The Innotek IUC-4100 UltraSmart Pet Fencing system is Innotek's mid-priced offering ($279.95) and we think it hits the sweet spot between value and features.

The IUC-4100 has a rechargeable collar that uses a long lasting lithium ion battery. The collar charges in the provided cradle in a couple of hours and holds its charge for about a month. The collar does not have the annoying hum of the Innotek SD-2100 and is generally a more robust and durable product.

The collar is waterproof and will easily survive heavy rain and temporary immersion in water.

The slimline collar is one of the smallest collars available for a full size dog. The collar also has a plastic-like collar band and a belt buckle style adjustment feature that is not as easy to use compared to the quick-snap buckles available on competing products. Fortunately the band is replaceable.

The IUC-4100’s warning beep is louder than some of the other models like the Innotek indoor wireless pods, which is a nice way of keeping your dog out of small areas in your house such as the couch.

Innotek gives you a limited lifetime warranty on the IUC-4100, although this is a little misleading. Additional research shows that the warranty is parts and labor for the first year and just parts for subsequent years. Innotek does have great after sales support and honors this warranty when applicable. They also have a toll free number where you can get free training advice. (1-800-dog-fence)

What's in the Box? - Wall mounted transmitter - 500 feet of 20-gauge wire - 50 boundary flags - Rechargeable collar - Collar charging station - Two waterproof wire splices - Training Manual - Training DVD - Set of long-haired prongs - Set of short-haired prongs

Summary:
Our overall favorite system. The Innotek IUC-4100 has all the essentials like a rechargeable battery and indoor zone compatibility. Additionally, the slimline collar gives it a cleaner look on your dog. No need to shop anywhere else as we offer the lowest price authorized by Innotek. In addition to the lowest price on the IUC 4100, you get free shippping, customer service from the experts, and a free 90 page Dog Fence Installation and Training Guide.

Detailed Review: Innotek UltraSmart In-ground Pet Fencing System (IUC-4100)

Within our detailed review, we will discuss the components included in the Innotek UltraSmart IUC-4100 pet containment system. These components include the Wall-Mount Transmitter, UltraSmart Collar, Collar Charging Station, and Boundary Wire.

Innotek UltraSmart IUC 4100 Wall-Mount Transmitter

The IUC 4100 transmitter (commonly called a control box) is the control center and directs the fencing field. The transmitter must be mounted to the wall near an AC power outlet and protected from the weather (typically inside a garage or basement). Once mounted, twisted wire is run from the transmitter box to the outdoor location where the boundary loop begins. This is usually done by passing the wire through a window or hole drilled in the wall.

The UltraSmart transmitter has a hinged cover that once lifted, reveals the numerous switches and knobs that allow you to customize your system. There are 9 different controls on the IUC-4100 transmitter box that we will go through in detail. The top row has 7 controls and the bottom row has the loop wire connection terminals and the power connection terminal for the AC adapter. Let’s begin on the top row at the far left.





1. Stimulation Level Switch – There are 3 levels of correction or stimulation on the transmitter. Low, Medium, and High. It is usually best to start with Low or Medium stimulation levels and only use High if your pet does not respond to Low or Medium corrections. When set to Low or Medium, your dog will receive a correction after the 2-second warning tone. When the stimulation level is set to High, the warning tone and correction occur at the same time.
2. Field Size Switch – The field size switch adjusts the power output of the transmitter and therefore the strength of the signal running through the boundary wire. There are 2 options for field size, Large (LG) and Small (SM). The field size should be set to small (SM) if your installation requires 1,000 feet or less of boundary wire. If you use more than 1,000 feet of boundary wire for your installation then set the field size to Large (LG) to ensure you have adequate signal strength.
3. Field Width Adjustment – The field width adjustment dial controls the distance from the wire your dog can venture before hearing the warning tone and receiving a correction. The field width can be adjusted to various multiple settings by turning the control dial between the minimum (MIN) level and maximum (MAX) level.
4. Collar Charge Reminder Switch – The collar charge reminder should be set to OFF. This feature is not necessary for the UltraSmart IUC 4100 because the collar charge reminder can be viewed directly on the collar.
5. Alarm Volume – This dial controls the volume of the alarm emitted from the transmitter box. You can set it to any level between minimum (MIN) and maximum (MAX), but the transmitter alarm cannot be completely muted.
6. Power Switch – This switch allow you to turn the system ON and OFF.
7. “24/7” Battery Backup Monitor Switch – The transmitter holds 8 AA alkaline batteries to power the system in case of power interruption. According to Innotek, the 8 AA alkaline batteries will power the UltraSmart system for up to 40 hours. If the Battery Backup Monitor Switch is set to ON, the transmitter alarm will sound when the alkaline batteries need to be replaced.
8. Power Connection – This is the location where you connect the 24-volt DC adapter plug which is then plugged into the 110v AC outlet. This is how your pet containment system receives power.
9. Loop Wire Terminals – This is where you connect the wire from the boundary loop. There are two spring-loaded terminals that keep the wire in place.

Transmitter Status Indications
Additionally, then transmitter has an Indicator Light at the top of the box. This indicator light, in conjunction with alarm tones will alert owners of different status indications. Let’s quickly go through the Innotek UltraSmart Transmitter Status Indications.
--Power On/System OK-- Indicator light is solid green and no alarm tone.
--Boundary Wire Broken or Disconnected-- Indicator light is flashing red and alarm is sounding twice per second.
-- Backup Batteries Low-- Indicator light is flashing yellow and alarm is sounding once per second. Alarm will not sound if Battery Backup Monitor switch is set to OFF.
--AC Power Disconnected; Unit Operating on Battery-- Indicator light is off and alarm is sounding once every 5 seconds.
--Transmitter is Off or Power is Disconnected-- Indicator light is off and no alarm is sounding.

Innotek UltraSmart IUC 4100 Collar

The IUC-4100 collar has a low profile design and is relatively lightweight. The UltraSmart collar is rechargeable and waterproof. We will now cover some of the basics and proprietary features of the Innotek IUC-4100.

Charging the Collar
The UltraSmart IUC-4100 comes with a Collar Charging Station that plugs into any 110v AC wall outlet. We suggest placing the charging station in an outlet near the door that you and your dog typically utilize. The 4100 collar sits on top of the charging cradle with the contacts facing down. The collar light will face outward and glow red while charging and green once fully charged. A built-in safety circuit prevents the collar from overcharging. Typically the collar will charge fully within 2 to 3 hours and the charge will last up to two months. It is recommended that you do not charge frequently (e.g. every night) because charging the collar too often can reduce the battery life. Innotek recommends owners to charge the collar only when the battery status light blinks red.

ReadyTest
Once the collar is removed from the charger, the system goes into an 8-second self test

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mode. This is known as the ReadyTest feature. During these 8 seconds the collar’s internal diagnostics with check the battery charge and ensure all circuits are working correctly. Innotek recommends that you do not touch the skin contacts during this test. If the ReadyTestTM fails, the collar will tone and the status light will glow red for 20 seconds. If this happens, replace the collar into the charger for 5 seconds to reset and remove again without touching the collar’s contacts. If the collar continues to fail then you may have a defective unit.

PerfectFit Test for Skin Contact
After the 8 second self test, the collar will go into PerfectFit mode. When the IUC-4100 collar is in PerfectFit mode the status light will be amber colored and begin to blink. At this point you have approximately 90 seconds to properly fit the collar to your dog’s neck. During this period you can fit the collar on your dog and once the contacts meet the dog’s skin the collar will emit an audible click. 5 consecutive clicks confirm that the collar is fitted properly.

Fitting the Collar on your Dog
The collar strap should be snug to your dog’s neck with the electronic components and skin contacts at the bottom of the dog’s neck. If you can place only one finger between the collar strap and the dog’s neck, the collar is adequately snug. Remember, the contacts must touch the dog’s skin for the collar to work properly.

Over Stimulation Prevention
To ensure that the dog is not over corrected by receiving excessive stimulations, the IUC 4100 collar will emit a correction for a maximum of 10 seconds. Once this maximum is reached the stimulation will cease for 10 seconds and then emit another 10 second correction. If this cycle happens three times, the collar will not emit further corrections. This is a safety measure that is useful if the dog freezes inside the correction zone for an extended period of time.

Run-Through Prevention
The run through prevention feature is designed to keep your dog from escaping the boundary loop. The collar automatically increases the stimulation when your dog continues more than 1/3 of the way through the pet fencing field (regardless of the transmitter stimulation level setting). This means that if you have a 9-foot pet fencing field (distance between the buried wire and the initial point where the signal is picked up) and the dog reaches 6 feet from the boundary wire then the dog will receive the highest level of stimulation.

Collar Status Indicators
The IUC-4100 collar has a status light on the outside of the collar that, in conjunction with the tones emitted from the collar, notifies the owner of various conditions. Let’s walk through these conditions.

When Collar is on the Charger
1. Light is RED, No Tone = Charge in progress
2. Light is GREEN, No Tone = Charge is complete
3. No light, no tone = Charge failure

When Collar is NOT on the Charger
1. Light is Continuously RED, Tone for 20 seconds = Self-test failure; unit may be defective
2. Light is Continuously GREEN, No Tone = Over stimulation warning, collar is locked for 10 seconds
3. Light is Blinking AMBER, No Tone (within first 90 seconds) = Unit is in ReadyFit mode
4. Light is Blinking AMBER, No Tone (after first 90 seconds) = Collar battery is 20-60% strength
5. Light is Blinking GREEN, Clicking Tone (within first 90 seconds) = ReadyFit mode for skin contact
6. Light is Blinking GREEN, No Tone (after first 90 seconds) = Collar battery is 60% strength or better
7. Light is Blinking RED, No Tone = Collar battery is less than 20% strength and requires charge
8. Light is Pulsating GREEN, Tone = Tone only – no stimulation
9. Light is Pulsating RED, Tone = Stimulation being delivered

As with all pet containment system collars, the Innotek IUC 4100 collar should not be worn for more than 12 consecutive hours. This may cause pressure necrosis or skin sores.

We hope you found this information helpful. Please browse our site to learn more about pet containment systems including installation and training.