Petsafe RFA-450 User manual

wire break locator
operating guide
PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE GUIDE BEFORE BEGINNING
Model Number
RFA-450

2 1-800-732-2677
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.
NOTICE is used to address safe use practices not related to personal injury.
• Underground cables can carry high voltage. Have all underground cables marked
before you dig to repair or 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 indoors in dry location only.
• Choking Hazard — Small objects such as the tie wrap represent a choking hazard
to children and pets. Do not allow children or pets access to these items.
• Using the radio antenna as a lanyard may pose a risk of injury, including
strangulation, if the lanyard should become wrapped around your neck. Use as
lanyard with caution.
• Risk of injury. Wire on top of the ground may be a trip hazard; Use care in how
you place your wires.
• Watch where you’re walking. Stakes driven into the ground can create obstacles
that could cause you to trip.
• Laceration possible from sharp edges if the telescoping handle becomes broken.
• Connect power to the Wire Break Location Transmitter using a 12V adapter,
Radio Systems®Corporation adapter part number RFA 372, 650-229, 300-006, or
Innotek®adapter part number 0400036-1. Check the adapter before plugging it
into the Transmitter and verify that the output is specified at 12VAC. Damage to the
Transmitter will occur if improper adapter is used.

www.petsafe.net 3
Thank you for choosing PetSafe
®
brand. You and your pet deserve a companionship that
includes memorable moments and a shared understanding together. Our products and training
tools promote a lifestyle of protection, teaching, and love — essentials that influence memories
for a lifetime. If you have any questions about our products or training your pet, please visit our
website at www.petsafe.net or contact our Customer Care Center at 1-800-732-2677.
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, PetSafe
®
will never give or sell your valuable information to
anyone. Complete warranty information is available online at www.petsafe.net.
Components
Required Components (Not Included in Kit)
•(2)AAABatteriesforReceiver(AM/FMradio)
•12VACadapter,RadioSystems®CorporationpartnumberRFA372,650-229,300-006,or
Innotek®adapterpartnumber0400036-1
Other Items You May Need
•AdditionalBoundaryWire(Part#RFA-1) •Pliers
•Tapemeasure •Wirestrippingpliers
•Shovelorlawnedger •Hammer
•AdditionalGel-lledCapsulesandWireNuts(Part#RFA-366)
WireBreakLocatorVideo:www.petsafe.net
Boundary Wire - 50 ft.
Wire Nuts (4)
Grounding
Stakes
(2)
Expandable
Handle
Receiver (AM/FM Radio)
(shown after assembly)
Gel-filled
Capsules (4)
Wire Break
Location
Transmitter
Operating
Guide
Cable
Ties
(2)
wire break locator
operating guide
PLEASE READTHIS ENTIRE GUIDE BEFORE BEGINNING
ModelNumber
RFA-450

4 1-800-732-2677
How it works
TheWireBreakLocatorisdesignedtondcompletebreaksinyourBoundaryWire.Itisnot
designedtodetectpartialwirebreaks.TheTransmitteroutputsaseparateuniquesignalon
eachoftheBoundaryWiresconnectedtotheWireBreakLocatorTransmitter.Acontinuous
lowfrequencytoneistransmittedononeBoundaryWireandanintermittenthighertoneis
transmittedontheotherBoundaryWire.TheReceiverisusedtopickupthesetonesand
todetectanoticeablechange.Whenareceiverisoverawirebreak,acontinuoustonemay
changetoanintermittenttoneoranintermittenttonemaychangetoacontinuoustone.
Mostconditionswillshowadecreaseinvolumeoverthebreak.
Indicators to use the
Wire Break Locator
ThereisawirebreakindicationonthecontainmentTransmitter.
TheReceiverCollarisnotfunctioningonthecontainmentsystem,butoperatesduringthe
SystemTest.
Additional Information
Wirebreaksinthetwistedpairarecommonlyfound:
a. Atthewireexitpointofthehouse
b.Wherethetwistedpairofwireentersthegroundfromthehouse,usuallycausedbystring
trimmers
c. Wherethewirescrosssidewalksordrivewaysduetoedgingandstringtrimmers
d.Aroundlandscapingandowerbedsduetodigging,orworkingupthesoil
WirebreaksintheBoundaryWirearecommonlyfound:
a. Inaeratedlawns
b.Wherethewirescrosssidewalksordrivewaysduetoedgingandstringtrimmers
c. Aroundlandscapingandowerbedsduetodigging,orworkingupthesoil
d.AtwirespliceswhereGel-lledcapsuleshavenotbeeninstalled
e.Atwirespliceswithoutreinforcementknots(refertoFigure 9)
Before you begin
Forproperelectricalgrounding,theearthmustbewet.Severalgallonsofwatermayneedto
bepouredaroundthegroundingstakestomoistendryearth.
ItisacceptabletorepairsolidBoundaryWirewithstrandedBoundaryWireortorepair
strandedBoundaryWirewithsolidBoundaryWire,butthesamegaugesuchas20gaugewire
mustbeusedwithbothtypesofwire.
Aeratedlawnsmayrequirelonglengthsofwiretobereplacedasopposedtosmallsections.
Aeratedlawnscancutthewireintosmallsections;therefore,insteadofmakingsmallsection
repairs,itmaybeeasiertoreplacealonglengthofwire.

www.petsafe.net 5
Setting up the Wire Break
Locator Transmitter
1. TurntheexistingcontainmentTransmitteroff.Disconnect
theBoundaryWiresfromtheTransmitterandunplugthe
ACpoweradapterfromtheTransmitter.
2. Connectthe2BoundaryWirestothetwoREDLOOPwire
connectorsontheWireBreakLocatorTransmitter
3. ForproperoperationoftheTransmitter,twoseparate
groundingwiresmustbeconnectedtotheBLACK
GROUNDterminalsoftheWireBreakLocatorTransmitter.
Usingthespoolofwiresuppliedinthekit,Strip3/8”of
insulationoffofthewireononeendofthespool.Insert
thestrippedendofthespoolintooneoftheGROUND
terminalsontheWireBreakLocatorTransmitterasshown
inFigure 1.
NOTE: Each ground connection on the Transmitter must be
connected to a separate grounding stake supplied in the
Boundary
Wires
Ground
Wires
1
RFA-450 kit. These grounding stakes must be inserted into the earth outside of the home/garage
for the transmitted signal to operate properly. These stakes should be 2-3 feet apart.
4. Slipthesmallwirespoolthoughyourngerand
unrollthewirebyallowingthespooltorotateonyour
ngerasyouwalkawayfromtheWireBreakLocator
Transmitter.Walktoanoutsideareawherethere
isasmallsectionofgroundavailabletoinsertthe
groundingstakes.Note:Itisrecommendedtokeep
thesegroundconnectionwiresasshortaspossibleby
trimmingoffanyexcesswirebetweentheWireBreak
LocatorTransmitterandtheintendedlocationofthe
groundingstakes.Cutthewireandstrip2inchesof
insulationoffofthewiretoconnecttothegrounding
stake.Placethewirethroughthesmallholeinthe
groundingstakeandtightlytwistthewireasshownin
Figure 2.Makesurethatthewireistightlywrapped
aroundthestakeandthatthecopperismakinggood
connectionwiththemetalonthegroundingstakeas
showninFigure 3.RepeatSteps3and4toconnect
theotherwiretothesecondTransmitterground
terminalandgroundingstake.
5. Thegroundingstakesshouldbelocatedatleast2-3
feetapartintheground.Insertthegroundingstakes
intothegroundabout8incheswithabout
2inchesremainingfromtheend.Afterthegrounding
stakesareinstalled,makesurethatthewireistightly
wrappedaroundthestakeandthatthecopperis
makinggoodconnectionwiththemetalonthe
groundingstakeasshowninFigure 3.
2
3
6. RechecktheLOOPandGROUNDwireconnectionsattheWireBreakLocationTransmitterand
verifythattheyaresecurelyinstalled.
7. TheWireBreakTransmitterispoweredusingaRadioSystems®Corporationadapterpart
numberRFA 372, 650-229, 300-006, or Innotek®adapter part number 0400036-1(notsuppliedinthe
RFA-450system).ConnectpowertotheWireBreakLocationTransmitterusingtheadapter
fromyourIn-Groundcontainmentsystem.NOTICE: Do not use Radio Systems®Corporation
adapter part number 650-230 or Innotek®adapter part number 0400042-1. Damage to the
Wire Break Locator Transmitter will occur. Check the adapter before plugging into the Wire
Break Locator Transmitter and verify that the output is specified at 12VAC.
8. PlugthePowerAdapterintothePowerJackandACPowerOutlet.ThegreenPowerLightwill
ashquicklyindicatingpowerissupplied.

6 1-800-732-2677
Setting up the Wire Break
Locator Receiver
1. InstalltwoAAAAlkalinebatteries(notincluded)inthe
Receiver.
2. SettheAM-FMselectortoAM.
3. AttachtheReceivertothemountingxtureonthe
endoftheexpandablehandleusingthetwoenclosed
cabletiesasshowninFigure 4.TheReceiverspeaker
shouldbelocatedatthebacksideofthexture.
Important: Do not over-tighten the cable ties as this
can make using the Receiver controls difficult to
operate.
4. WrapthesilverReceivernecklooparoundthepoleas
showninFigure 4.
5. TurntheReceiveronandadjustthetuningdialtothe
lowerendofthetuningband(below620kHzwhen
possible).Adjustthetuningdialtoalocationwhereno
radiostationsarebroadcastingandtheoutputofthe
Receiverisproducingastaticnoise.
Cable Ties
Speaker
Mounting
Fixture
Neck
Loop
4
Becoming familiar with the system
TheTransmitteroutputsaseparateuniquesignal
oneachoftheBoundaryWiresconnectedtothe
WireBreakLocatorTransmitter.Acontinuous
lowfrequencytoneistransmittedononeofthe
Boundarywiresandanintermittenthighertone
istransmittedontheotherBoundaryWire.The
Receiverisusedtopickupthesetones.
Continuous Low Frequency Tone
Intermittent Higher Tone
Tobecomefamiliarwiththesoundofthetwo
tones,placetheReceiveroveroneandthen
theotherofthegroundwiresconnecting
theWireBreakLocationTransmitterto
thegroundingstakes.Besuretoseparate
thewiresbyseveralfeettopreventboth
signalsfrombeingpickeduptogether.To
understandwhatthemixedsignalssound
like,placetheReceiveroverthetwisted
wiresconnectedtotheLoopTerminalsof
theWireBreakLocationTransmitter.Adjust
theReceivervolumesothesignalsareloud
enoughtoeasilyhearthetonesovernormal
ambientoutdoornoise.
Visitwww.petsafe.nettoviewtheWire
BreakLocationvideo.Youwillseeaproduct
demonstrationandhearhowthetonesdiffer.
For proper signal
reception, Receiver
must be parallel to
Boundary Wire.
5 6
Whiletryingtolocatethebreak,makesuretofollowthepathofthewire(Figure 5).Inorderto
followthepath,swingtheunitfromsidetosideandcontinueinthedirectionofthegreatest
soundvolume(Figure 6).MaximumsoundvolumeisachievedwhentheReceiverisplaced
directlyovertheBoundaryWire.Asyounearabreakorpassoverabreak,thevolumewill
decreaseand/oritwillchangefromonetonetotheother.Thiswilldependuponwhetherthere
aremultiplebreaks.
Forasinglebreak,thetonewillchangefromonetoanother(intermittenttocontinuousor
continuoustointermittent).Therewillbeadecreaseinsoundvolumeoverthebreak.
Iftherearemultiplebreaks,thesoundvolumewilldecreaseanddisappearatthebreak.

www.petsafe.net 7
Finding the Wire Break
Beginwherethetwistedpairofwireexitsyourhome(throughawindow,door,orwall)using
theReceiver.
ThetwotransmittedsignalsmixoverthetwistedpairgoingfromtheTransmittertothe
boundaryloop.Asaresultyouwillhearboththelowfrequencycontinuoustoneandthe
higherfrequencyintermittenttonetogether.
Ifbothwiresaredamagedinthetwistedpair,thesignalfromtheReceiverwilldecreaseasyou
nearthebreakandquitafteryouhavepassedthebreak.
Ifonlyasinglewireisbrokenyouwillhearbothtonesasyoufollowthetwistedwireawayfrom
thetransmitter.Atthepointwherethesinglewireisbroken,onlyasingletonewillbeheard.
Ifyouhavenotlocatedabreak(s)inthetwistedpairofwires,youwilleventuallygettothe
BoundaryWireconnectionpoint.
Whenyougettotheendofthetwistedpairattheboundaryloop,thesignalswillseparate
againandyouwillhearonesignalasyoufollowtheboundarywireinonedirection,andyou
willheartheothersignalasyoufollowtheboundarywireintheotherdirection.
Note: If the twisted pair is greater than 100 feet, an intermittent and steady tone will most
likely be combined over the entire Boundary Wire. If this occurs, you will hear a noticeable
reduction in sound volume over the break.
ChooseaboundarydirectionandcontinuewalkingalongtheBoundaryWire.Whenyoucome
toabreakintheBoundaryWire,therewillbeeithernosignalorthesignalwillcrossoverfrom
intermittenttocontinuousorcontinuoustointermittent.Onceyou’veidentiedthegeneral
locationofthewirebreak,movetheReceiver2-3feetfromthebreak.Turnthevolumedown
ontheReceiveruntilyouonlyhearthesoundwhenyouaredirectlyoverthewire.Movethe
Receivertowardsthewirebreak.Whenthesounddisappears,youhavelocatedthebreak.The
breakshouldbedirectlybelowtheReceiver.
AsyoumovefurtherfromtheTransmitter,theReceivervolumewillgraduallydecrease.Thisis
nottobeconfusedwithawirebreak.
Ifthetwistedpairisgreaterthan50feetandtherearekeep-outareassuchasgardensand
poolsinyourBoundarylayout,youmayneedtolocatethebreakbylisteningforareductionin
thesoundvolume.
Iftherearemultiplebreaks,keeprepairingasyougoaround.Ifthelawnwasaerated,
replacingalargersectionofwiremaybeeasierthanmakingsmallsectionrepairs.Gobackto
thetwistedpairandwalktheBoundaryWireintheotherdirectionuntilthesignaldisappears
forthatbreak.ReplacethewirebetweenthetwoendsoftheBoundaryWirebreaks.

8 1-800-732-2677
Repair the Wire Break
Whenyouhavefoundthelocationofthewirebreak,youwill
needtodigthewireendsoutofthegroundtomaketherepairs.
Becertaintodigwiththeshovelbladeparalleltothewire.Begin
digging4-5inchestothesideofthewire.Otherwiseyoucould
damagethewire(Figure 7).
Stripapproximately3⁄8inchofinsulationofftheendsofthe
BoundaryWirestobespliced(Figure 8).Makesurethecopper
BoundaryWireisnotcorroded.IftheBoundaryWireiscorroded,
cutitbacktoexposecleancopperwire.
4"-5"
7
Insertthestrippedendsintothewirenutandtwist
thewirenutaroundthewires.Ensurethatthereisno
copperexposedbeyondtheendofthewirenut.Tiea
knot3to4inchesfromthewirenut(Figure 9).Ensure
thatthewirenutissecureonthewiresplice.
Onceyouhavesecurelysplicedthewirestogether,
openthelidofthegel-lledsplicecapsuleand
insertthewirenutasdeeplyaspossibleintothe
waterproofgelinsidethecapsule(Figure 10).Snap
thelidofthecapsuleshut(Figure 11).Forproper
systemperformance,thespliceconnectionmustbe
waterproof.
Ifyoursplicepullsloose,theentiresystemwillfail.
Makesureyourspliceissecure.Additionalgel-lled
splicecapsulesandwirenutsareavailablethroughthe
CustomerCareCenter.
Makesuretohaveenoughwiretorepairthebreak.
Youwillneedalengthofwireatleast2feetlonger
thanthedistancebetweenthetwoendsofthe
exposedcleancopperwire(Figure 12).
3/8"
1
2
3/8"
8
10
9
11
10'
Wire
Knotted
Gel-filled Capsules
and Wire Nuts Gel-filled Capsules
and Wire Nuts
Wire
Knotted
12' of wire
12
Afteryouhaverepairedthewirebreak,taketheReceiverandcontinuewalkingaroundthe
boundarytoverifytherearenomorewirebreaks.Iftherearenomorewirebreaks,youwillhear
intermittentandcontinuoustonesallthewayaroundtheboundary.
ConnectyourFenceTransmittertotheBoundaryWireandcheckthatthelooplightislit.Ifthe
looplightisnotlit,theremaybeanotherbreakinthewire.Verifythatyoursystemisworking
withtheReceiverCollar.VerifythattheBoundaryWidthfortheWarningZoneisapproximately
12-20feet(6to10feetoneachsideofthewire)beforeplacingtheReceiverCollaronyourpet.

www.petsafe.net 9
Terms of Use and Limitation
of Liability
1. Terms of Use
This Product is offered to you conditioned upon your acceptance without modification of the
terms, conditions and notices contained herein. Usage of this Product implies acceptance of
all such terms, conditions, and notices.
2. No Unlawful or Prohibited Use
Using this Product in a way that is not intended could result in violation of Federal, State or
local laws.
3. Limitation of Liability
In no event shall Radio Systems®Corporation be liable for any direct, indirect, punitive,
incidental, special or consequential damages, or any damages whatsoever arising out of or
connected with the use or misuse of this Product. Buyer assumes all risks and liability from
the use of this Product.
4. Modification of Terms and Conditions
Radio Systems®Corporation reserves the right to change the terms, conditions and notices
under which this Product is offered.
Compliance
FCC/Canada
This device complies with FCC rules CFR 47 Part 15.103(c) and ICES-003 1.2.2(d). This device
is for use only to locate and correct a wire break. It shall not be used beyond the time needed to
find the loop break for repair. Use of this device in any other way may violate FCC rules.

10 1-800-732-2677

www.petsafe.net 11

RadioSystems®Corporation
10427PetSafeWay
Knoxville,TN37932
1-800-732-2677
www.petsafe.net
ProtectedbyUSPatent6,215,314.Otherpatentpending.
400-1208/1
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