Risk of a System Failure
Protects the transmitter so it can continue to keep the pet inside the designated safety zone.
Space Saving Design
Low profile unit plugs directly into the wall. The transformer plugs into the unit for better balance
and stability. There is also an extra outlet for convenience.
Positive Loop Connectors
Easy to attach loop wire to the unit. Holds wires firmly in place
Power Indicator Light
Easy to see, shows power is on and the protection is working.
Protects Against AC Power Surges and Lightning
Specifically designed for use with all electronic containment systems with
protection for the AC and transmitter loop.
MAX
®
2 Dog Fence
Warranty
AC Protector:
Protect or Disconnect Circuitry...................................................Yes
Line Voltage.............................120 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 15 Ampere Rating
UL 1449 Suppression Rating......................................................700V
Single Pulse Energy Dissipation......................................1200 Joules
Protection Modes..........................................................L-N, L-G, N-G
Loop protector:
Wires Protected............................................................................Two
Clamping Level......................................................................70 Volts
Surge Withstand....................................................18,000 Each Wire
Connections.............................................................Easy Spring-Clip
AC Surge Protection Specifications:
Specifications subject to change without notice due to product improvements
1. Catastrophic Surge
2.
COMPLETE DISCONNECT
MAX
®
2 Dog Fence
Part # M2DF
Lifetime Product Warranty
The surge protector shall be free of any defects in design, materials, or work-
manship, and Panamax will repair or replace any defective unit.
Safeguards equipment against all surges. In the event of
a catastrophic surge such as lightning, it completely
disconnects
AC power to connected equipment. L464 REV. A
© 2002 Panamax. MAX and the Panamax logo are registered US trademarks of Panamax. Protect-or-Disconnect is a trademark of Panamax.
Q & A - Lightning Protection for a Pet Containment System (PCS)
Quick Connection Tips - See instructions for Complete Information
POWER
LOOP TRANSMITTER
TRANSMITTER
TRANSFORMER
AC LINE
TRANSMITTER WIRES
LOOP WIRES
POWER
LOOP TRANSMITTER
POWER
LOOP TRANSM
ITTER
1. Why do you need lightning protection at all?
Pet containment system transmitters are vulnerable to lightning induced surges
from the AC power line as all AC-powered equipment. But there is an extra vul-
nerability for PCSs, because the loop acts as an antenna, and can pick up light-
ning-induced currents/voltage from lightning even hundreds of feet away.
Lightning currents can be up to 100,000 Amperes, with voltages into the
millions! Experience shows that in difficult sites (frequent lightning, large loop,
hilltop locations) transmitters will be damaged several times per year unless
they are protected.
2. Why cant I just use an ordinary AC protector?
As stated above, PCS transmitters need to be protected BOTH on the loop side
and on the AC side. The loop protector needs to be specially designed for the
PCS frequencies/voltages.
3. Can I use separate protectors for the loop and AC?
You can, but it wont work, unless the installation is very carefully done. It is
MUCH better to have the loop and AC protectors in one package. That elimi-
nates connective wiring, and is less expensive, because only one housing is
needed..
4. Cant I ground the loop to a ground rod and protect the loop that way?
No. People tend to think, Ground is ground. The reality is very different.
Depending on soil conditions, the resistance of an 8-foot ground rod can be
from 20 ohms or so to 1000 ohms, or even more in rocky or dry earth. The
resistance of a short (2 foot) rod would be about 4 times larger - say 1000-
4000 ohms! This can be easily measured with an ohmmeter. Lightning currents
coming into the loop from direct lightning can be several thousand amperes.
Ohms law tells you that a 1000 ohm ground isnt going to take much current
away from the loop.
5. Dont I have to worry about lightning currents being brought into the
house by the loop?
Yes, you do. The PCS loop is one of the many paths that lightning can take
to get inside the house. CATV, AC wiring, phone and TV/DBS antenna wires
are other paths. The NEC describes how these various lines have to be
protected by passing lightning currents into the building grounding system.
Thats what the protector does.
The protector is UL Listed (approved) as an AC protector, and ALSO tested
and approved as an isolated loop protector for the PCS loop.
The protector contains fusible links on the loop side to limit the amount of
lightning current that can come through, to values the protector can handle
without damage. (About 20,000 ampere surge on each loop wire.)
6. What is the expected field life of the protectors?
The few protectors that have been damaged suggest a field life (MTBF) of
at least 500 years, and probably more, even in high-lightning areas.
7. If I bury the loop, do I still need a protector?
YES! Lots of field experience shows that even with burial 3 feet deep, wires
and cables can be struck by lightning. This occurs, once again, because
soil is not a good conductor. So the lightning current keeps going down
until it finds something metallic. Shallow burial (less than 1 foot deep)
provides very little protection.
STEP 1 Plug the lightning protector into a grounded (3-wire) 120V AC outlet
within five feet of where you want to locate the transmitter
STEP 2 Cut the loop wires near the
protector and strip all four ends back
1/4 inch.
STEP 3 Push the connector tab firmly
away from yourself. The connector
jaws will open. Push the stripped end
of the wire into the connector. Repeat
with the other three wires.