Checklist before Installation
Before cutting any holes or installing your pet door, make sure that:
-
You’ve installed the clock battery.
-
The power adaptor or battery is ready to be used.
-
If you’re using the power adaptor, you have located a power outlet or cord extension near the planned location inside your home to plug in the power adaptor.
-
You’ve checked the planned location for the pet door for possible radio-frequency interference by ensuring all common household appliances and electronic devices are at least 60 cm away.
-
You’ve completed the Initial User Setup steps to set the language, time and date.
-
You’ve programmed the Passport™ Pet Door and Passport™ Key or microchip for each pet who will use the pet door.
-
You’ve tested each Passport™ Key or microchip in the installation location on both the interior and exterior side and made sure the door can read each key or microchip.
-
There are no obstructions to the pet door including doors opening and closing, shrubs or household objects.
-
You have the help of a friend or family member for installation (optional but recommended).
Installation Step 1: Determine the Pet Door Location
-
Follow these steps for installing in a door not made of glass.
-
Disconnect the power adaptor or remove the optional rechargeable battery.
-
Disconnect the motion sensor wire from the exterior frame.
-
Measure and mark your pet’s belly height on the interior side of the door.
-
Draw a level vertical line at your pet’s belly height lightly with a pencil or on a piece of tape so the marks can easily be erased or removed.
Installation Step 2: Prepare the Door
-
Match the marked lines on the door with the belly height and centre lines on the template.
-
Tape the template in place and carefully trace the template lines. Make sure to trace under the tape and connect the corners. Remove the template and any excess tape from the door.
Installation Step 3: Cut the Pet Door Opening
-
Make sure there is nothing on the other side of the door where you will be drilling the holes or cutting the opening.
-
Before cutting the pet door opening, apply painter or masking tape on the jigsaw blade guide and along the outer edges of the drawn template to help protect the door surface from marks and scratches during cutting.
-
Drill 13 mm holes in the inside corners and the centre of the top angle of the drawn template.
-
Beginning in one of the holes you just drilled, cut along the drawn template lines.
-
Cut slowly using both hands to hold the saw steady and straight at a 90° angle. This will prevent the blade from cutting unevenly between the interior and exterior sides of the door.
-
Use a proper saw blade length and type according to the door thickness and material. For example, use a wood blade for a wood door and a metal blade for a metal door.
-
After cutting out the opening, you may need to recut it to square the opening. This is necessary for the pet door frame to fit correctly.
Installation Step 4: Install the Pet Door
-
Before putting away your jigsaw, place the interior frame with flaps inside the cut-out and check the fit. Then place the exterior frame in the underside of the cut-out to check the fit. If the frames don’t easily fit inside the opening, recut the opening before continuing. This will be much easier if you have someone to help you check both sides.
-
Measure the thickest part of the cut-out. Write down this measurement.
-
Before installing the pet door, you need to determine which screw length is needed for your installation. Depending on your door thickness, the screws may need to be trimmed with a hacksaw or screw cutter. If the screws are too long, the finishing plugs will not fit. Use the Screw Selection Guide below to select which screw to use and decide if it needs to be trimmed.
Screw Length |
Cut-Out Thickness |
Trimming Instructions |
88 mm screw |
4 – 25 mm |
Trim screw to door thickness + 56 mm |
88 mm screw |
25 – 38 mm |
No trimming needed |
100 mm screw |
38 – 51 mm |
No trimming needed |
-
Remove any pencil marks and make sure the surface is free of debris and shavings before installing the frames.
-
Apply duct tape along the top interior and exterior edge of the cut-out. Leave about 5 cm uncovered on either side of the tape and make sure no excess tape will show outside the frame. This is to cover the raw edge of the cut-out to keep it from pinching or cutting the motion sensor wire.
-
Place the interior frame in the cut-out from the interior side of the door, guiding the motion sensor wire to the exterior.
-
Take the exterior frame and plug the motion sensor wire from the interior frame into the connector of the exterior frame.
-
Place the exterior frame in the cut-out from the exterior side of the door.
-
Align the exterior frame flush with the bottom of the cut-out. This will be much easier if you have someone to hold the exterior frame in place while you install the interior frame.
-
Without pinching the wire, guide the excess wire into the space between the top edge of the door cut-out and the tunnel on the exterior frame. Align the interior frame in the cut-out and exterior telescoping tunnel.
-
Check both sides of the pet door to ensure the exterior and interior telescoping tunnels are aligned. You should be able to see clearly through all screw holes when your pet door is aligned properly.
Installation Step 5: Insert the Screws and Plugs
-
Insert mounting screws through the interior frame screw holes, including the ones in the battery compartment. Check to make sure the pet door fit is correct and the frame is aligned flush. Small pet doors have 4 screw holes and medium pet doors have 6 screw holes.
-
Use a manual screwdriver to tighten the screws. Do not over-tighten the screws or you might strip the screws or warp the pet door frame.
-
Insert the finishing plugs in the screw holes of the interior and exterior frames. Align the flat edge of the plugs with the outer edges of the frame. The plugs will only fit in the frame in one direction.
-
You can caulk around the exterior frame and between the tunnels where they meet for improved weather resistance. This is optional.
-
Plug the power adaptor into the connector underneath the interior frame.
-
Keep the cord out of the path of foot traffic to avoid tripping.
Close