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How to install Yard Force boundary wire

Updated: October 2026

You have a charging station, a coil of wire and a lawn that should become the mower’s working area by the end of the day. The safest way to install Yard Force boundary wire is to plan the station first, peg one continuous loop and test it before burying or tidying anything permanently. This procedure is for wired Yard Force robots such as the Compact 300RBS in our [Yard Force robotic lawnmower comparison](/hub/lawn-and-garden-equipment/yard-force-robotic-lawnmower). Wire-free vision buyers should check whether their borders are visually clear instead. Follow the manual supplied with your exact model where its dimensions differ from the brand guidance here. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

You have a charging station, a coil of wire and a lawn that should become the mower’s working area by the end of the day.

Our top picks

Bosch Bosch VisiMow 18V-100

Best overall

Bosch Bosch VisiMow 18V-100
8.2/10about £296
View offer
YARDCARE YARDCARE V100

Preis-Tipp

YARDCARE YARDCARE V100
8.0/10about £349.99
View offer
Yard Force Yard Force Compact 300RBS

Alternative

Yard Force Yard Force Compact 300RBS
5.6/10about £428.06
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.Place the charging station before the wire
  2. 2.Close one continuous loop
  3. 3.Manage slopes on the wire route
  4. 4.Supervise the first mow

Place the charging station before the wire

Choose a flat position near a suitable outdoor supply. The mower needs a straight approach, and the station should not sit at the top of a hill. Yard Force support requires at least 2 metres of straight boundary wire in front of the charging station. Check the cable route before fixing the base. Do not use an ordinary indoor extension as a permanent outdoor solution, and do not modify a plug. If the garden needs a new socket, ask a qualified electrician. Pre-cut long grass so the wire sits close to the ground. The MB400 installation guide says 45 mm or less. That figure is from the MB400 guide, not the 300RBS listing. Remove toys, stones and hosepipes. The amazon extract says assembly is required but does not itemise wire length or pegs, so confirm the package. The buying guide is why box contents should be checked.

Close one continuous loop

Start at the station and route one continuous wire around the mowing area. Yard Force identifies terminal F for the wire going out and terminal B for the return. Keep it flat without stretching it. Peg it so wheels cannot catch it during the test. The MB400 guide uses a 30 cm offset and pegs at about 80 cm. Your model manual takes priority. Do not move the wire closer than the specified offset to leave less fringe. Corners should be no tighter than 120°, and the loop should stay within 300 metres. Do not leave surplus wire coiled. Yard Force warns that a coil can interfere with the signal. Power the station and confirm a closed loop before starting the mower. If it reports an open circuit, recheck F and B, the connectors and visible damage. A mower that will not charge on a confirmed dock may be a product fault. Repeated charging failures in 300RBS reviews are not fixed by moving random pegs.
Bosch Bosch VisiMow 18V-100

Testsieger

Bosch Bosch VisiMow 18V-100
8.2/10about £296
View offer

Manage slopes on the wire route

The MB400 guide says not to run the boundary wire at right angles to a slope over 10%, and it calls for a 2 m strip between the wire and a steeper bank. Those are MB400 figures, not a substitute for your manual. Avoid arriving at the boundary downhill with little room to turn. The Compact 300RBS is listed at 30%, yet UK-headed reviews mention getting stuck on moss and crossing the wire. If a bank or drop cannot be protected within the layout, keep that section outside the robotic area.

Supervise the first mow

Run the first cycle while you are present. Watch the exit, the difficult edges, the corners and the return to charge. Mark lifted wire or wheel slip, switch off, then move pegs. Several small corrections are normal. Crossing a confirmed loop, or refusing to charge, needs seller support. Once the route works, press the pegs home and let grass cover the wire. Bury it only where the manual permits, and only to the depth Yard Force specifies. If you have not decided whether the work is worthwhile, compare camera navigation in the boundary wire or wire-free guide, or see the small-garden guide for the edge that remains.

Common questions

Which terminal is out and which is back?
Yard Force’s support instructions identify terminal F for the boundary wire leaving the charging station and terminal B for the returning end. Follow the labels and diagram on your actual station, and verify a healthy loop indication before starting the mower.
How much straight wire is needed at the station?
Yard Force says to leave at least 2 metres of straight boundary wire in front of the charging station. Avoid an immediate corner, obstacle or steep change in level in that approach, because the mower needs a predictable line for docking.
How close should the wire be to a fence?
The Yard Force MB400 installation guide uses a 30 cm ruler offset, but the correct clearance depends on your exact model and the type of border. Use its supplied manual around fences, paths and drops, and do not reduce the distance simply to avoid strimming.
Can I bury the boundary wire?
Peg and test it first so corrections remain easy. You may bury it later only where the model instructions allow, using the specified depth. Burying can protect a wire from scarifying, but it makes later repairs and layout changes less convenient.
What should I do with spare wire?
Do not leave spare boundary wire in a coil. Yard Force warns that this can disrupt the loop signal. Use the arrangement permitted by your model instructions, or shorten and reconnect with approved weather-resistant components.
What if I bought a vision mower?
A wire-free vision mower does not use this perimeter-loop procedure. It still needs clear lawn borders, protected drops and the charging arrangement stated for that model. Magnetic no-go strips, where supplied, are local markers rather than a Yard Force wired loop.

Related pages

Charging garden tool batteries safely

Yard force robotic lawnmower

Best Yard Force robotic lawnmower in this comparison

Boundary wire or wire-free robot mower for your lawn

Yard Force robot lawn mower buying guide in the UK

Best robot mower for a small UK garden of 100–300 m²

Sources

Sources checked for this comparison; last retrieved on 17 October 2026.

  1. Yard Force UK robotic mower collection (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  2. Yard Force Compact 300RBS (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  3. Yard Force, how to install the boundary wire and charging station (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  4. BSI, BS EN 50636-2-107:2015+A3:2021 robotic lawnmowers (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  5. Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  6. GOV.UK, Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008: Great Britain (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  7. GOV.UK, noise emission by outdoor equipment (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  8. Consumer Rights Act 2015 (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  9. easymower, perimeter wire and wire-free (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  10. amazon.co.uk listings for the ASINs in this comparison (retrieved 17 October 2026)