Magnetic Pro Gate Troubleshooting

This document is intended to cover detection and resolution of the most commonly reported issues
affecting Magnetic Gates. This will not cover every possible cause of gate related issues. Please reference the Magnetic Pro Gate Installation Guide for detailed instructions including images.

Overview

1. Gate Arm not going up or down after wash purchase
2. Gate Arm not going up or down manually
3. Gate Arm stays in the up position
4. Gate Wiring
5. Manual Override Switch Wiring
6. Gate Arm fell off
7. Gate Programming

Gate Arm not going up or down after wash purchase

1. Test Arm operation by using the “Service” override switch on the gate, or the Manual Override
   Switch, if available.
   • If the arm does not move up or down, proceed to Gate Arm not going up or down manually.
   • If the arm moves at all, proceed to Gate arm stay in the up position.

Gate Arm not going up or down manually

1. Confirm issue with the previous step.
2. Check Gate programming screen.
   • If the screen is blank, check for power at the breaker, then the Power Distribution Box
   • If the screen is lit, check screen for the error icon. press the button with the square
     icon to reveal the error message.
     • Depending on the message, repair or replacement may be required.

Gate Arm stays in the up position

1. Open the gate cover.
2. Inspect MGC Pro screen for an error icon, press the button with the square icon to reveal the
   error message.
   • If the error states Barrier Mechanical Fault proceed to Gate Wiring.
3. If there is no error icon, inspect the screen for the Mode number on the upper-left corner.
   • If the number is anything other than 7, proceed to Gate Programming.
4. If the Mode number is 7, inspect the screen for the Loop indicator(s).
   • You should always see an A indicator.
   • If your site has a merge loop, one of your lanes will have a B indicator.
   • If either indicator is flashing, the loop related to this indicator is detecting metal.
   • If no indicator is flashing, proceed to Gate Wiring.

Gate Wiring

Depending on the nature of the issue, you will be checking voltage and wire placement on the following wiring ports.

1. If Gate raises manually but does not raise automatically after a wash purchase, you will check the wiring in the ports labeled in1 and 24V1 on the input side of the MGC wiring block.
2. If after performing the instructions in step 3, the Gate arm raises but does not close. Check the wiring on the Loop block.
3. Example: the image below shows the wiring on 2 lanes with Merge loop (a.k.a. 5-Loop).
   
   
   
   
4. Example: the image below shows the wiring on 2 lanes without a Merge loop (a.k.a. 4-loop).
   
   
   
   

Manual Override Switch Wiring

If the Gate arm does not move manually or automatically, check for Manual Override Switch Wiring and if present, set the Manual Override switch to the “Null” option in the diagram below in order to allow the gate to automatically lift after a car wash purchase. Refer to the diagram below as needed to check and confirm this wiring.

Gate Arm Fell Off

A common issue you will run into is when the gate arm is knocked off. The following steps must be followed to re-install the gate arm properly. Please note that this will also need to be performed anytime the weight of the arm is changed due to something like a sign or banner being added/removed.

1. If the arm is still attached, take off the arm.
2. Turn off the orange breaker located at the bottom of the base of gate. Then turn on the breaker.
3. Wait for the  “Waiting for User Acknowledgement” screen.
   NOTE: This may appear as “Waiting for User Ack” on the MGC Pro Screen
4. Press the square on the display. Wait for the flange to move into the “up” position.
5. Turn off the orange breaker located at the bottom of the base of gate.
6. Attach the gate arm back to the flange with the gate arm sticking straight up, completely vertical in the air and make sure the bolts are tight.
7. Stand clear of the gate arm, and then turn on the breaker.
8. Wait for the “Waiting for User Ack” screen.
9. Stand clear of the gate arm, and press the square on the display.
   The gate arm will calibrate and come down slowly.
10. Put the gate in service mode using the Service switch.
11. Using the up and down arrows on the MGC Pro, bring the arm up and back down a 2-3 times and confirm that when the arm is completely vertical in the up position and horizontal with the ground while in the down position.
12. If readjustment is needed, then repeat all the steps from the beginning.
13. Take the gate out of service mode.
14. Test normal operation with a wash purchase.

Gate Programming

Gate Mode Programming

1. Remove the gate cover.
2. On the main control board in the gate head, press the Circle button when on the main menu.
3. Set the programming mode by going to the Function option in the main menu, press the Circle button, then locate the Programming mode option. *
4. Set the programming mode to Automatic (7)
5. Save your selection with the Circle button.

Detector Mode Programming

1. Remove the gate cover.
2. On the main control board in the gate head, set the detector modes by locating the “Detector 1(A-B)” option in the main menu.
3. Go to Mode A and set it to Safety and commit with the Circle button.
4. Go to Mode B and set it to Active if they have a 5th loop wired to loop B or set it to Inactive if no loop is wired to loop B and commit with the Circle button.

Loop Detector Sensitivity Programming

1. Remove the gate cover.
2. On the main control board in the gate head, set the sensitivity for both loops by locating the “Detector 1(A-B)” option in the main menu.
3. Set each loop to 5, press the Circle button to finalize your changes.

• • • This value can be increased/decreased to increase/decrease the sensitivity of the car sensing magnetic loops.
    • The sensitivity can be adjusted if loop indicators do not flash during testing as this indicates the loop is not detecting the vehicle.
      
      * Older versions of MGC pro software will not have a function option in the main menu. If this is the case the Programming mode will be called Prog. Mode and will be located in the Main Menu.

Please contact ICS Technical Support if any assistance is needed:

800-246-3469

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