Cartell CP-2 — Automation with Driveway Detection

Here’s another key outdoor automation component, the Cartell CP-2 Self Contained Driveway Sensor Probe. This is pretty self explanatory, your bury it about 6″ away from your driveway, 18″ deep and it senses when a car, motorcycle or other vehicle comes onto your driveway. This is a nice feature to automatically turn lights on, switch/record a video source (camera) or do something when a car approaches your driveway. The CP-2 is self contained and comes with a 4-conductor cable in lengths from 100-500′. You can even power it from your HAI OmniPro II since it takes low power 12v (via two conductors) and the other two conductors go to a zone. The CP-2 starts at about $200 for a 100′ version and goes up.

- Cartell

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You’re currently reading “Cartell CP-2 — Automation with Driveway Detection,” an entry on mavromatic.

Published:: Thursday, July 31st, 2008 at 12:16 pm

Author:: Danny Mavromatis

Category:: Home Automation

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David

July 31st, 2008
19:26 PDT

Danny,
I don’t know if you have seen this or not or if you can use it but this may be even more useful than the Cartell CP-2…
http://www.james.lipsit.com/smart_car_sensor.htm
This will allow your home automation system to “know” exactly who is home. And as you already know you can then create events based on who is home.
I just remembered seeing the project and thought you might be interested…
Thanks,
David

Angela

August 4th, 2008
19:08 PDT

Hi,
Like you, I have a (two actually) CP-2 driveway sensor that hooks into my Omni-Pro II HAI system. Something strange has started happening and I’m not sure how to troubleshoot the problem.
One of my CP-2 driveway sensors keeps triggering its assigned event and it is not related to cars going up or down my driveway. I live very rural and on a private road so traffic is minimal. In the past, I’ve had an occasional ‘false alarm’ (my systems announces when someone drives up my driveway or calls me if security is on). The lower sensor has started ‘going off’ for no apparent reason both day and in the middle of the night. I have not changed anything in my HAI programming so I suspect either the sensor is failing or the wiring leading into the house is bad. Only the lower sensor is doing this – the upper is fine.
I have been trying to trace the wiring from the sensors and into my house. Unfortunately, I didn’t install the system and after it runs under my cement driveway, I can’t trace it any further.
Any suggestions why my sensor might be randomly being triggered?
Thanks,
Angela

Danny Mavromatis

August 4th, 2008
21:02 PDT

Hi Angela,
I’m sorry to hear you’re having some issues… be sure to check that all connections to the HAI OMNIPRO II are good. They might have become loose if someone was messing in the panel. Also, when did this start happening? Did you recently upgrade firmware on the HAI? Rule out that it’s not the programming or controller first. Maybe change zones to be sure.
If everything looks fine and nothing has changed then I would call up Cartell and ask them what’s up. You might need to replace the unit. I’m guessing you can cut and splice the new unit in. Not sure how/when/if these units go bad.
Please let me know what you end up doing!
Thanks,
Danny

August 7th, 2008
9:20 PDT

Angela,
You might want to “reboot” the CP-2. The manual explains how to do that, just remove the power and wait 1-2 minutes. Then power it back up.
Hopefully, that will do the trick.
Danny

September 8th, 2008
10:59 PDT

Danny,
Thanks so much for your help.
Excellent advice to reboot, however, I’ve rebooted many times with no success. Unfortunately, the builder did not leave the Cartell manual but I work in technology and understand basics.
Last weekend I took your advice and focused on the OmniProII aspects (with no results). I checked programming, replaced the zone resistors where connected to the expansion board, checked connections, etc. with no success. I did not change zones.
This weekend I focused on locating and digging up the sensor, which was buried in conduit under dirt and cement. I checked all cabling (where I could) and it looks fine – no damage. Upon finally locating the sensor, I discovered when it’s moved, jiggled, it creates the programmed trigger, which it should not be doing. I called the distributor and they agree it’s bad, so it will be going in for warranty repair once the builder provides paperwork for an RMA. I still need to fully extract the sensor from under my driveway (more digging).
If you’d like me to keep you posted on how this progresses, please email me at the address I provided above.
Thanks!
-Angela

Cartell CP-2 — Automation with Driveway Detection

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