Thanks for making this video. This is a great technique for finding a good, clean break. Unfortunately, I had a problem where part of the run had degraded, and there was a spot with fairly high resistance. As a result, the system did not work properly, but the high resistance connection was enough to carry the radio signal. I ended up having to divide the run making a few extra breaks, myself, and taking resistance measurements. I used a couple of 100' extension cords I had (not plugged into AC) to connect back to the transmitter location for the return leg of the resistance measurement. It took time, but I found the high resistance problem. For anyone with a multimeter with an ohmmeter function, it's a nice idea to take a resistance measurement of the run at the transmitter location when the wire has just been installed, so that you can compare the original resistance (when new) to a reading at a later date when you suspect there might be a problem. The resistance of 1000' of 18 gauge wire is a little over 6 ohms.
I tried this out and it wasn’t as easy as I hoped. I couldn’t tell the difference between radio signal coming from fence vs other radio interference maybe my radio receiver wasn’t good enough. There is another video on you tube that suggested the use of a spark plug for a signal, while I was able to pick up that pulse better with my radio I still wasn’t able to find the break. In the end I ended up using a long by pass wire to split the garden in half. Then I knew which half of the garden the break was in, and by digging up wire and adding new joints I was able to find the break eventually with trial and error.
The frequency of my system is similar to that of a talk radio station, so it wasn't easy, but I did manage to check one section of yard. I did not locate a break, but I know that I have one, I used a second system that I have to verify the break. Since I was unable, I will have to use another method or spend some money for detection equipment.
It is jankier than frig and if someone is watching you they might think you are crazy but I have done it twice already... you take your boundary wire and put a bit of flexible wire on the one end, wrap several wraps around the ignition wire of a lawnmower/yard equipment (the engine will need to be running) and that introduces a pulse into the wire that you can also pick up with a AM radio. (it is not electrically connected to the plug wire only wrapped around it to make a coil)
Ha! If you look down in the corner of your window you'll see a volume control on your PC. :-) Then you can turn on closed captioning and hope that it has interpreted my southern accent as English.
Thank you. You saved me $300. This worked! I just used my Dad's old AM transistor radio.
Great to hear! Thanks for commenting!
Thanks for making this video. This is a great technique for finding a good, clean break. Unfortunately, I had a problem where part of the run had degraded, and there was a spot with fairly high resistance. As a result, the system did not work properly, but the high resistance connection was enough to carry the radio signal. I ended up having to divide the run making a few extra breaks, myself, and taking resistance measurements. I used a couple of 100' extension cords I had (not plugged into AC) to connect back to the transmitter location for the return leg of the resistance measurement. It took time, but I found the high resistance problem.
For anyone with a multimeter with an ohmmeter function, it's a nice idea to take a resistance measurement of the run at the transmitter location when the wire has just been installed, so that you can compare the original resistance (when new) to a reading at a later date when you suspect there might be a problem. The resistance of 1000' of 18 gauge wire is a little over 6 ohms.
Great approach with the multimeter. Thanks for the comment!
Super! Thank you for sharing this…. Will save me a lot of trial and error and digging hopefully. Going to try it out.
Awesome, hope it works.
Great job! Much appreciated.
Thanks for the comment, it means a lot!
Works like a charm 🥳
So pleased it helped!!
I tried this out and it wasn’t as easy as I hoped. I couldn’t tell the difference between radio signal coming from fence vs other radio interference maybe my radio receiver wasn’t good enough. There is another video on you tube that suggested the use of a spark plug for a signal, while I was able to pick up that pulse better with my radio I still wasn’t able to find the break. In the end I ended up using a long by pass wire to split the garden in half. Then I knew which half of the garden the break was in, and by digging up wire and adding new joints I was able to find the break eventually with trial and error.
Great tips! Thanks for the comments!
Oh lord I have a cut line somewhere. Trying this radio
The frequency of my system is similar to that of a talk radio station, so it wasn't easy, but I did manage to check one section of yard. I did not locate a break, but I know that I have one, I used a second system that I have to verify the break. Since I was unable, I will have to use another method or spend some money for detection equipment.
Totally learned something today.
Thanks for the comment!
It is jankier than frig and if someone is watching you they might think you are crazy but I have done it twice already...
you take your boundary wire and put a bit of flexible wire on the one end, wrap several wraps around the ignition wire of a lawnmower/yard equipment (the engine will need to be running) and that introduces a pulse into the wire that you can also pick up with a AM radio. (it is not electrically connected to the plug wire only wrapped around it to make a coil)
That's another good method and yes, even jankier than what I show but if it works, it works. Thanks for commenting!
Now you tell me ... I paid 100 dollars to find my break.... LOL
Well, truthfully it can still be frustrating many times even if you use my technique. Thanks for commenting.
I had to stop listening because the beeping was making me crazy!
Ha! If you look down in the corner of your window you'll see a volume control on your PC. :-) Then you can turn on closed captioning and hope that it has interpreted my southern accent as English.