Robot slayer season is here
After a long winter, temperatures start to increase, spring sensations change our view of what needs to be prioritised and our thoughts are brought to what needs to be done in our gardens. From a robotic lawnmower perspective, the following steps can help you find solutions to problems that may arise when installing or connecting an existing robotic lawnmower installation. Over the years, we have discovered that the ground in a lawn always moves and therefore breakage in the boundary cable can occur. Potential movements may also mean that adjustments to the boundary cable need to be made in case the robotic lawnmower starts to have problems in specific areas. This can also happen when the boundary cable has shifted too far out to the edge of a garden, causing the robot to get stuck. When you install a perimeter for the first time with a new boundary cable, you often have to make small adjustments before completing your installation so that the robot works smoothly.
Restricted cable/Charging station
Once an installation is made or an existing installation is ready to be tested after winter, the charging station can be put in place and connected. This is also a good opportunity to see if the transformer, extension cord and charging station are in working order. The next step when the charging station is located and connected is to connect the boundary cable to its respective outlet. If you have a working circuit without breakage, the charging station will light up with a blue or green light depending on the brand of robotic lawnmower you have. If there is a breakage in the boundary cable, the boundary cable indicates with a flashing light instead. This can be frustrating but with the right knowledge and tools, a repair can be carried out quickly and easily
When there is a break in the boundary cable, the first thing to consider is whether you have made any changes to the garden. For example, if a paved aisle has recently been placed, the boundary cable could potentially have been damaged during digging and placing the stone slabs. A good tip is to walk along the boundary cable to see if it sticks up somewhere and is damaged. However, a break can also occur when the cable is underground. Most limiting cables are attached with plastic spikes that sink into the ground a couple of weeks after installation. When an installation is made with a cablelayer, the boundary cable is placed a few centimeters below the ground. This scenario can make the search for cable breakage much more difficult without the right tools. Nowadays there is a tool that can help you locate the exact point of a cable break, a so-called a cable finder.
Cable tracker
A cable tracker is used by adding a low voltage to one end of the boundary cable with the red connection on the cable tracker. The black connection on the cable tracker is connected to a screwdriver stuck in the ground to ground the connection. When both cables are correctly connected, the next step is to take the receiver and press the activation button on tone mode and follow the boundary cable until the tone disappears. In this way, you can measure where the cable break is when the signal cannot travel further in the boundary cable than where the break is. In our experience, it is best to search for a cable break as it does not rain. The presence of moisture in the ground can increase and spread the tension in the restriction box, making the breakage more difficult to detect.
Repair kit
The final step is to dig up the boundary cable and use extension connections/connectors to repair the break and reconnect the circuit. The advantage of our connectors is that there is a silicone seal inside the connector that seals and protects the boundary cable from oxidation and creeping currents. It is important to press the joint device together with a pair of pliers, if you only use your fingers, there is a high risk that it will not become dense enough. Afterwards, plastic nails can be used to reattach the boundary cable to the lawn. Our repair kits with connectors, limiting cable and plastic nails together with a cable breaker make finding and repairing a cable break easy.
Last step
Now with the boundary cable in working order, it's time to see if the robotic lawnmower is in order. If the battery on the mower has not been maintained during the winter, it can sometimes be a bit tricky to get the mower running. Remember that you can leave your robot for winter service at a service center/retailer to increase the life of the product.
Thanks for reading,
Team RobotGarden