How to Test Invisible Fence Collar Battery Yourself?

Last Updated on November, 2024

Invisible fences are popular among dog owners because your dog has unrestricted access to roam within your boundary. 

The best part is that there is no physical fence in your yard. But all of this convenience comes with regular inspection and maintenance. 

Whether you have a cell battery collar or a rechargeable battery, you must be aware of the real-time battery life and indication lights. In the sections below, you will learn how to check the collar batteries and replace them as needed.

Quick Summary

There are warning lights on the collar that indicate when the batteries need to be replaced or recharged.

Checking and replacing the batteries in an invisible fence collar is important for keeping your dog safe and contained within your property boundaries.

It is important to regularly test the collar and ensure that the probes are making proper contact with your dog’s skin. Troubleshooting steps are provided for instances where the collar may not be functioning correctly.

How to Test Invisible Fence Collar Batteries?

a human holding invisible fence collar

You will need to take the collar off your dog to test it. Therefore keep your dog safe inside your property until you finish your testing. Keep your transmitter settings the same, and use your test contacts to check the shock.

Your collar has low-battery warning lights. It’s usually a red light that stays on or blinks once every few seconds. Pay attention to these lights at least once a week to ensure you don’t run out of battery completely. 

If your dog is straying beyond your boundaries, it could be because the collar battery is dead. To check this, take the collar near the boundary line of your yard, holding it at the same height as your dog’s neck.

The collar should beep as you approach the underground wire. If you have test contacts, install them on the collar probes to check the shock.   

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Replace the batteries if you see the low battery warning lights mentioned above. If your collar is rechargeable, fully charge it as early as possible once the low battery indicator light appears. Remember to keep your dog in a safe place until you top up the battery. 

If the collar battery is working correctly, but your dog continues to cross your boundary, you need to check whether the shocking probes are intact on his skin. Increase the correction levels as needed.

How to Replace an Invisible Fence Collar Battery?

Your collar will indicate with a warning LED light when it’s time to change batteries. It will simply stop beeping on a complete battery drain. In this case, charge it or follow the below steps to replace the battery.   

  • If this is the first time you are replacing a battery, Locate the battery cap (it’s in the box where the indication lights are at)  
  • Use a flat-head screwdriver or a thin coin to screw the battery cap slot anticlockwise
  • You will have access to the battery housing and the cell
  • Insert the new battery in the battery slot, screw it clockwise

After the new battery replacement, test the collar to ensure its performance and the correction levels are the same. Check the indicator lights to make sure they are working correctly.  

Some invisible fence collars allow you to replace the battery cell and continue using the same battery housing.

The steps will be the same as above. We suggest you keep a backup battery.

How Long Does an Invisible Fence Battery Last?

a dog wearing invisible fence collar and lying on the ground

Most invisible fence brands guarantee a lifespan of 3 months for a new battery replacement, but it depends on usage and the frequency of corrections. It is best to check your low-battery warning lights once a week and keep a spare battery on hand. 

For the longevity of your collar, we suggest you take off the battery cap when you are not using it. Some invisible fence manufacturers recommend this practice.

Please remove the collar and turn it off when your dog is inside. This practice will save your battery power, thus giving you a longer battery lifespan.     

If you have a rechargeable collar, it’s best to recharge it as needed.. Please give it a full charge of two to three hours.

But this can vary based on your collar brand, so read the user guide or ask the manufacturer. Make sure you keep your dog in a safe place until the collar is ready. 

Identify the Green and Red Lights That Blink on the Collar (Blinking Lights Troubleshooting)

green light in invisible fence collar and a human holding it

Your collar already knows when there’s something wrong. There are two different colored LED lights. One to warn you and one to confirm that everything is functioning correctly. 

  • Green light: green light will blink every 10-30 seconds (depending on your model). That means the collar is working properly. If it isn’t blinking, check whether the battery is inserted correctly.   
  • Red light: if the red light blinks or stays on, your collar battery is low. It must be replaced or recharged as soon as possible. If your collar is functioning correctly, no red light should be visible. 

Note: Here’s how to troubleshoot an invisible fence.

How to Make Sure Your Invisible Fence Collar’s Batteries are the Problem?

a dog wearing invisible fence collar and a human toching the collar

Does your dog cross the boundary wire after you’ve replaced the batteries? That can be a collar malfunction, a transmitter problem, or the buried wire. It’s easy to figure out the cause to ensure your dog’s protection. 

Start by checking the collar; take your dog’s collar and walk towards the boundary wire. As you approach, you should hear the warning beep, and if you cross, you should feel a correction shock coming from the probes. 

If it’s working correctly, ensure the collar probes touch your dog’s skin. Change the probes as necessary for your dog’s coat, and try increasing the static correction one by one if he still crosses the boundary.  

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Check your transmitter as well. Does it beep constantly? If so, there is a break in your buried wire. Perform the below loop test to ensure it’s a wire break.

Unplug the two boundary wires from the transmitter and plug in the two ends of a test wire to form a loop. 

If the beeping goes off, there’s indeed a wire break in your yard. If it still beeps, there might be a malfunction in your transmitter. 

If your collar’s batteries are the problem, replacing them should make the invisible fence system work as usual.

Here’s how to repair an invisible fence wire.

FAQs 

Replacing collar batteries may not reset your transmitter settings or shock levels. We suggest that you double-check the setting after replacing the collar battery. However, your invisible fence system may reset if you unplug and replug the transmitter from its power source.

Different invisible fence manufacturers require different battery types. It’s best to read the user guide or check the current battery before you purchase a new one. 

Most invisible fence models require a 1/3 CR lithium-ion battery or RFA-67 battery. Ensure you check the voltage of your current battery to ensure it is the same. The voltage should range from 1.5 to 3.5 Volts.

Final Thoughts 

It is crucial to ensure that the batteries are in good working condition and that the collar probes are touching your dog’s skin. 

Even if your manufacturer recommends checking collar batteries every three months, we, as pet owners, must ensure our dog’s safety. Therefore, check it monthly and replace it as needed.

Remember that the battery life is determined by how frequently your dog challenges the boundary line. The more beeping and correction shocks it gives, the faster the battery dies. The longer your dog wears the collar, the faster the battery drains.

If your invisible fence doesn’t seem to work correctly even after checking the battery, you’ll need a reliable invisible fence to provide the best safety for your dog. Take a look at the most reliable invisible dog fences we’ve picked for you.

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Author
Stefano Giachetti
Stefano Giachetti is always excited to share his knowledge and love of animals with you through our blog, IPetGuides. And he has always loved animals and has been blessed to have many pets throughout his life. Currently has a Pomeranian Dog Breed.

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