Driveway sensor

[tcmravens]

I am just starting the process of getting familiar with CQC (purchased at the sale). One of the first things I would like to do is to put in a driveway sensor, preferably a wireless one. Any recommendations from the forum on hardware?

 

[Rupp]

Here's a good article on Driveway probes.
http://www.hometoys.com/htinews/dec02/arti...icmation_01.htm
Cartell is the pro's choice.
http://www.cartell.com/

 

[Sandpiper]

This one works pretty good:

http://www.smarthome.com/7317.html

But one disadvantage is that it also detects dogs and walking humans.

It has a switch on it that allows a dry contact to work instead of the internal buzzer.

With a search, you should be able to find it cheaper.

 

[bmil]

If you want a wireless one, I currently have the Dakota Alert WPA-3000 installed.

It has the usual driveway probe that you bury and has 50' of cable that runs to the transmitter. The weatherproof transmitter box is a little big but the 50' cable allows you to run it off to the side to hide in the trees or bushes. They also make a wooden cover now that goes over the transmitter that makes it look like a birdhouse!

The receiver that comes with the package has 4 channels so you can add 3 other wireless devices (driveway probes, PIR, hose sensor, dry contact switch transmitter). Each channel has an associated relay (mine is connected to an Elk M1). The receiver also has an audible alert if you want that.

The claimed range is 3000'. I never tested it but currently my driveway transmitter is over 200' away from the receiver inside my equip. room with the house in between.

It took a little bit of playing around to get the sensitivity set just right to avoid false alerts but still sense any vehicle coming down the drive.

I'm getting ready to hook up a mag contact to their dry contact transmitter and use another channel on the receiver to sense when my driveway gate is opened.

Also the new SimpleHomeNet EZSnsRF wireless receiver/Insteon controller works with any of these Dakota Alert series 3000 wireless sensors if you don't have an automation controller.

 

[znelbok]

Not wireless, but easy to add to an existing driveway of under a new one and doesn't requires a loop.

http://www.bannerengineering.com/products/....php?sub_id=195
and
http://www.bannerengineering.com/products/...m.php?sub_id=52

I priced them and they were quite reasonable

Mick

 

[electron]

Interesting find Mick, do you know how much they run? I still need to do put down the 2nd layer on my driveway, wondering I can still embed these.

 

[znelbok]

From memory, it was about $250AU last time I checked. YOu should be able to find a reseller from the banner web site.

Mick