Stick Down Loop Detectors- How to Successfully Install Them

Stick down loop detectors are insulated with unique impermeable material and are placed into slots cut in the asphalt or concrete. Loop sealant is used to seal the loops. Loop Sealant can be used to seal loops that have been cut in half. Sealant is available in asphalt and concrete hues. It is preferable to use an industrial-grade sealant rather than the asphalt in a tube purchased at hardware stores.

How To Install Stick Down Loop Detectors

Begin the wire installation by tying one end of the wire to the gate operator, leaving a few extra feet of wire in place. Then run the wire parallel to the ground in the same track it will be buried in later. When you reach the loop, choose a pattern and adhere to it in both loops. The wire should be wrapped around the loop the specified number of times or turns. Each turn of wire should be positioned vertically above the previous one. 

Vertical stacking of the stick-down loop detectors has little effect on loop detection, but the cables should be closely packed together in the slot. Below is a step by step guide for installing stick down loop detectors available in Sydney

Twisting the loop leads

If you wrap your loops with wider wires and do not use a backer rod, it is recommended that the lead-in wires be twisted six turns per foot to avoid false detections caused by ground vibrations. Cross-talk can be minimized by using different detector frequencies.

The reason for twisting your lead-in wires is to ensure that they do not move. Even subtle movement of the wires can trip the detector, resulting in phantom detections and subsequent service calls. Vibrations from the ground may cause loose wires to move. This also refers to lead-ins that are not twisted or jacketed to avoid movement between the wires.

Sealing the Loop

Due to the expansion of water upon freezing and the force exerted on the loop wires, the response is divided into two parts. While everyone should obey the guidelines for the Snowbelt, those in the Sunbelt will use other methods that function in their area.

A critical aspect of the sealant installation process is ensuring that the wires remain at the bottom of the saw cut as the sealant is applied to provide the best protection for the wire. This can be done simply by using one-inch pieces of foam backer rods that are sized to fit the width of the cut. Merely insert a one-inch piece into the saw, cut every foot or so, follow the wire installation, and press the work down.

Loop Lead-in Terminations

It is not necessary to attach the loop leads to the vehicle detector until the stick-down loop detectors available in Sydney have had ample time to harden in the cuts and thus secure the wires where you want them.

The majority of vehicle detector manufacturers terminate the loop lead-ins at terminals. This detail is written on the side of the vehicle detector cover. A soldered link is the most secure and efficient method of connecting the loop wires. Never use wire nuts to attach the loop wires to the detector harness.

Terminating the other Vehicle Detector wires

Additional wires must be appropriately terminated before the vehicle detector can operate. Before beginning, you can verify the gate operator's usable power and then compare it to the vehicle detector's power specifications, ensuring that the voltage is the same. All vehicle detectors need a field, so ensure that you terminate the ground to the detector according to the manufacturer's specifications.

The final move is to switch off the stick-down loop detectors' relay output. First, decide the loop's function: free escape, protection, or shadow. In both situations, the ground loop and vehicle detector would be identical. What may vary is the location of the relay output in the gate operator and whether a usually open or normally closed relay output is used.