Bay Guidance System

Hi All. Reaching out to see if anyone uses or has heard of a Bay Guidance System for self serves. I seen one online that is made in Lithuania. Looking for something more domestic if possible. My lot is narrow and entry to the bays is down a one way driveway then a left into the bays. Traffic flow is inefficient, customers can’t see if a bay is empty often until they drive by, or they line up behind someone in a bay, but it’s not the first bay that becomes available. I believe it frustrates customers. Like a self serve check out at a grocery store, I’d like to stack the cars before the bays, and then they proceed to a green light (unoccupied) bay. Customers queue and get first available bay.

You see similar systems at Costco gas bars now to show an available pump , and more sophisticated systems in parkades. I don’t need anything fancy, just overhead sensor and it shows either red or green. Need an overhead sensor because my end bays only have a wall on one side.

The photo below is the Lithuanian product. Very simple. Green arrow. Vacant bay - Enter. Red X - Occupied.

Thanks.

I use these lights and use a double pull relay on timed output of the timer to activate the X. If someone is just sitting in a bay, bucket washing, or drying then the next car will pull up behind usually prompting them to either insert money or move. Only when the bay meter is running will you get the X.

Blanco said:

I use these lights and use a double pull relay on timed output of the timer to activate the X. If someone is just sitting in a bay, bucket washing, or drying then the next car will pull up behind usually prompting them to either insert money or move. Only when the bay meter is running will you get the X.

Flashing Slim LED Arrow / X Traffic fixture - TSS Car Wash Equipment

www.tsscws.com

Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply Blanco. Those lights are more or less what I need. Finding and how to make them work with an overhead sensor would be the next piece of the system. Using those lights as a bay bouncer is a unique solution to get customers to move along. It’s kind of a physiological push. But some customers I swear just want to take their time more when they see people lined up behind them.

TurboJet said:

Thanks for the reply Blanco. Those lights are more or less what I need. Finding and how to make them work with an overhead sensor would be the next piece of the system. Using those lights as a bay bouncer is a unique solution to get customers to move along. It’s kind of a physiological push. But some customers I swear just want to take their time more when they see people lined up behind them.

Click to expand...

No problem. I don't think you will be able to use an over head sensor though. Other then how I have hooked them up using the timed output the only other way ive seen done is with a ground loop in the concrete. Problem with that is if a car is just sitting in bay the red X comes on. I completely agree that some customers will just take there time but IMO after installing these that has become a very very minor percentage. Almost all of mine will either deposit money or move soon after the line behind their bay starts.

I see they use overhead sensors in parkades for those sophisticated systems that show vacant or occupied stalls, and also the info is communicated to overhead sign boards to direct traffic. No bay walls and tight scan area for the sensor and they appear accurate So they must exist. Who makes them and how much. Who knows. Perhaps I will reach out to this Lithuanian company for info. Don’t need the central communication system. Just scan bay, occupied or not, communicate to LED sign.

I've been working on a prototype for something like this. I have a wifi controller with an ultrasonic sensor that im using to detect when a car leaves to end the count up card charges. Its not ready for demo yet. But hopefully by mid summer