• Recommended by professional media
  • 30 years of experience
  • 4-year warranty
  • Direct from the manufacturer

Frequently asked questions

  1. All STOP&GO marten repellent devices come with a 48-month warranty, ensuring perfect functionality. STOP&GO scented disks and STOP&GO anti-marten spray can be stored for at least 24 months.
  2. In terms of their effects, the scents and other repellents are similar to medications – they have a definitive and proven effect, however it cannot be guaranteed. In this respect, we don’t provide guarantees, but rather success rates. Martens are a part of nature. They don’t lend themselves to mathematical predictions. Nevertheless, we can offer success rates of nearly 100% based on decades of market experience, depending on the product. This is especially true of our high-voltage devices, which work like an electric fence, for particularly stubborn martens who have to “learn the hard way”.

We have been working exclusively with fully encapsulated electronics and waterproof speakers for decades now, and as a result, our devices are automatically waterproof. Vibration and corrosion are also no problem for our devices.

Here’s the proof

The new, more compact devices in the Slimline series are certified as dust- and water-resistant under IP65.

Do marten defence devices drain car batteries?  or “Ever since the marten repellent device was installed, the car’s battery is always dead”.

Fact:
STOP&GO marten repellent products are  not  able to noticeably drain car batteries.  Modern vehicles often have many features which consume power (even in standby mode), so depending on a car’s make and features, the battery may be weakened after the car has been parked for a few weeks.  If a STOP&GO marten repellent device is installed on top of this, the time for a noticeable discharge to occur may be reduced by only a few hours.

Naturally, the factory-installed 0.5 A fuse does not allow for power consumption over 0.5 amps. Plus, STOP&GO devices only require 0.0004 to 0.020 A, which is of no consequence to conventional car batteries.  By way of comparison, two button batteries are enough to operate the STOP&GO 8 PLUS-MINUS high-voltage marten repellent device for up to 18 months.

So what’s the problem?
It’s safe to assume that the connection (usually a number 30 or 15 terminal) was not correctly chosen according to the installation instructions.  In modern CAN/data bus technology, like in battery management systems (BMS), it may be the case that when power is consumed (even at a very low current) at an  “unfavourable location”, a control device is not successfully switching to sleep (power-saving) mode. This can lead to excessive power consumption. The cause of the drainage is therefore the electrical connection. This is not covered under a guarantee or the official warranty, especially since changing the connection will solve the problem. For this reason and others, we recommend that STOP&GO marten repellent devices only be installed at qualified garages.

Summary:
Modern technology is becoming increasingly elaborate and complex, even for professionals. That’s why many of our simple and pioneering solutions do not need to be connected to the onboard power supply! For instance:

  • The STOP&GO 8 PLUS-MINUS (SKT) battery-operated high-voltage device with ultrasound runs completely independently of the onboard power supply for around 18 months per battery set.
  • The STOP&GO 4B battery-operated ultrasonic device works with the supplied 3V button batteries for around two years.
  • The STOP&GO battery-operated ultrasonic device works with the supplied AA batteries for around one year.
  • STOP&GO scented disks are effective for at least 6 to 8 months.
  • STOP&GO anti-marten spray lasts 4 to 6 weeks per application, after which new spray must be applied. One can is enough for more than a year.
Thanks to the high-quality technology used, STOP&GO products consume extremely little power, comparable to an analogue clock on the dashboard. This means that the car remains protected from marten attacks even over long holidays, without the battery noticeably draining.

Important:
STOP&GO marten repellent products are not able to noticeably drain car batteries.  Modern vehicles often have many features which consume power (even in standby mode), so depending on the car’s make and features, the battery may be weakened after the car has been parked for a few weeks.  If a STOP&GO marten repellent device is installed on top of this, the time it takes for the battery to discharge is reduced by a few hours.  Naturally, the factory-installed 0.5 A fuse does not allow for power consumption over 0.5 amps.  By way of comparison, two button batteries are enough to operate the STOP&GO 8 PLUS-MINUS high-voltage marten repellent device for up to 18 months.

Why is there no voltage monitor/ automatic shutoff?
As explained above, the saving potential is very low. A battery that is too weak to start the engine will still be able to keep the STOP&GO marten repellent device running for weeks or even months.  Marten protection to prevent consequential damage takes priority!  It is much more sensible and cost effective to bypass or recharge a battery that is already dead than it is to fix expensive marten damage. There is also the possibility of using a “continuous charger” to keep the vehicle battery charged and ready to go. This requires the vehicle to be parked near a 220-volt connection.

If the car is frequently left parked for long periods of time, we recommend:

  • The STOP&GO battery-operated 8 PLUS-MINUS SKT high-voltage device with ultrasound,  which runs completely independently of the onboard power supply for around 18 months per battery set.
  • The STOP&GO 7 PLUS-MINUS SKT high-voltage device with ultrasound with ultrasound and power consumption of less than 0.5 mA.
  • The STOP&GO 4B battery-operated ultrasonic device works with the supplied 3V button batteries for around two years.
  • The STOP&GO battery-operated ultrasonic device works with the supplied AA batteries for around one year.
  • STOP&GO scented disks are effective for at least 6 to 8 months.
  • STOP&GO anti-marten spray lasts for at least 4 to 6 weeks per spray application, after which new spray must be applied. One can is enough for more than a year.
We receive requests for marten repellent products for areas of application aside from car engine compartments almost on a daily basis.

In the interior of a house, for example  in the attic, the conditions are completely different from those in an engine compartment. Above all, the size of the space, which is usually much larger, presents a problem. High-voltage devices cannot typically be positioned in such a way that the marten is guaranteed to come into contact with them. The battery-operated ultrasonic devices are designed for universal use. However, it is worth noting that ultrasound’s physical inability to penetrate materials leads to acoustic shadows – areas in which the animal can move about undisturbed. The effective range of the ultrasound, which is limited to 3–5 metres in an open space, also makes it difficult to  completely fill a room with sound using just one speaker. To sufficiently fill a room with sound therefore requires several speakers.

To offer you effective marten protection for your house, garage or similar rooms, we have designed a highly effective ultrasonic marten repellent system that has already been used for around two years now, including in attic spaces. The system consists of 5 battery-operated ultrasonic devices (batteries included). To ensure continuous protection, the batteries must be changed once a year (AA alkaline).

The ultrasound in all our ultrasonic devices  simulates an animal’s cry of fear and is very unpleasant to a marten’s ears in the frequency emitted, causing it to flee, but without causing injury. This sound is hardly perceptible to the human ear, meaning that only those with very sensitive hearing will notice a slight crackling or beeping sound.

Our STOP&GO anti-marten spray offers another solution. Marking points are taped or laid down at intervals of approx. 2–4 metres  and sprayed with it. An absorbent material such as the felt scent reservoirs supplied with the spray or a household sponge cloth works best (large rooms may require more scent reservoirs than those supplied).

Warning! The product has a very strong smell which most people find unpleasant.

The operating principle of the scent spray is the same in homes as is in vehicles – the marten smells its natural enemy (such as dogs or foxes), which means it detects danger and looks for a new home that it deems less dangerous. Depending on the size and ventilation of the storage space, you may need to renew the spray sooner than for other spaces (5–6 weeks). You’ll have the best success if you can find the martens’ access hole and place the scent reservoirs directly there.

Our high-voltage and ultrasonic devices have the following technical data (depending on the model):
  • Frequency: 16–32 kHz
  • Output voltage: 250–400 V
  • Operating voltage: 12 V or battery-operated
  • Power consumption: 0.4–25 mA (including after a short circuit)
  • Volume/sound pressure: approx. ca. 90–120 dB

Other technical data can be found in the product information for each product.

High-voltage device installation

The device and contact plates can be affixed in the upper third of the engine compartment using cable ties.

Each device is supplied with detailed installation instructions.

Ultrasonic device installation

In principle, the sound dispersion from a marten repellent device is similar to the light emission from a torch. Install the device so that it can fill as much space as possible with sound. When doing so, bear in mind that, just like rays of light, the ultrasound waves cannot penetrate any objects.

Our high-quality piezo speakers have a dispersion angle of 160° – almost a semicircle. The sound needs to be able to escape as freely and unobstructedly as possible. You may need to point the device downwards to catch the marten as soon as it enters.

STOP&GO International

STOP&GO products are available from over 2,500 sales outlets in 21 countries. You can find our products at wholesalers, car parts dealers, car dealerships, petrol stations, and garages.

You can also order from our online shop or call the manufacturer,
Norbert Schaub GmbH, directly on +49 (0) 7631 9727-0.

STOP&GO combined high-voltage ultrasonic devices offer scientifically proven reliable protection against small animals such as mice and rats in engine compartments.

And according to scientific publications, most small animals are sensitive to the same basic olfactory substances. The ingredients in our scented products should therefore be effective repellents against other small animals.

 Experiences with using ultrasonic devices against other animals such as cats and raccoons vary.

Martens are covered by wildlife conservation laws and are therefore protected all year round. Non-professionals are prohibited from hunting or trapping them. Additionally, the chances of successfully trapping a marten are very low.

However, if you do want or need to catch a marten, contact your nearest local ranger or forestry office.

The stone marten (Martes foina), is a species of the marten family, which also includes the weasel and the polecat. It is a wild animal and a predator. Martens are solitary animals that defend their territory. They are usually active from March to October, but this can extend over the entire year depending on the weather conditions and temperature. Their mating season is in mid-summer, and their young are then born in April or May after a gestation period of nine months. The females can give birth to litters of between two and seven offspring. The young are then independent at the age of three months.

Martens prefer warm places and are very inquisitive and playful, which can sometimes cause noises in your attic which can get on your nerves. While the growing kits are still having fun in the spring and early summer, this is quickly followed by the mating season in August.

Martens are omnivores and are about the size of a young, skinny cat. They mostly feed on small mammals, birds, insects, fruit, nuts and almost everything it can find in an urban environment, including household waste. They are also synanthropes, which means that they adapt to civilisation (like pigeons, foxes and rats). They live in barns and farm buildings, or, if accessible, in attics, garages and the like. Since they only have a few natural enemies, overpopulation is gradually becoming an issue in certain areas of central Europe. Until just a few years ago, martens were mainly indigenous to Southern Germany and Switzerland. However, there is now a rapidly increasing amount of marten damage occurring all over Germany, proving that martens have long since reached the north and other countries bordering Germany.

As a nocturnal animal, the marten has an extremely strong sense of smell and hearing, especially just before and during the mating season. To find its way and to mark its territory, it uses gland secretions as well as urine and faeces to leave scent marks in the places it visits. A female’s territory spans approximately 12 to 150 hectares, while the male’s can be up to twice as large, but overlapping with at least one female’s territory. Abandoned territories are reoccupied, usually by kits, and territorial wars are fought to defend existing territories from these young animals and from relocated martens. Vehicles bearing foreign scent marks from other marten territories stimulate a marten’s defence instinct.

In general, any car can fall victim to marten damage.

Household remedies are, at best, only effective by chance or for a short time. After detecting traces of martens, it is very important to wash out the engine, but that alone is not enough. However, this should be a prerequisite before taking any other measures – alternatively, you can also use the  STOP&GO marten odour remover.