Dakota Alert Hard Wired Vehicle Sensor (DAVSx) — Owner's Manual

Installation instructions for the Dakota Alert Hard Wired Vehicle Sensor (DAVSx) — a driveway alarm that detects vehicles and other large metal objects via a buried probe, sounding a whistle and providing an auxiliary output for bells, sirens, or strobes.

How It Works

The Hard Wired Vehicle Sensor consists of a control box, a probe, and connecting wire. The probe detects the movement of metal objects (not stationary metal like fences or parked cars) and activates the control box to sound a whistle. Detection range depends on the size and speed of the object:

• A car driving by at 10–15 MPH is typically detected at 10–12 feet
• Vehicles with more metal, or driving faster, are detected at a greater range
• A small object like a bicycle is only detected from a few feet

Control Box & Wiring

The control box plugs into a standard outlet and has an on/off switch. The probe connects to the control box via two-conductor shielded direct-burial wire, landing on the red and black terminals on the right side of the terminal strip.

• Right-side terminals (red/black): probe connection
• Left-side terminals (red +/black −): 12 volt DC (500mA max) output — used to power loud bells, sirens, or whistles
• A whistle is built into the control box and sounds when the probe detects a vehicle

After power-up (or any time power is restored), allow about 2 minutes for the sensor to warm up before it will detect vehicles.

Probe Placement & Burial

• Locate the probe as close to the driveway as possible
• Keep the probe at least 80 feet from any main roads to avoid false triggers from high-speed traffic
• Keep at least 100 yards from railroad tracks
• For a one-car-wide driveway, bury the probe alongside the drive
• For a two-car-wide driveway, bury the probe in the middle, at least one foot deep, inside schedule 80 PVC conduit
• Bury the wire to the control box in the house — direct burial is fine in low-traffic areas; use conduit where vehicle traffic crosses the wire path
• Use a water-tight splice if the wire must be spliced
• Any above-ground wire run should be placed in conduit to protect against rodent damage

Sensitivity Adjustment

Inside the control box, the sensitivity control is located at the bottom of the circuit board.

• Default/typical setting: straight up at 12 o'clock
• Turn clockwise (up to about 5 o'clock max) to increase sensitivity
• Do not run sensitivity all the way to maximum or minimum — this can cause false alarms or failure to detect

Warranty

Dakota Alert warrants this product to be free of defects in material and workmanship for one year from the date of purchase. This warranty does not cover damage from accident, abuse, act of God, or improper operation. To make a warranty claim, return the product to Dakota Alert with a note describing the issue, your name and return address, and the original sales receipt. If covered, the product will be repaired or replaced at no charge; if not covered, you'll be notified of charges before work begins.

Manufacturer contact: Dakota Alert, Inc. — PO Box 130, 32556 East Main St., Elk Point, SD 57025. Phone: 605-356-2772. Fax: 605-356-3662. www.dakotaalert.com