Page 377 - Catalog

P. 377

EDUCATIONAL ARTICLES ON DRIVEWAY LOOPS

BD Loops

HOW LOOPS WORK Explaining Loops to Your Customers
Selling Loop Systems
We’re on the Installer’s Side
By Brian Dickson, BD Loops
It can be hard to explain to a customer how inductance loops work or why they are needed for gate
systems. Inductance loops offer customers both convenience and peace of mind. If a customer is
purchasing a brand new gate system, having a reliable means of vehicle detection can help them enjoy
the system even more. Educating your customers about the advantages of installing loops on their
system will help you sell more loops and accessories.

How do Loops work?

Loops work off of inductance, this is why they are sometimes referred to as inductance loops. Any
material that is a good conductor of electricity (metal) can be detected by inductance loops. Detectors
require a percentage of change to trigger a detection, which means that enough metal needs to enter
the detection field to trigger a detection. Depending on how sensitive the system is, an object as small
as a metal trash can lid can trigger a detection.

Many installers and customers believe that loops work off of magnetism or pressure. Most magnetic
materials contain iron and can be detected. Non magnetic materials such as aluminum and copper are
excellent conductors of electricity and are also detectable objects.

As for pressure, customers who think that loops are air hoses or pressure plates that respond to weight
will be confused when their horses or other heavy objects are not detected by the loops. It is important
to give your customers a simple explanation of what loops detect, I often tell home owners that loops
detect large metal objects such as cars and motorcycles.

How many loops does my system need?

This is one of the questions we are asked the most, the answer depends on the type of gate:

Slide Gate/Cantilever Gate/Vertical Lift/Vertical Pivot Gate: 2 Loops are required.

 Inside Reverse or Exit Loop
 Outside Reverse Loop

If space permits you may want to install an additional Exit Loop further down the driveway so that the
gate will be open by the time the vehicle reaches the gate.

372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382