Model A-F
Installation and
Technical Specifications Questions
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The following questions specifically relate to the sensors.
The following questions specifically relate to installation.
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What is included in the kit?
The Model A-F kit includes:
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four (4) flush-mount sensors with 8.5 foot long cables
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one (1) processor/power unit
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one (1) speaker with a two-part long cable (
4.5
feet cable from speaker to volume module and
14 feet cable from volume module to processor)
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double-sided foam tape for attaching parts to vehicle
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assorted other hardware for varied installations.
Contents of the Model A-F Kit.
All kits are checked for completeness before shipping.
**All products wire to the vehicle's reversing lights to allow activation whenever the car is put into reverse gear. No special tools or training is required.
What tools are
needed to install the Model A-F kit?
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Modular Plug crimpers - We do not recommend shortening the leads on the
connectors
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Coat hanger or other tool to snake wires
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Wire stripper and cutter
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Electrical tape
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Flashlight
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Possibly a small pry bar
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Isopropyl Alcohol and lint free wipes
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Any tools that may be needed to move car trim to run cables.
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What is the main difference between the Model A and the Model A-F?
There are a few differences.
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The
Model A uses three surface mounted sensors, while the Model A-F uses
four flush mounted sensors. Flush mounted sensors always require that
holes be drilled into the vehicles bumpers. Surface mounted sensors do
not require this (with rare exceptions).
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Flush
mounted sensors are intended for use on passenger vehicles, light vans,
mini buses, SUVs and light trucks with a closed bed. They may not be
suitable for heavy trucks, pick up trucks or any other vehicle where the
power unit will be exposed to water (our Industrial Kits may be better
suited for this purpose). Additionally, they are not intended for use in
situations where the sensors may be obstructed or damaged, either by
debris from the vehicle or while the vehicle is being loaded or
unloaded. Surface mounted sensors are more durable and can be mounted
inside protective metal SensorGuards.
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The Model A detects objects up to 8 feet behind your vehicle
and people at around 5 feet from the rear of your vehicle while the Model A-F detects up to 12 feet
and people at around 5 feet from the rear of your vehicle.
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The
Model A has better peripheral ‘vision’ than the Model A-F.
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Does weather affect performance? 
The
system has been designed to withstand the elements. It ignores fog, rain,
or snow. Occasionally, ice collecting on the sensors could cause false
readings. If this happens, simply wipe off the sensors!
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We have bad winters. How will salt and ice affect the system over time?
We've already thought of that. The sensors are made out of high grade plastic and the sensor eyes are marine stainless steel. The cabling is moisture and salt proof. In fact, we have field
tested in Canada. You should have no problems.
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How about leaves and debris in the roadway?
Our
unique system is programmed to ignore rain, snow, leaves, trash, etc. No
other backup warning system can do this.
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How large must objects be in order to be detected?
|
OBJECT TO BE DETECTED |
DISTANCE AT WHICH IT SHOULD BE DETECTED |
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Wall 3.2 sq ft in area |
9 - 12 feet |
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Truck or Buses |
8 - 9 feet |
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Van or Minivan or Car |
6 - 9 feet |
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Adult
or Child |
3
- 5 feet |
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3 inches x 3.2 feet Post |
3 - 5 feet |
|
non-moving objects as small as 6 inches wide |
3 - 5
feet |
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At what distance does the system stop beeping, and will it warn be when I’m
about to hit something?
The system will detect objects as close up as 6 to 9 inches.
The Model
A-F has a small (2 inch wide) speaker that uses a female voice to tell you
the distance from an obstacle. When you get within 6 to 9 inches from an
obstacle the unit will warn you by saying the word "Crash". The speaker
can be mounted in any convenient location near the driver, either hidden
or visible.
To hear what the Model A sounds like click here.
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SENSOR-RELATED QUESTIONS
How many sensors should I use on my vehicle, and must I use all four sensors?
Yes. The Model A-F requires that all four flush mount sensors be used and that they be connected to the
power unit/processor in the correct order.
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In what order should I hook up the sensors, and should I keep track of which sensor is connected to which port?
You need to keep track of which sensor cable is for which sensor. We suggest that you mark each sensor cable from left to the right; 1 for the left
most left sensor, 2 for the left-middle sensor, 3 for the right-middle, and 4 for the right-most sensor.
Please pay careful attention to the following in order to ensure that each of these sensors are connected to their respective ports on the processor. NOTE THAT THE SENSOR PORTS ARE NOT ALL THE SAME. If you hold the
main unit in your hand with the power LED pointing upwards, and look at the space above the sensor ports you will notice that the outer-most ports each are marked with the words “Side Sensor” and an arrow. You will need to plug the #1 sensor
(the left-most sensor) into the left most opening, the number 2 sensor (left-middle) in to the next opening, and so on.
The detecting range of the two outside ports [1 and 4] are programmed to detect the side or peripheral vision of the vehicle, and are therefore looking outward differently from the inside ports [ 2 and 3]. The
sensors attached to ports 2 and 3 (the inside ports) will see as far out as 8 - 12 feet. The sensors attached to ports 1 and 4 (the outside ports) will see as far out as 6 feet, but will not look beyond this distance. The detection distance has been reduced on these two ports so that they will not pick
up extraneous objects alongside the vehicle.
Tip: If you are testing your system and wish to determine at a later time which sensor line corresponds to which sensor, you may at any time, AS LONG AS THE SYSTEM POWER IS OFF WHILE DISCONNECTING WIRES, unplug any combination of one or more sensors.
As long as the system is not powered, you cannot hurt anything by doing this. Upon disconnection, simply test the sensors. Those not working are the ones obviously unplugged. Note: Disconnecting cables while the system is powered CAN DAMAGE YOUR UNIT.
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How far from the ends of the bumper can I mount the sensors and why?
We recommend mounting the sensors about 6" from the ends of the bumper. Why? Because the sensors are designed to provide specific "peripheral vision." By mounting the sensors just a bit inward from
the ends, you provide just the right "vision." The installation guide provided with they kits provide detailed information about this issue.
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How close together can I place the sensors?
The installation guide provided with they kits provide detailed information about this issue.
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As I am installing my system, how high should I install the sensors off the ground?
The ideal height is 18 - 24" off the ground. If you mount them too high, you might miss detecting something low to the ground. If you mount them too low, the sensors might inadvertently see the ground and false. It is preferable not to mount them lower than 18" from the
ground. If your installation requires installing the sensors below 18" from the ground, you will need to tilt/aim the sensors upwards a little to prevent them from detecting the ground. The Model A-F kits come with
4 each of 2 different sizes of plastic wedges for this purpose. The two sizes can be used separately or put together to create a variety of aiming angles. The exact angle of tilt will take
some experimentation.
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Is there any way to hide or camouflage the sensors so that they are not noticeable on my vehicle?
No.
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My vehicle has a step in the middle of the bumper. How do I mount the sensor on my vehicle?
Flush mounted sensors are
intended for use on passenger vehicles, light vans, mini buses, sport utility vehicles and light trucks with a closed bed. They
may not be suitable for heavy trucks, pick up trucks or any other vehicle where the power unit
will be exposed to water (Our Industrial Kits may be better suited for
this purpose). Additionally, they are not intended for use in situations where the sensors may be obstructed or where they may be damaged either by debris from the vehicle or while the vehicle is being loaded or unloaded. Surface mounted sensor are more durable and can be mounted inside
protective metal SensorGuards..
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INSTALLATION-RELATED QUESTIONS
Is TailGauge hard to install?
All TailGauge backup warning systems are very easy to install. We have experimented by giving units to untrained persons to act as "guinea pigs". On all installations
we have tested this way, on the average car, these untrained persons installed the kits in about two hours. If you do not wish to do the install yourself, we recommend bringing the kit to your automotive service mechanic familiar with your vehicle. They should have no problem understanding exactly what
to do.
To make things even easier, by going to
Click here to see installation instructions you
will find downloadable instruction information that you can give to the installer in advance of receipt of the kit.
MORE DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS ARE INCLUDED WITH THE PRODUCT.
At this time we are developing a list of companies we are confident can properly install TailGauge systems according to our specifications. Click here to view the list.
Do you provide vehicle specific installation help?
Please note: TailGauge does not provide vehicle-specific
support for a variety of reasons. The primary one is that the variety of
makes and models (including intra-model year changes) and the variety of
trim packages that each manufacturer offers make it difficult to provide
this type of specific advice. However, all of our systems are designed to
install easily in the average car, van, light truck, pickup, bus, etc.
In Addition:
The variety of layouts of electrical systems, even in the
same vehicle model, means that any such advice could be inaccurate.
Likewise, we are unable to provide vehicle-specific installation support
for issues including where to run the cables, how to remove the
door/ceiling liners/carpeting, etc. However, our customers have found that
the installation information in our manuals (provided with every kit) has
been sufficient and helpful for most installations. In those exceptional
cases where expert help is needed, we provide support to qualified
technicians who are already familiar with the electrical systems of the
vehicles on which they work.
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I have a lease. Does installation require drilling?
Yes. Since the Model A-F uses flush mounted sensors, you will have to drill holes into your bumper to mount them.
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How much time does it take to install?
Installation is easy. On the average car, it takes between two and three hours (assuming you have no experience with the installation).
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How do I test my system before permanently installing it on my car?
It is always recommended to test the entire system before permanently installing it. Testing sensor positioning is the most important aspect of testing the system. Keep in mind, these sensors are
designed to be installed into the bumper of your vehicle.
In order to test a system, take all four sensors and using four small pieces of styrofoam or similar material drill holes into the foam and insert the sensors into the holes. Tape the foam pieces onto your bumper where you are planning to drill the holes. Make sure that the foam pieces are
positioned so that the face of the sensor is parallel to the face of the bumper. You may need to experiment to determine if you need to use the plastic wedges that the
Model A-F kit comes with. Each kit comes with
4 each of 2 different sizes of plastic wedges for this purpose. The two sizes can be used separately or put together to create a variety of aiming angles. The exact angle of tilt will take
some experimentation. Then, temporarily connect all four sensors and the speaker to the power unit. With this done, hook up the power unit to any car 12 volt fused source. At this point, you can not only test the system to be sure everything is working,
but you can make sure the sensors are picking up what you want them to see. You may need to adjust the sensor placement as you play with the installation. Once you know where you want them, you may want to mark the positioning.
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Your website talks about mounting the power unit (little box for the Model A-F) in the rear tail light assembly area. How exactly do I do this?
Since cars vary in design, there are no exact instructions here. But in all installations, the concept is absolutely the same. First of all, you want to keep the power unit dry...away from moisture. Second, you want it as close as possible to the
backup (reverse) light assembly of the car so that it is in close proximity to a power source that is active when the car is put into reverse. This is to enable you to tap into this power source with the red wire. Third, you want it close enough to the sensors so that you can run all four sensor
cables to the power unit without the need for an extension cable.
TailGauge comes with connection cables long enough for installation in most vehicles. Please note that the Model A-F uses the handset modular RJ22 plugs.
Fourth, you want to make sure that in the mounting process, you secure the power unit neatly and out of the way so as not to obstruct any of the light bulbs in the housing from view. Overall, this is usually a very easy installation step. Once you have
found a suitable location for mounting, either wire tie it in place or secure it with good quality Velcro.
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Are there any rules or suggestions for running wires, either to the front of the car or to the power unit?
There are only a few. First, when running any cable (the speaker cable), from front to rear of the vehicle, we suggest you run the cable behind either the headliner (ceiling cloth) trim or the floor trim. This makes installation very easy. Remember not
to allow any wires to rub up against sharp metal or screws that you might come upon (this is a common finding behind plastic trip pieces anywhere on a car), for sharp metal edges can easily scrape and damage the cables. Second, when running any cables or wires, ESPECIALLY THE SENSOR CABLES, we recommend
not wrapping these wires around existing car factory wiring. It certainly will not hurt to touch or bundle the sensor wires, and then wire tie or tape the bundle to the factory wires, but DO NOT wrap kit wires around factory wires, for this can create an electromagnetic field that can cause your
TailGauge system to malfunction.
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What is the best way to mount the Model A-F speaker in my car?
This is entirely up to you. We have designed the speaker anywhere in the passenger compartment of your car that you desire. It's up to you. We suggest mounting it either under the dash or on the area near your window behind the rear seats. Some
people have found it useful to mount the speaker on the space between the front and rear doors on the driver's side, at or about head height, which allows for easy volume control.. Figuring this out is part of the fun of the install!
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Troubleshooting Installations.
Click here to go to a separate page with TailGauge Installation Troubleshooting help.
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What if I need to return a defective part?
Although our customers rarely have problems with our products, to receive service or a replacement product under our warranty, contact us
returns@tailgauge.com to obtain a Service Authorization Number (SAN).
After you have obtained a Service Authorization Number, be sure to write it in large letters on the outside of the box above the shipping label. Please send the product or part postage paid with a copy of our Product
Service Form.
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Product Return Policy
If you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, we would like the opportunity to work with you to resolve your issues and ensure that your experience with TailGauge leaves you satisfied. If you have any issues with a product, please
email us at
customerservice@tailgauge.com. We are here to assist you.
After talking with our Customer Service Department, in the event you wish to return your item, here are a few things you should know:
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Within 30 days of your order you may return your TailGauge kit, all parts complete and in new condition, including original packaging and paperwork (invoice), for a refund. We do not accept incomplete kits, or items returned
more than 30 days after their date of purchase. Please call to acquire a Return Authorization Number.
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The credit card used for the original purchase of any item is the same card that will be credited for any returns. Your credit card will be credited when we have received, inspected and processed the returned item. The refund
will include the purchase price of the item and any applicable sales tax, excluding all shipping and handling costs. Please allow an additional 14-28 days for the credit to appear on your credit card statement.
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There is an address specifically designated for returns. TailGauge is not responsible for orders shipped to the wrong address.
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The customer or purchaser is responsible for the cost of shipping their unit back to TailGauge, Inc.
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Please note. The Return Authorization
number that you were given by Customer Service must be clearly marked on
the front of the package when shipped. We're
sorry, but we cannot guarantee credit for orders that are not returned in accordance with our return policy.
To receive service, to return an item or to receive a replacement product under our warranty,
email us at returns@tailgauge.com to obtain a Service Authorization Number (SAN). After you have obtained a
Service Authorization Number, be sure to write it in large letters on the outside of the box above the shipping label. Please send the product or part postage paid with a copy of our Product Service Form and proof of purchase (copy of your TailGauge
invoice) to:
SERVICE DEPARTMENT
TailGauge, Inc.
256 New Mark Esplanade
Rockville MD 20850-2733.
Please Note: This is our Service Department, not a showroom. It is not open to the public.
Note: We recommend shipping your package via UPS or FedEx so that you can track your package without requiring a signature for proof of delivery. Requiring a signature may delay our receiving your package and subsequent service.
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Disclaimer: The TailGauge
Vehicle Backup Sensor System is strictly a driver assistance device. It should not be considered as a safety device for any other purposes. It is not a substitute for driver
responsibility when operating a vehicle. Please follow all local and federal laws when backing up your vehicle. Manufacturer and distributors of the TailGauge Ultrasonic Backup Warning System do not guarantee or assume liability for collisions or damages that take place when backing up your vehicle.
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