EPOS™ Support by Wire for lawn areas with weak satellite signal

• 305E NERA
• 310E NERA
• 405XE NERA
• 410XE NERA
• 320 NERA
• 430X NERA
• 450X NERA

Ensure that you have the latest firmware update installed on your mower.

Before you begin, make sure that you have completed your EPOS™ virtual installation for your Automower® NERA. The support wire can only be used within your existing EPOS™ boundaries; it cannot be used to expand or change the defined work area. For a detailed step-by-step EPOS™ wire-free installation, click here.

Step 1: Ensure that you have everything you need

• Automower® installation kit, which includes:

• Loop wire: Used as boundary wire.
• Staples: To secure the wire to the ground.
• Couplers: To connect the wires.
• Connectors: To connect the wires to the charging station.

• Tools:
  • A mallet: To put the stakes into the ground.
  • Combination pliers: For cutting the boundary wire and pressing the connectors together.
  • Adjustable pliers: For pressing the couplers together.

Step 2: Ensure that the charging station is positioned correctly

• Ensure that the charging station is placed where it has a good satellite signal.
• EPOS™ Support by Wire will not compensate for poor satellite signals at the charging station.

• The charging station docking point requires an unimpeded view of the sky.
• The support wire can only be installed after the charging station is in place and your EPOS™ installation is complete.
• If the station is already secured to the ground, unscrew it to connect the Support by Wire cables.
• For some models (305E, 310E NERA, 320 NERA), ensure Wi-Fi coverage at the charging station for firmware update download.

Step 3: Lay the wire

• Place the loop wire at least 2 metres (7 feet) outside the problem area. This will ensure that your robotic lawn mower reconnects with the satellite and establishes an accurate position.

• Start and complete the installation behind the charging station.

• Lay the wire in a loop around the problem area and back.

• Leave 50 cm (20 in) of extra wire for the connection to the charging station.
• Do not lay the support wires under the charging station’s baseplate, as it can disturb the charging station signals.

• Use Automower® staples to secure the wire to the ground or bury it by making a slit in the ground using a straight spade.

• The maximum loop wire length is 800 m (2625 ft).

Step 4: Connect the wire to the charging station

Use Automower® connectors to connect each end of the wire to the charging station.

• Open the connector and put the wire in the connector.
• Close the connector with a pair of pliers.
• Cut the wire 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) above the connector.

• Open the hatch at the front of the charging station.
• Thread the right cable and connector through the right hole at the back of the charging station tower.
• Push the connector onto the metal pin on the charging station with the mark AR.
• Repeat this process with the left wire and connector, attaching it to the pin marked AL.

Step 5: Power up and place the mower in the charging station

• Connect the charging station to the power outlet.
• Place the mower in the charging station.

Step 6: Enable EPOS™ Support by Wire in the app

• Open the Automower® Connect app and go to: Settings> Accessories > EPOS™ Support by Wire > Enable.

Step 7: Check for the solid green charging station LED

• Solid green LED on the charging station means the installation is correct.
• If the LED flashes blue, check that all connectors and couplers are properly installed.

If the mower continues to stop in a part of the work area, or if it cannot leave the Support by Wire area, you may need to extend the wire further into the work area with good satellite signal.

• Use Automower® couplers to connect the ends of the wires.
• Push the ends into one of the three holes in the coupler.
• Press the coupler with pliers to seal it.
• Secure the wires and coupler to the ground with a staple.
• For more details on how to use Automower® couplers, read this article.

Note: The total length of the support wire loop should not exceed 800 m (2624 ft).

If the boundary wire breaks, the mower will continue to work as if EPOS™ Support by Wire were disabled. A warning message will appear in the Automower® Connect app, and the charging station light will flash blue.

How to repair a wire break

To repair a wire break, follow our guide: How to repair a wire break in an Automower® installation.

EPOS™ Support by Wire only works within the boundaries of a virtual installation. The wire can be placed in a part of a work area or in an area where you have installed a transport path, but it cannot be used to extend the work area (Image 1) or to create a separate work area outside of the virtual boundaries (Image 2).

Image 1

Image 2

If there are several areas in your lawn where the satellite signal is suboptimal, several support areas can be created in one loop. The maximum loop length is 800 metres/2,625 feet.

Transport paths

If your robotic lawn mower struggles when following a transport path in an area with weak satellite coverage, EPOS™ Support by Wire can give support to the transport path. For best navigation results, ensure the transport path is as wide as possible.

Stay-out zones

EPOS™ stay-out zones are used to prevent the mower from entering sections of the lawn where it is not allowed to mow. In areas with weak satellite signal, the accuracy of these virtual boundaries may be compromised. We therefore strongly recommend to create a boundary wire island around virtual stay-out zones in areas with weak satellite signal.

However, it is important to remember that a boundary wire island alone will not prevent the mower from entering the area. An EPOS™ stay-out zone is always required for this purpose.

Mowing patterns

• Systematic mowing: When systematic mowing is selected, if the mower loses the satellite signal in an area of the lawn with EPOS™ Support by Wire, it will stop at the boundary wire. It will continue mowing once the satellite signal is recovered.

• Irregular mowing: When irregular mowing is selected, the mower will continue to mow within the area defined by the boundary wire, even if the satellite signal is lost.