse weak signals with wire breaks. You should walk the entire perimeter of the invisible fence at least twice. There may be more than one break in the fence.