Mier DA-500 User manual

THE ORIGINAL VEHICLE DETECTION SYSTEM!
DA-500 INSTALLATION MANUAL
THE BASICS
1A sensor(s) detect(s) a vehicle entering a monitored
area
2 A control panel receives a signal from the sensor
and triggers an alert-whistle inside the control panel
3 Add a remote chime in the front room to alert those
on the rst oor
4 Add another chime in the basement to alert those
downstairs
5 Add a third chime in an upstairs bedroom to alert
those upstairs
6 Add a wireless or hard-wired timer controlled light
kit to turn on outdoor lights, indoor overhead lights,
and/or lamps to warn strangers or welcome friends
7 Attach video surveillance to record activity and
display the driveway on a monitor inside
8 Add a portable chime to alert those in the backyard
pool, garden or deck
9 Activate signs, gates or other equipment
MORE OPTIONS

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page Content
Cover Page
1 Table of contents
2 Introduction to the DA-500 and Accessories
3-4 Installation Guide
5 Operation Instructions
6-7 Schematics for using the DA-500 to control other alarms and chimes
7  DA-500ContentsandSpecications
8 DA-655 Installation
9 Technical Support and Warranty Information
10 Troubleshooting Guide
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Model DA-500 General Information
Drive-Alerts are perfect for use in residential driveways, on farms, at drive-up
windows, in remote locations, and to protect valuable assets and equipment
such as tractors or constuction vehicles. The Drive-Alert will detect a vehicle
approaching, or whenever a vehicle or metal equipment is moved.
The Drive-Alert detects any metal which contains iron. It will not detect copper
or aluminum.
The Drive-Alert’s method of operation is to sense the change in the magnetic
eld around it. This eld is always present, and is disrupted when a metal
object moves through it.
The key element in the Drive-Alert installation is to locate the sensor/probe in
the area where you wish to detect this change. The usual installation is near
the entrance of a driveway, but located far enough away from roads or streets
so as not to detect trafc. Moving ferrous (iron) metal trips the sensor. Larger
metal objects are detected easier than smaller. Faster moving metal objects
are detected easier than slower. Metal moving nearer the probe is detected
easier than metal moving farther away. These are the three factors which
determine the system’s range of detection. Therefore, trucks traveling 65 mph
can be detected up to 50 feet; cars moving 4 mph up to 8 feet; and a walking
person with steel toe shoes up to 1 foot.
The Control Panel houses the electronics which allows the Drive-Alert to
function. It also contains an annunciator, and the terminal strip permits the
attachment of the probe as well as accessories or other devices.
Longer lengths of cable are available. Simply order a DA-500CP (control pan-
el only) and a DA-051-___ where you ll in the blanks for the amount of cable
needed in 50’ increments. Ex: DA-051-250 is a sensor with 250’ of cable.
A Hard-Wired DA-655 Chime with Volume is the most popular accessory for
the DA-500, and is HIGHLY recommended for all business, drive-up win-
dow, and high-trafc areas where a DA-500 is used. The chime is far more
pleasant than the standard whistle inside the DA-500 Control Panel, and the
volume control makes it far more versatile.
A DA-505 Hard-Wired Timer Control unit is available. It is housed in a sepa-
rate box and is attached by wires to the terminal strip on the Master Control
Panel. This Timer Control turns on lights, usually outside lights, for an adjust-
able period when a vehicle is detected.
The Hard-Wired DA-052V allows you to add additional alert whistles to the
DA-500.
Wireless chimes are available with the DA-066 Chime Transmitter. This
transmitter easily hooks up to the contacts on a DA-500 and triggers DA-068
Plug-in chimes and DA-070 Battery-powered Portable Chimes.
Wireless light control is available with the DA-606LK with timer control.
The DA-500 includes a
Control Panel, Sensor, and 100 feet
of direct burial cable
DA-505 Timer Control
DA-655 Chime with Volume
DA-052V Remote Whistle
DA-066 Wireless Transmitter for
wireless chimes pictured with a
Wireless DA-068 Chime and a
Wireless DA-070 Chime
DA-606LK Wireless Light Kit
DA-051-___ Probe with longer
lengths of cable
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INSTALLATION page 1 of 2
The Control Panel is generally located in a closet, utility room, or garage. If the only noisemaker used (remotes are
available) is the one contained within the control panel, the panel must be located where users can easily hear the
“whistle.” The control panel is not suitable for outdoor installation.Also, 120 volt AC power must be available. The ease
of routing the three-wire cable from the sensing probe should be considered when deciding the location of the panel. The
control panel is usually attached to the wall with screws.
Improper installation is the No. 1 reason for system malfunction. Please use caution when installing the sensing probe to
assure a properly operating Drive-Alert.
The probe’s sensor is a coil of wire wrapped around an iron rod. Its resistance is 700-1100 ohms. The red and black wires
connect to the coil. It is encapsulated in epoxy to protect it from physical damage and moisture.
DO NOT CUT OR NICK THE CABLE JACKET!
If moisture enters, false alarms will be the result!
Mier HIGHLY recommends burying the cable within 1/2-inch PVC pipe for added protection to the cable.
The cable is made with an extra thick outer cover. There is a foil wrapper surrounding the red and black wires. There is
a silver (bare) wire in the foil. False alarms will occur if moisture gets into the foil wrapper. Nicks in the outer cover and
improper splices allow moisture to enter the cable. As moisture enters the cable, the resistance decreases. Resistance
between the red or black wire to the shield wire must be innite. (Use meter with ability to read resistance above 20 million
megaohms).
The ideal installation is without any splices. The use of cable other than that which is designed for the Drive-Alert is
undesirable. Improper splices and unsuitable cable are major causes of false alarms. If splicing is unavoidable, splice the
cable using a 3M SLiC-TM SPLICE KIT, or equivalent. The splice kit is available from Mier Products.
The sensing probe does not know if it is in or out of the ground, but it must remain absolutely motionless. Most probes are
buried 6 inches deep and parallel to the driveway. Be sure to protect it from physical damage.
The cable is made for direct burial in the ground. Do whatever is necessary to protect it from physical damage to the outer
cover, such as using 1/2-inch PVC pipe.
The probe responds to changes in the magnetic eld around it. The signal produced by the coil is a few micro volts for a
fraction of a second. The probe and cable must not be within 20 feet of electric wires because they have changing mag-
netic elds of their own. Never bury the sensor in the same trench with other electrical wires, including telephone wires
and wires for lights, bells, etc.
You may wish to place a sensing probe atop the ground in the general area of where you wish to bury it, and connect the
cable to the control panel. This will allow you to TEST the system in application BEFORE nal installation. It would be
acceptable to leave the sensing probe and cable above the ground for a couple of days, but make certain it is not
damaged during this period. This method should not be used permanently. See OPERATIONS INSTRUCTIONS for
adjustments which may be necessary.
The burial of the probe is ideal in the center of the area being monitored, but often is not practical. If a new driveway is
being put in, the sensing probe could be buried a minimum of 12-24 inches deep. In case you wish to place the sensor in
the center of the drive, the cable and sensing probe could be placed in a 1 1/2 inch piece of PVC to provide protection.
The cable should also be protected whenever vehicles move over it.
The usual installation of the sensing probe is parallel to an already existing driveway. In this case, the probe can be buried
6 inches deep, and the cable simply placed below the grass line. However, if vehicles are going to travel directly over the
probe and cable, they should be buried deeper.
The sensing probe may be placed up to 5,000 feet from the Control Panel. Up to 4 sensing probes can be attached to one
panel, but each additional probe reduces every probe’s ability to detect. The Drive-Alert will not know which sensing probe
detects a vehicle.
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INSTALLATION page 2 of 2
When more than 1 probe is used, connect the red and black wires in series. Connect
the silver wires in parallel. The red wire from one cable is soldered to a black wire from
another cable. The remaining red wire & black wire are attached to the Drive-Alert
terminals. All silver wires are attached to the Drive-Alert.
Keep the probe, cable, and control panel at least 8 feet away from heavy power lines,
power panels, motors, arcing or sparking machinery, and radio transmitters. In some
cases, moving the panel and/or cable a few feet can solve interference problems.
FIGURE 1 illustrates the contacts on the bottom of the DA-500 Control Panel, with the
sensor correctly attached.
FIGURE 1
The sensing probe is a 1” x 12”
cylinder containing a sealed
sensor. Be cautious when
handling the sensor and
particularly careful to not nick
the cable attached to it.
Bury the probe at least 6” deep.
A typical installation is the probe
6 inches deep parallel to drive,
which will allow the probe to
“sense” 12’ across the driveway.
The ideal installation allows you
to extend your detection
range by installing the sensor
under the center of drive.
12’
12’
12’
RED WIRE BLACK SENSOR SHEILD WIRE
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