Moisture on Gate Closer IR Sensors

[Big Barn]

Anyone else out there have trouble with rain and other moisture interfering with infrared sensors and preventing their gate operators from closing?

My problem has gotten progressively worse over the years. I have to wipe them off even on foggy mornings. I’ve tried anti fog household products with limited results.



I was picking up shop supplies this morning and grabbed this bottle of Rain X.



I just read the label and realized they have a (supposedly) different product especially for PLASTIC and acrylics as opposed to the automotive one I purchased for glass.

Any thoughts before I try the version for plastic?

 

[mrmikey]

Any thoughts before I try the version for plastic?

Try it first on that wire wool box and see if it makes it see thru ;-), sorry, couldn't resist.

.....PLASTIC and acrylics as opposed to the automotive one.....

What about one used for motorcycle helmets I've'd heard of people using dish washing detergent to prevent fogging................MIke

 

[Big Barn]

Heh heh. Thanks Mike!

 

[jaycom]

Anyone else out there have trouble with rain and other moisture interfering with infrared sensors and preventing their gate operators from closing?

My problem has gotten progressively worse over the years. I have to wipe them off even on foggy mornings. I’ve tried anti fog household products with limited results.

View attachment 641366View attachment 641365

I was picking up shop supplies this morning and grabbed this bottle of Rain X.

View attachment 641367

I just read the label and realized they have a (supposedly) different product especially for PLASTIC and acrylics as opposed to the automotive one I purchased for glass.

Any thoughts before I try the version for plastic?

Best resolution for fogged safety sensors is installation of the sensor heater component. Likely not feasible, however, if solar powered, due to contiuous power requirement.

 

[ponytug]

Not to be dim, but is your reflector fogging, or your transceiver? (Couldn't resist the pun, sorry)

How sure are you that they are a) aligned, and b) the transceiver is at full power? They do wear out like bulbs, though a different technology. I prefer the units that have built in sight ports, so you can see whether everything is aligned, but almost all have a pair of terminals to monitor the return reflection strength with a DVM.

All the best,

Peter