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Vehicle Loops Glossary of Terms

Vehicle Loops Glossary of Terms

When purchasing a vehicle loop, there's a number of terms to know that can sometimes be confusing to understand. Beyond things like voltages, it's important to really understand what each term means to get the best possible product for your residential, commercial, or even industrial gate opener installation. To better understand the terminology used to describe vehicle loops and their characteristics, here is a brief glossary of terms:

Vehicle driving on a road with a gray set of wires next to it, a vehicle loop

Types of Vehicle Loops

Term	Definition
Saw Cut Loop	Installed into grooves cut into existing pavement. The loop is embedded into the groove, which is then sealed for durability. Ideal for retrofitting in existing roadways or paved surfaces.
Direct Burial Loop	Installed beneath the surface before paving. Loops are placed in trenches and then covered by asphalt, concrete, or soil. Best suited for new construction projects.
Surface-Mounted Loop	Installed directly onto the surface using adhesives or fasteners. No cutting or trenching required. Often used for temporary setups or areas where cutting the surface is not feasible.

How Vehicle Loops are Built and Work

Term	Definition
Preformed Loop	A loop pre-assembled into a specific shape before installation. Eliminates the need for on-site wiring or manual assembly. Available in various installation formats (saw cut, direct burial, surface-mounted).
Continuous Loop	A loop constructed with a single, unbroken wire throughout its design. Reduces potential failure points and enhances long-term durability. Can apply to both saw cut and direct burial loops.
Inductive Loop	All vehicle loops operate on the inductive principle, creating an electromagnetic field that detects disruptions caused by metal objects (e.g., vehicles). The term applies universally to all loops, regardless of installation method or design.

Saw-Cut Loops

Direct Burial Loops

Surface Mounted Loops

Vehicle Loop Components and Installation Accessories

Term	Definition
Loop Detector	The device that all vehicle loops plug into to receive and transmit data as well as power. These are typically connected to some sort of barrier entry device such as a gate or garage door opener.
Sealant	A type of polyurethane that protects saw-cut loops from air, moisture, debris, and other damaging materials from reaching it below ground.
Sealant Dispensing Gun	A large two that evenly and slowly distributes sealant into a crack to prevent spillage or seepage. This is a required tool when installing a vehicle loop.
Diamond/Asphalt Blade	A kind of particularly strong blade that is designed to cut into asphalt, concrete, or other high strength materials. This type of specialized blade is required as using any other type to install your vehicle loops could cause catastrophic damage.

Accessories

Simultaneously Usable Terms

Some terms can be used together because they describe different aspects of the same loop, such as its operating principle, design, or installation method. Here's how they work together:

Terms	Why They Go Together	Example
Preformed Loop and Inductive Loop	All preformed loops are inductive by nature because the inductive principle is how these loops detect vehicles. The "preformed" aspect describes how the loop is delivered (already shaped and assembled), while "inductive" refers to how the loop functions by creating an electromagnetic field.	A preformed saw-cut loop operates as an inductive loop because it detects metal objects like vehicles when they disturb its electromagnetic field.
Saw Cut Loop and Continuous Loop	Saw cut loops can be designed as continuous loops. The term "continuous" describes a loop built from a single, unbroken wire, which increases reliability and reduces failure points. "Saw cut" refers to the installation method (cutting grooves into the pavement to embed the loop).	A continuous saw cut loop is a loop installed into pavement using a single unbroken wire for long-term durability.
Direct Burial Loop and Continuous Loop	Direct burial loops can also use continuous wire construction for the same reasons as saw-cut loops - improved durability and reduced failure points. The term "direct burial" describes the installation method (buried underground before paving), while "continuous" refers to the loop's design.	A direct burial loop with a continuous wire design is ideal for long-term installations where maintenance access may be limited.

Mutually Exclusive Terms

Some terms cannot be used together because they describe fundamentally different installation methods or applications. Here's a breakdown:

Terms	Why They Are Different	Example
Saw Cut Loop and Direct Burial Loop	Saw-cut loops are installed into grooves cut into the existing pavement, making them suitable for retrofitting existing roadways. In contrast, direct burial loops are installed below the surface before paving, making them ideal for new construction projects.	If you're working on a newly paved road, you'd use a direct burial loop. A saw-cut loop would be your choice if you need to add detection to an already paved road.
Saw Cut Loop and Surface-Mounted Loop	Saw-cut loops are embedded into the surface, requiring cutting into the pavement, while surface-mounted loops sit on top of the surface and are attached using adhesives or fasteners. People often choose surface-mounted loops for temporary installations or when pavement cutting isn't practical.	A surface-mounted loop might be used for a temporary gate system at a construction site, whereas a saw-cut loop is better for permanent installations in paved areas.
Direct Burial Loop and Surface-Mounted Loop	Direct burial loops are installed underground before paving and are typically used in new construction projects, while surface-mounted loops are affixed to the top of an existing surface, making them ideal for retrofitting or temporary setups.	For a newly paved parking lot, a direct burial loop would be installed. However, you would use a surface-mounted loop if you need detection on a finished concrete floor where cutting isn't allowed.