Fixing a Loop Detector Fault at a Commercial Gate (Video)
0:37Filmed on the job by Shield Gate Repair
What this video shows
A commercial gate ignoring approaching vehicles. The fault is in the buried loop and detector rather than the operator — a distinction that gets misdiagnosed constantly and is usually the fastest thing to put right.
The fault
- The gate had stopped detecting approaching vehicles. Drivers were having to get out and use the keypad, and on a site running deliveries all day that was costing real time.
- It had been intermittent for a fortnight before failing completely.
How it was diagnosed
- The operator itself cycled correctly on manual command — so the fault was in detection, not in the gate.
- Tested the loop detector, which was healthy, then tested the buried loop itself. Resistance was out of range, consistent with a break in the loop wire.
- Surface cracking across the driveway lined up with where the loop runs, which is the usual cause: ground movement shears the wire.
The fix
- Cut in and installed a replacement loop, sealed correctly, and re-tuned the detector to the new loop.
- Tested with the site's own vehicles rather than a car, because detection sensitivity differs considerably between a saloon and a loaded truck.
A gate that ignores vehicles is usually a detection problem, not an operator problem — and it is generally the fastest and cheapest thing on a commercial site to put right. Testing the loop before condemning the operator saves a great deal of money.
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