How the M229 works
The M229 runs on four AA batteries, so it needs no connection to your vehicle's wiring. It protects the engine bay with six double contact plates, an ultrasonic tone and flashing lights.
- Two-layer plates: each plate has a high-voltage top (about 220 to 260 volts) and a negative base, so an animal touching both gets a mild shock even if it isn't standing on metal. The shock is sized to scare off a 2 to 7 kg animal, not hurt it.
- Random ultrasound: pulses at random intervals (roughly every 9 to 30 seconds, 21 to 24.5 kHz) so animals don't get used to it.
- Turns itself on and off: a built-in vibration sensor switches it off while the engine runs and back on once the vehicle has been still for about 10 minutes.
- Battery life: about a year from good quality alkaline AA batteries.
No deterrent is guaranteed to stop every animal every time. If you'd rather not fit the plates yourself, we install it at our Markham shop.
Installing the M229
- Before you start: clean the engine bay and the spot where you usually park, to remove scent marks. Put four good AA batteries in (four screws on the bottom) and set the side switch to OFF.
- Mount the unit: in a dry spot away from the exhaust and other hot parts, since most batteries handle only up to about 60 °C. Keep the lights visible and aim the speaker into the engine bay. Fix it with screws or cable ties.
- Fit the plates: slide the six plates onto the red cable at the spots most at risk of chewing. Fix each one with its two screws, one from the top and one from the bottom, driven into the cable so the screw heads make contact with the plate. A continuity tester confirms the connection (with the unit switched off).
- Clearances: the top plate with the high-voltage symbol must be at least 10 mm from any live contact and must not touch other parts. The large bottom plate is the negative side and can touch the vehicle body. Keep the plates dry, and mount the last plate so the cable end doesn't stick out.
- Finish: stick the yellow high-voltage warning label somewhere visible in the engine bay, then set the switch to ON.
What the M229 lights mean
- Ultrasonic light: a very slow, dim flash (about every 9 to 30 seconds) means it's working. Three quick flashes mean the vibration sensor has paused it because the engine is running or the vehicle was bumped.
- High voltage light: a slow flash means the plates are charged.
- Battery low light: replace the batteries.
The lights are deliberately dim to save battery, and it can take up to 10 minutes for everything to start. If the high voltage light won't flash, look for a plate that's wet, dirty or touching metal or plastic. Also check that the switch is ON, the batteries are fresh and the right way round, and the vehicle has been still with the engine off for at least 10 minutes.
To test it before installing, lay it on cardboard, put the batteries in and switch it on. Both lights should flash within 10 minutes. Don't touch the plates while it's on.
High voltage stays on the plates for 3 minutes
After you switch the unit off or pull its fuse, the plates can stay charged for up to 3 minutes while the internal capacitor drains, so wait before touching them. On the wired M186, you can drain it right away by briefly connecting a plate to the vehicle chassis for 1 to 3 seconds.
The current is very low and not dangerous to people, but the jolt is a surprise, so take care if you're easily startled or have a health condition a sudden shock could affect. You only feel it when you touch a charged plate and the vehicle body (or the plate's negative base) at the same time.
