Driveway sensors

42etus

42etus

Active Member
Can some one suggest some driveway sensors that will work with the ELK M1G. I'd like to use magnetic sensors so I don't detect dogs, people, deer etc. Wireless that will work with the M1XRF-H receiver would be a BIG plus. I've looked with Google, but haven't found what I'm looking for.
Thanks, Paul
 
I've used the WPA-3000 referenced by the previous link for several years. I have been very pleased with it's performance and have it tied into an M1 zone.
 
Those mighty mule items look similar to the Cartell CP-2. I have heard good things about the Cartell sensor, plan to get one eventually but just haven't done it yet. Price looks similar to the Mule. It isn't wireless though which was the original requirement... I would think wired would be better - much less chance of tampering and no batteries to change. I put in a conduit during other yard work and it is only about 50 ft. - it could be a fair amount of work to put one in especially if the distance is long.

Here is one place to pick it up (not meant as an endorsement, just an example):
http://www.automatedoutlet.com/s.nl/sc.1/c...34Pa38Ta38Pb3n0
 
I originally thought that wireless would be the way to go,easy installation, no digging and all. The more I thought things through, the more I didn't like the idea of batteries and the shortcomings they lead to. It can easily get to -20° here in the winter and the batteries wouldn't like that. I already have a 18-8 cable buried under the driveway, so I won't need to disturb that. Someone suggested to dig a "trench" for the remaining cable runs with a chainsaw equipped with an old worn out chain, so I'll try that. I really like the idea of everything being concealed underground.
Paul
 
I agree that concealed is better. But I don't think the chainsaw is going to work very well - I could be wrong though and it will depend on how deep you want to go and your soil conditions. I have heard of using a lawn edger but only for very shallow things like dog fence. I would think you would want to be down at least 4 inches, probably a little more to lessen the danger of damage from lawn aerators and such like. If you know someone that puts in sprinkler systems they often use a "cable plow" - basically a steel blade that has the cable (or pipe) hooked to the lower end. The blade is pulled through the ground and pulls the wire in behind it. I want to make something like that for my tractor someday. A lot less mess than a trencher. Some pull the wire into the ground from behind, some feed the cable down a tube by the plow.
 
Our soil here is mostly volcanic pumice with absolutely no rocks to a depth of 6 feet or so. I've got several chainsaws and a bucket of worn chains, so I'll give it a shot and see. I've see the cable plows that you describe. Contractors use them to install phone and cable lines, usually on a small crawler tractor. They work slick and don't make a big mess. If I had a long way to go I'd make something similar to go on a 3 - point tractor hitch, but I'm only looking at about 150 feet total.
Paul
 
Follow up on the sensors:

I went with two of these:

http://www.discountgateopeners.com/GTO_Exi...139_p/fm139.htm

They arrived yesterday and today I tried out the chainsaw trencher idea. It worked great. Ruined the chain, but it was nearly worn out anyway and made very little mess, hardly disturbing anything like a regular trencher would have. The cable is down 12 - 18 inches, which should be fine.

Paul
 
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