The SP-24 is a surface-mounted loop pad built specifically for automated car washes. The polypropylene pad is resistant to cleaning agents and mounts between the guide rails without digging, combined with a separately purchased loop detector.
Model: SP-24
Type: Surface-mounted loop pad (requires separate loop detector)
Material: polypropylene, chemical-resistant
Dimensions: 603 x 603 x 25 mm (23.75" x 23.75" x 1")
Detection range: up to approx. 75 cm height (combined with a loop detector)
Cable: 15 m shielded, twisted pair
Mounting: 4 mounting holes, floor anchoring
Application: between guide rails of car wash systems
Compatibility: works with the loop detectors in the Secumatic range, such as the MVP D-TEK and LP D-TEK
At an automated car wash, a buried inductive loop often isn't a practical option: the pavement between the guide rails is usually already finished, and cutting into it afterwards is costly and disruptive to operations. On top of that, the aggressive cleaning agents used at a car wash make standard cabling vulnerable. The SP-24 is built specifically for this situation: a surface-mounted loop pad that fits onto the existing floor, with no digging required.
The pad is made of polypropylene, a material resistant to the cleaning agents and chemicals common in the car wash industry. That's a meaningful difference from many standard cable and housing materials, which can degrade over time from prolonged contact with aggressive washing and detailing products.
The ideal position for the SP-24 is between the guide rails of the car wash system, where the pad isn't directly driven over or struck by vehicle wheels. The pad is anchored to the floor via four mounting holes; any movement in the pad can cause false detections at the connected loop detector, so a firm, flat installation is essential for reliable operation.
The SP-24 isn't a standalone detector, but a loop pad that connects to a separately purchased loop detector, such as the MVP D-TEK or LP D-TEK from the same range. That means a car wash operator who already has a loop detector only needs to add the pad itself to enable detection at this specific location, without replacing the entire detection system.
Combined with a loop detector, the SP-24 offers a detection range up to roughly 75 centimetres in height, enough to reliably register vehicles without being sensitive to smaller obstructions that aren't relevant to the car wash controls. The included 15-metre shielded cable provides enough length to connect the pad to the detector at a distance.
Because no saw-cutting or buried loop is required, the SP-24 can even be added to an already operational car wash without extended downtime. That's a real advantage for operators wanting to make a change between two business days, rather than having to take the car wash out of service for an extended period for groundwork.
The SP-24 is used almost exclusively at automated car washes, where the combination of limited installation space, chemical exposure, and the need to avoid cutting into the existing floor makes a surface-mounted solution the most practical choice.
Secumatic supplies the SP-24 as part of the complete vehicle detection sensor range, with support on specification and project advice for installers and technical service providers. Get in touch for advice on the right pad and detector combination for your project.
