AC Powered Electric Fence Installation Guide for Pets

Important Note:

The SS-725 controller emits a continuous low-level AC current output, and the SS-750 controller emits an intermittent current output. Both deliver a mild shock which is not pleasant and is usually well remembered. In fact, after several weeks or even several days use, you may elect to disconnect your fence as most pets will completely avoid it.

Fencing Laws:

Most states have laws defining what constitutes a legal partition fence or a fence along a highway or railway. Local ordinances usually specify acceptable fencing between adjacent home lots. In addition, local laws may prohibit the use of electric fence controllers. A permit may be required in some cases.

Power Supply Requirements:

The SS-725 and SS-750 plug into a standard 120 volt/60 Hz outlet. NOTE: Some models are designed for a 220 volt 50/60 Hz input. Check the controller's label for the correct input requirement.

Activating the Controller:

Simply plug the power supply cord into a standard wall outlet. If an extension cord is used, be sure that it is suitable for the application.

Fence Installation:

Drive the fence posts 3 to 6 inches (7.6 to 15 cm) into the ground away from branches and stems of shrubs and plants.
Drive a ground rod into the soil (preferably soil which stays moist) until only 2 inches (5 cm) remain above the ground.
Slide the ground clamp onto the rod and tighten the clamp so that a minimal amount of pressure against it will not cause it to slide up or down the rod. (Refer to Illustration 2)
Firmly secure a length of electric fence wire to the ground clamp by feeding wire through the small hole, then tighten the screw.
Connect the other end of the wire to the ground terminal of the fence controller by wrapping the wire once around the terminal between the two washers and then securely tighten the wing nut.
Connect the fence wire to the fence terminal of the controller and attach the wire to the fence posts with the enclosed cotter pins. Place a cotter pin through the hole in the fence post at the height you wish the fence wire to be, then bend the ends of the cotter pin back to keep the cotter pin securely fastened to the post.
Thread the wire through the cotter pin as shown in Illustration 2.

NOTE: THE COTTER PIN WILL BECOME "HOT" WHEN THE CONTROLLER IS ACTIVATED.

You may also simply thread the wire through the holes in the posts without using cotter pins. Since the pole is plastic, the wire will not be grounded.

When you reach the end of the fence, wrap the wire securely around the cotter pin on the last post. For maximum efficiency, add another level of wire by simply continuing the wire on the last post to another level of holes and back down the fence as shown in Illustration 1. The minimum distance between the fence wire and the earth should be 6 inches (15 cm) to avoid contact with grass and ground covers which will short out the fence. Do not allow the fence wire to touch anything but the plastic fence posts or the cotter pins.
You may lengthen the electric fence up to a range of 1 mile (1.6 km). Simply add more electric fence wire to the original by splicing the two wires together as shown in Illustration 1 or by using a splice connector. The wire should be either smooth galvanized or aluminum and can be any gauge between 12 and 20.

Remember: If you splice the wire, the connection must be tight. Always connect aluminum to aluminum and galvanized wire to galvanized wire. Avoid fence constructions that might cause injury to animals or humans.

Controller Installation:

Install the controller in a clean, dry area where no moisture can drip or blow onto it. Do not mount the unit on the ground or in any area subject to direct sunlight or moisture. It is advisable to install the unit inside a weatherproof box or close to a building with an overhang (see Illustration 1).

Fence Maintenance:

Periodically inspect the fence line and remove vines, brush growth and fallen branches which will short out the fence.

Fuses for Model SS-750:

Replace fuses with 1/16 amp time-delay fuses only

Troubleshooting Guide:

If the fence is not operating properly, check the fence line to make sure it is not touching your house, trees, shrubs, grass weeds or anything other than the plastic fence posts. these will all cause the fence to short out.
Check your connections to the power source to see that they are secure. Be sure the fence and ground wires are tightened securely by the wing nuts.
If everything checks out and you still do not have a "sting" on the fence line, you may have a poor ground, in which case you may need to drive a 6 to 8 foot (1.8 to 2.4 m) metal rod into the earth and replace the ground wire from the two-foot ground rod to the new rod (see Illustration 2).
If you suspect there is no charge from the controller, perform the following test.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO TOUCH THE ACTIVATED FENCE WIRE!

Use a commercial electric fence tester to check the output on the fence line while it is activated. If there is no output, remove the fence wire from the controller and check the output across the terminals with an electric fence tester. If the tester indicates output, the problem is with the fence. If the tester indicates no output, the problem is with the controller.

SS-725:

The output of this controller can be checked using an AC voltmeter. The open circuit (no load) output is between 700 and 900 volts AC. The amperage at short circuit conditions (maximum) is 6 to 10 milliamperes.

SS-750:

The indicator lamp (located between the ground and fence terminals) shows the output to be OK when the lamp blinks under normal fence load conditions. If the lamp does not blink, remove the fence wire from the controller to see if the lamp begins to blink at no-load conditions. If the lamp does blink, the problem is with the fence construction. If the lamp does not blink, the problem is with the controller.

CAUTION: Always unplug the controller from its power source when disconnecting the fence wire. The SS-750 controller's output can only be measured using a commercial type electric fence tester.

How an Electric Fence Works:

Illustration 2 depicts a typical electric fence circuit. When an animal comes into contact with an electrically charged fence, the animal will feel the electric current because the electrical charge passes through the animal's body, then through the earth to the ground rod, and then up the ground wire to the ground terminal of the controller.

If the animal and the ground terminal of the controller are not sufficiently grounded due to an improperly installed ground rod or fence system, or if the animal is not grounded, then the path of electric shock cannot be completed and the animal will not feel the charge. Since the earth is half of your complete electric fence circuit, the animal must touch both the charged wire while being in contact with earth ground.

See Illustration 3 for installing a two-wire fence system in areas where poor soil and earth grounding conditions exist.

Note: Animals that are prone to jumping may be difficult to confine. You may need to try different heights and/or fence configurations in order to determine what type of fence installation works best in your particular situation.

If the ground rod and/or connection where the ground wire from the fence controller connects to the ground rod is not properly installed, the completion of the electrical circuit may not be possible. Likewise, the fence wire must always be insulated properly from touching shrubs, tall grass and other electrically conductive objects. Otherwise the electric charge from the fence wire leaks off to ground through weeds, etc. and the fence loses its shocking power.