FAAC AX3 User Manual

VIII. Loop Installation:

Fail-Safe

Fail-Secure

Power Failure

Loop Failure

Power Failure

Loop Failure

Output State

Call

Call

No Call

No Call

Status

POWER LED

DETECT LED

LOOP FAIL LED

Off

No power or low power

Output Off

Loop OK

On

Normal power to detector

Output On

Open Loop

Flash

N/A

4 Hz - Two second timing

delay activated

1 Hz - Shorted Loop

3 Hz - Prior Loop Failure

Note: If the supply voltage drops below 75% of the nominal level, the POWER LED will turn off, providing a
visual indication of low supply voltage. Model AX detectors will operate with supply voltage as low as 70% of
nominal supply voltage.

Switch

ON

OFF

Factory Default

1

Frequency

(See Table under Frequency Section)

OFF 2 OFF 3 Pulse Mode

Presence Mode

OFF 4 Sensitivity Boost

No Boost

OFF

5

Sensitivity

(See Table under Sensitivity Section)

ON 6 OFF

A =

6 ft

9 ft

12 ft

15 ft

18 ft

21 ft

C =

3 ft

4 ft

4.5 ft

5 ft

5.5 ft

6 ft

Reno A & E

4655 Aircenter Circle

Reno, NV 89502-5948 USA

Telephone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

Website: www.renoae.com

E-mail: [e-mail]

Engineering Excellence!

Reno A & E

4655 Aircenter Circle

Reno, NV 89502-5948 USA

Telephone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

Website: www.renoae.com

E-mail: [e-mail]

Engineering Excellence!

1

3

1/8" to 1/4" SAW SLOT

THE WIRE IS
CONTINUOUSLY WOUND
IN THE LOOP SAW SLOT
FOR THE REQUIRED
NUMBER OF TURNS (2
turns shown)

REMOVE SHARP
INSIDE CORNERS

FEEDER SLOT

END OF SAW CUT

4

THE WIRES MUST BE
TWISTED TOGETHER
6 TWISTS PER FOOT
FROM THE END OF
THE SAW CUT TO
THE DETECTOR

Recommended Loop Wire: Reno LW-120 for 1/8" slots
Reno LW-116-S for 1/4" slots

ROAD SURFACE

MIN

1"

SAW SLOT

SEALANT

BACKER ROD
1" piece
spaced about
every 1'

LOOP WIRE

3 TURNS

2

6

5

LOOP PERIMETER

NUMBER OF TURNS

10 feet - 13 feet

5

14 feet - 26 feet

4

27 feet - 45 feet

3

46 feet - 100 feet

2

100 feet and up

1

A B C

A = Loop dimension parallel to the gate

B = Loop dimension perpendicular to the gate

C = Distance of the loop from the gate

SLIDE GATE

The vehicle detection characteristics of an inductive loop detector are greatly influenced by the loop size
and proximity to moving metal objects such as gates. Vehicles such as small motorcycles and high bed
trucks can be reliably detected if the proper size loop is selected. If the loop is placed too close to a
moving metal gate, the detector may detect the gate. The diagram below is intended as a reference for
the dimensions that will influence the detection characteristics.

General Rules:

1. The detection height of a loop is 2/3 the shortest leg (A
or B) of the loop. Example: Short leg = 6 feet,
Detection Height = 4 feet.

2. As the length of leg A is increased, distance C must
also increase.

3. For reliable detection of small motorcycles, legs A and
B should not exceed 6 feet.

Loop Installation - Saw Cut Ty pe

1 Mark the loop layout on the pavement. Remove sharp inside corners that can damage the loop wire insulation.
2 Set the saw to cut to a depth (typically 2" to 2.5") that ensures a minimum of 1" from the top of the wire to pavement

surface. The saw cut width should be larger than the wire diameter to avoid damage to the wire insulation when placed
in the saw slot. Cut the loop and feeder slots. Remove all debris from the saw slot with compressed air. Check that the
bottom of the slot is smooth.

3 It is highly recommended that a continuous length of wire be used to form the loop and feeder to the detector. Loop

wire is typically 14, 16, 18, or 20 AWG with cross-linked polyethylene insulation. Use a wood stick or roller to insert the
wire to the bottom of the saw slot (do not use sharp objects). Wrap the wire in the loop saw slot until the desired

number of turns is reached. Each turn of wire must lay flat on top of the previous turn.
4 The wire must be twisted together a minimum of 6 twists per foot from the end of the saw slot to the detector.
5 The wire must be held firmly in the slot with 1" pieces of backer rod every 1 to 2 feet. This prevents the wire from

floating when the loop sealant is applied.
6 Apply the sealant. The sealant selected should have good adhering properties with contraction and expansion

characteristics similar to those of the pavement material.

O P E R A T I N G I N S T R U C T I O N S F O R

Model AX Series

SINGLE CHANNEL LOOP DETECTOR

I. General:

Please verify source voltage before applying power. The model designation indicates the input power
required, output configuration, and Fail-Safe / Fail-Secure configuration for the detector as follows.

Model AX-x-x Blank = Fail-Safe, S = Fail-Secure
3 = 120 VAC

4 = 12 VDC / 24 VDC / 24 VAC
8 = 240 VAC

The detector is factory configured for either Fail-Safe or Fail-Secure operation (see unit side label). The
output state of the output relay in either Fail-Safe or Fail-Secure mode is listed in the table below.

II. Indicators and Controls:

i. Power / Detect / Fail LEDs:

The detector has one green and two red LED indicators that are used to provide an indication
of the detector’s power status, output state, and/or loop failure conditions. The table below lists the
various indications and their meanings.

Model AX Operating Instructions 03-30-04 (551-0106-01) (2).doc 4 Reno A & E P/N 551-0106-01

ii. Front Panel DIP Switches:

Frequency (DIP Switches 1 and 2):

Switch

Frequency

Low (0)

Medium / Low (1)

Medium / High (2)

High (3) *

1

ON

OFF

ON

OFF * 2 ON

ON

OFF

OFF *

* Factory default setting.

Switch

Sensitivity Level (-ΔL/L)

0.32% (0)

0.16% (1) *

0.08% (2)

0.02% (3)

5

OFF

ON *

OFF

ON 6 OFF

OFF *

ON

ON

* Factory default setting.

Switch

ON

OFF

Factory Default

1

Exit Pulse or Limited Presence

Entry Pulse or True PresenceTM

OFF 2 Two Second Delay

No Delay

OFF

Pin

Wire Color

Function

1

Black

AC Line / DC + 2 White

AC Neutral / DC Common

3

Orange

No Connection 4 Green

No Connection 5 Yellow

Relay, Common 6 Blue

Relay, Normally Open (N.O.)

7

Gray

Loop

8

Brown

Loop

9

Red

No Connection

10

Violet or

Black / White

Relay, Normally Closed (N.C.)

11

White / Green or

Red / White

No Connection

Note: All pin connections listed above are with power applied, loop(s) connected, and no vehicle detected.

In situations where loop geometry forces loops to be located in close proximity to one another, it
may be necessary to select different frequencies for each loop to avoid loop interference, commonly
known as crosstalk. DIP switches 1 and 2 can be used to configure the detector to operate at one of
four frequencies corresponding to Low, Medium / Low, Medium / High, and High as shown in the
table below.

NOTE: After changing any frequency switch setting(s), the detector must be reset by momentarily
changing one of the other switch positions or pressing the front panel RESET pushbutton.

Presence / Pulse (DIP Switch 3):

The output relay has two modes of operation: Presence and Pulse. When set to operate in Presence
mode (DIP switch 3 OFF), an internal DIP switch can be used to select one of two presence hold
times; Limited Presence or True PresenceTM. When set to operate in Pulse mode (DIP switch 3 ON),
the internal DIP switch can be used to configure the pulse output to occur when the vehicle enters
the loop detection zone (Pulse-on Entry) or when the vehicle leaves the loop detection zone (Pulse­on-Exit). (See the Presence Hold Time or Output Relay Pulse Mode section below for details.)
The factory default setting is OFF (Presence Mode).

Sensitivity Boost (DIP Switch 4):

DIP switch 4 can be turned ON to increase sensitivity during the detect period without changing the
sensitivity during the no detect period. The boost feature has the effect of temporarily increasing the
sensitivity setting by up to two levels. When a vehicle enters the loop detection zone, the detector
automatically boosts the sensitivity level. As soon as no vehicle is detected, the detector
immediately returns to the original sensitivity level. This feature is particularly useful in preventing
dropouts during the passage of high bed vehicles. The factory default setting is OFF (no Sensitivity
Boost).

Sensitivity (DIP Switches 5 and 6):

DIP switches 5 and 6 select one of the four (4) sensitivity levels available as shown in the table
below. Use the lowest sensitivity setting that will consistently detect the smallest vehicle that must
be detected. Do not use a sensitivity level higher than necessary.

When front panel mounted DIP switch 3 is set to PULSE, one of two pulse output modes can be
selected by means of DIP switch 1 on the two-position, PC board mounted DIP switch (labeled
SW2). The Pulse-on-Entry setting (DIP switch 1 OFF) causes the output relay to provide a 250
millisecond pulse when a vehicle enters the loop detection zone. The Pulse-on-Exit setting (DIP
switch 1 ON) causes the output relay to provide a 250 millisecond pulse when a vehicle exits the
loop detection zone.

The factory default setting is OFF (Pulse-on-Entry / True PresenceTM).

Output Delay (DIP Switch 2):

A two second delay of the output can be activated by setting DIP switch 1 to the ON position.
Output delay is the time the detector output is delayed after a vehicle first enters the loop detection
zone. If the two second Output Delay feature is activated, the output relay will only be turned on
after two seconds have passed with a vehicle continuously present in the loop detection zone. If the
vehicle leaves the loop detection zone during the two second delay interval, detection is aborted and
the next vehicle to enter the loop detection zone will initiate a new full two second delay interval.
The detector provides an indication that a vehicle is being detected but that the output is being
delayed, by flashing the front panel DET LED at a four Hz rate with a 50% duty cycle. The factory
default setting is OFF (no Output Delay).

III. Reset:

Pushing the front panel RESET pushbutton or changing any DIP switch position (except 1 or 2) will
reset the detector. After changing the frequency selection switches, the detector must be reset.

IV. Call Memory:

When power is removed for two seconds or less, the detector automatically remembers if a vehicle was
present and a Call was in effect. When power is restored, the detector will continue to output a Call until
the vehicle leaves the loop detection zone (loss of power or power dips of two seconds or less will not
bring a gate arm down onto cars as they wait at the gate).

V. Failed Loop Diagnostics:

The FAIL LED indicates whether or not the loop is currently within tolerance. If the loop is out of
tolerance, the FAIL LED indicates whether the loop is shorted (one Hz flash rate) or open (steady ON).
If and when the loop returns to within tolerance, the FAIL LED will flash at a three flashes per second
rate to indicate that an intermittent loop fault has occurred and has been corrected. This flash rate will
continue until another loop fault occurs, the detector is reset, or power to the detector is interrupted.

VI. Pin Connections (Reno A & E Wiring Harness Model 802-4):

iii. PC Board Mounted DIP Switches:

Presence Hold Time or Output Relay Pulse Mode (DIP Switch 1):

When front panel mounted DIP switch 3 is set to PRES, one of two presence hold times can be
selected by means of DIP switch 1 on the two-position, PC board mounted DIP switch (labeled
SW2). Limited Presence and True PresenceTM modes both provide a Call output when a vehicle
is present in the loop detection zone. When DIP switch 1 is ON, Limited Presence is
selected, and the detector will typically hold the Call output for one to three hours. When
DIP switch 1 is OFF, True PresenceTM mode is selected, and the detector will hold the Call
output as long as the vehicle is present in the loop detection zone and power is not removed.
True PresenceTM time applies only for normal size automobiles and trucks and for normal

VII. Warnings:

Separately, for each loop, a twisted pair should be created consisting of only two (2) loop wires running
the entire distance from the loop to the detector (including runs through all wiring harnesses) at a
minimum of six (6) complete twists per foot. For trouble free operation, it is highly recommended that
all connections (including crimped connectors) be soldered.

size loops (approximately 12 ft2 to 120 ft2).

2 3