Thunderbird MB65 User manual

THUNDERBIRD
MB65 - MB130
INSTRUCTIONS
THIS ENERGISER MAY BE POWERED FROM THE MAINS USING THE
SUPPLIED PLUG PACK ADAPTOR OR A BATTERY.
ASOLAR KIT IS AVAILABLE FOR SOLAR POWERED OPERATION.
NOTE: READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDING HELPFUL HINTS
BROCHURE BEFORE USING THIS FENCE ENERGISER.
This range of energisers are highly efficient electrical appliances. Installed and used
correctly, these products should provide years of reliable service. These energisers have an
“O” ring seal for protection against moisture and insect damage.
WARNING:-
1. Regular inspections of electric fences must be undertaken to ensure continued opera-
tional safety and compliance. See “INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLATION AND
CONNECTION OF ELECTRIC FENCES FOR ANIMALS” detailed over the page.
2. Persons coming into contact with high voltage pulses on a high output connection may
have their normal physiological functions interrupted.
3. Young children and infirm persons should not be left unsupervised in the vicinity of an
electric fence energiser or fence.
4. Do not use copper wire. Electrolysis will occur and cause problems over time.
5. Output voltage reduces when the battery is near flat.
INSTRUCTIONS
Place the energiser in a suitable position under cover for connection to the fence, prefer-
ably at the middle of the fence line if powered by a battery. Install the energiser in a shed
or building if powered by a mains plug pack adaptor. Mount energiser upright with fence
terminals to bottom and mounting holes to the top, tighten fasteners to secure energiser to
structure. Drive one or more galvanised earth stakes approximately 1.5m into the ground.
Connect the live wire to the fence or red terminal, and the earth stake to the earth or green
terminal. Once all the fence has been installed, and is being powered by a battery, connect
the red battery clip to the positive terminal of a 12V battery and the black clip to the
negative terminal.
Correct earthing is extremely important. It is the other half of the electric fence. In dry con-
ditions or sandy soil, run an earth wire as well as the live wire as part of the fence, connect
any existing fence to the earth stakes, and drive in extra earth stakes every 1.5km.
Thunderbird warrants all electric fence energisers against defective workman-
ship and faulty materials for 2 years, plus a warranty for 6 months against
lightning damage, from the date of purchase. We undertake, at our option, to
replace or repair free of charge each product, or part thereof, on condition that
it is returned to our factory or authorised agent freight prepaid, and found on
examination to be suffering from material or constructional defect. We cannot
be held responsible for any repair other than those carried out by us or our
authorised agents.
Aphotocopy of your proof of purchase and a request for warranty must
also be returned to us or an authorised agent with the item.
This warranty is void if the product is subject to improper use or handling,
incorrect power input voltage, damage through contact with chemicals, flood-
ing, fire, explosion, excessive heat, lightning strikes outside the lightning
warranty period, insect or moisture damage, or damage to external wiring.
WARRANTY
THUNDERBIRD
Electric Fence Energisers
Country Electronics Pty Ltd
ABN 38 003 806 040
11 Industrial Avenue PO Box 391
Mudgee NSW 2850 Mudgee NSW 2850
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone] Email: [email protected]
For your records:
Model No.:........................................................................................................
Serial No.: .........................................................................................................
Date of Purchase:..............................................................................................
Place of Purchase: ............................................................................................
Receipt No.: ......................................................................................................

The energiser displays the voltage on its terminals. It is a guide as to the condition of the
fence. A circular segment in the top centre of the display flashes with every energiser pulse.
If the battery voltage falls to approximately 11.5V at low battery indication will be dis-
played. Once the battery voltage falls to 11V the energiser will stop and the low battery
segment will be continuously on. If the battery voltage falls below approximately 8V, the
energiser will shut off completely. The energiser will start operating normally again when
the battery voltage exceeds 12V. These cutouts are intended to protect your battery.
These energisers have built in self testing. If there is a problem with the unit you will see an
error code displayed. Return it for repair. If the displayed voltage is low, turn off the unit,
disconnect the fence from the energiser, then turn it back on. If the displayed voltage is
around 8.0kV, there is a problem with the fence. If the displayed voltage is still low, there
may be a problem with the energiser.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLATION AND CONNECTION OF ELECTRIC
FENCES FOR ANIMALS.
The following safety information is part of the Australia/New Zealand standard AS/NZS
60335.2.76:2003 amendment 2. Refer to AS/NZS 3014:2003 for full details on electric fence
installation.
>Electric fences must be installed and operated so that they do not cause an electrical hazard to per-
sons, animals or their surroundings.
>Construction of electric fences that is likely to lead to the entanglement of animals or persons is to be
avoided.
>An electric fence must not be supplied from two separate energizers or from independent fence cir-
cuits of the same energiser.
>For any two separate electric fences that are each supplied from a separate independently timed
energiser, the distance between the wires of the two fences must be at least 2.5 metres. If this gap is to
be closer, it must be effected by means of electrically non-conductive (insulating) material or an
isolated metal barrier.
>Barbed wire or razor wire must not be electrified by an energiser.
>A non-electrified fence incorporating barbed or razor wire may be used to support one or more off-
set electrified wires of an electric fence. The supporting devices for the electrified wires must be
constructed so as to ensure that these wires are positioned at a minimum distance of 150mm from the
vertical plane of the non-electrified wires. The barb or razor wire is to be earthed at regular intervals
in accordance with Thunderbird’s earthing recommendations.
>A distance of a least 10 metres must be maintained between the energiser’s earth electrode and any
other earthing system connected parts—for example mains power protective earth or telecommunica-
tion system earth.
>Electric fence connecting leads located inside buildings must be effectively insulated from the
earthed structural parts of the building, for example, use suitable high voltage insulated cable.
Important: always ensure metal parts of the building are effectively earthed.
>Electric fence connecting leads located underground must be run in suitable conduit of insulating
material or high voltage cable to be used. Care must be taken to ensure that the effects of animal
hooves or vehicle wheels (e.g. tractor) sinking into ground cannot damage connecting leads.
>Electric fence connecting leads must not be installed in the same conduit as the mains power supply
wiring, communication cables or data cables.
>Crossing with overhead power lines must be avoided wherever possible. If such a crossing cannot
be avoided it must be made underneath the power line and as near as possible at right angles to it.
>If electric fence connecting leads and wires are installed near an overhead power line, the clearances
must not be less than indicated in the table below.
Power line voltage Clearance (metres)
Up to 1,000 3
1,000 V - 33,000 4
Greater than 33,000 8
>If electric fence connecting leads and wires are installed near an overhead power line, their height
above the ground must not exceed 3 metres. This height applies either side of the orthogonal projec-
tion of the outermost conductors of the power line on the ground surface, for a distance of;-
- 2 metres for power lines operating at nominal voltage not exceeding 1000V.
- 15 metres for power lines operating at a nominal voltage exceeding 1000V.
>Electric fences intended for deterring birds, household pet containment or training animals such as
cows need only be supplied from a low output energizer to obtain satisfactory and safe performance.
>For electric fences intended for deterring birds from roosting on buildings, no electric fence wire
shall be connected to an earth electrode. A warning sign must be fitted to every point where a person
or persons may gain access to the conductors.
>Where an electric fence crosses a public pathway, a non-electrified gate must be incorporated in the
electric fence at that point or a crossing by means of stiles must be provided. At any such crossing,
the adjacent electrified wires must carry warning signs.
>Any part of an electric fence that is installed along a public road or pathway must be identified at
frequent intervals by warning signs securely fastened to the fence posts or firmly clamped to the
fence wires.
>The size of the warning sign must be at least 100mm x 200mm. The background color of both sides
of the warning sign is to be yellow. The inscription on the sign is to be black and shall be either the
symbol shown (Fig. 1 ) or the words - “WARNING - ELECTRIC FENCE”
>The lettering must be indelible, be on both sides of the sign and in letters not less than 25mm in
height.
>Ensure at all times that a mains operated, ancillary equipment
connected to the electric fence circuit provides a degree of
isolation between the fence circuit and the supply mains equiva-
lent to that provided by the fence energiser.
>This energiser must be installed in accordance with the
standard AS/NZS 3014:2003.
SPECIFICATIONS
Input Voltage: 12.7V nominal - Maximum 20.0V
Input Current: MB65 - 43mA (nominal)
MB130 - 88mA (nominal)
Output Voltage: 7.8kV (nominal)
Stored Energy: MB65 - 0.7 joules
MB130 - 1.4 joules
Humidity: Maximum 95% non condensing
Operating Temperature: -10 - 50 degrees celcius
NOTE: These energisers are supplied with a detachable 12 volt D.C. lead and a mains low
voltage plug pack adaptor. These energisers have intelligent battery monitoring, if the bat-
tery starts getting flat the output voltage will reduce to conserve the battery.
Fig. 1