5 Best Vehicle Detection Loops You Can Get in Ontario
Updated: Aug 9
Choosing the right vehicle detection loop is one of those decisions that seems small until it isn't. Get it wrong, and you're back on-site fixing false triggers, nuisance gate closures, or a detector that quits after one Ontario winter. Get it right, and the system just works quietly and reliably, year after year.
This guide is for installers and contractors specifying parking access equipment across Ontario. Below, we break down five trusted names in vehicle detection - EDI, National Loop, EMX Industries, NorthStar Controls, and Diablo Controls - so you can match the right product to the right job, plus a few installation tips to help your loops perform as intended from day one.
Best Vehicle Detection Loops You Can Get in Ontario
Item | Includes Detector | Best For | Components/Specs |
1. EDI | Yes | Municipal traffic and parking/access installs | Loop detectors, AVI, signal monitors |
No, loop wire only | Detector-agnostic loop wire | Surface, direct burial, saw-cut wire | |
Yes | Flexible or loop-free detection | Inductive, ultrasonic, magnetic, microwave sensors | |
Yes | Programmable, US-built detectors | NP2 detector series, NQ4 speed/length system | |
Yes | High-security or solar gate applications | DSP detector series, AVI, anti-tailgating logic |
1. EDI
Eberle Design Inc. (EDI) has been building traffic and vehicle detection electronics since 1980, earning a reputation as one of the most trusted names in intersection safety and access control hardware. Based in Phoenix, Arizona, EDI is ISO 9001:2015 registered and manufactures its full product line in the USA, meeting Buy American Act requirements - a detail that matters for public and municipal contracts. The company also pioneered the ATC Cabinet, an open-architecture traffic control cabinet standard now widely adopted by cities across North America.
EDI's loop detector lineup, including the LMA series, is built for accurate, adjustable vehicle detection with features like DIN rail mounting, plug-in connectors, and on-site sensitivity adjustment. That combination of precision and easy servicing makes EDI detectors a strong fit for both high-traffic municipal intersections and everyday parking/access installs.
Highlights:
Includes Detector: Yes
Best For: Municipal traffic and parking/access installs
Components/Specs: Loop detectors, AVI systems, signal monitors
2. National Loop
National Loop Company takes a more focused approach than most brands on this list - rather than manufacturing detectors, they specialize exclusively in preformed loop wire. Based in Green Island, New York, National Loop has spent more than 20 years building a reputation in the access control industry, with every loop assembled and shipped from their US headquarters.
Their lineup includes surface-mounted, direct burial, and preformed saw-cut loops, all built with sealed, liquid-tight conduit designed to resist moisture, corrosion, and jobsite wear. Because National Loop is detector-agnostic, their wire pairs with virtually any detector brand on this list - including EDI's - which makes them a natural companion product for installers standardizing their loop supply.
Highlights:
Includes Detector: No, loop wire only
Best For: Reliable, detector-agnostic loop wire for any install
Components/Specs: Surface-mounted, direct burial, and saw-cut loop wire
Supplied by Graft Gate Supply: Yes, official National Loop dealer in Ontario
3. EMX Industries
EMX Industries has spent more than 30 years developing sensors and controls for the access control, gate, fencing, and parking industries, and it's known for offering one of the broadest ranges of detection technology on the market. Headquartered in Garfield Heights, Ohio, EMX doesn't limit itself to inductive loops.
Their lineup also includes ultrasonic, magnetic, infrared, magnetoresistive, and microwave detection, giving installers options when a buried loop isn't practical. One standout is EMX's Loop Replacement System (LRS), built to simplify installs by skipping the loop cut altogether - useful where saw-cutting pavement is difficult or disruptive.
Highlights:
Includes Detector: Yes
Best For: Sites needing flexible or loop-free detection
Components/Specs: Inductive, ultrasonic, magnetic, and microwave sensors
4. NorthStar Controls
Founded in 2002, NorthStar Controls is a newer name compared to some veterans on this list, but it's built a solid reputation in a short time. The company manufactures inductive loop vehicle detectors for access control and traffic control, with every product built in the USA.
NorthStar's core NP2 series offers programmable pulse and presence options, fail-safe or fail-secure configurations, and wide radio control compatibility. Beyond standard detectors, NorthStar also produces specialized traffic systems like the NQ4, which uses loop detectors to measure vehicle speed and length for applications like truck rollover warnings and green-light extension at high-risk intersections.
Highlights:
Includes Detector: Yes
Best For: Access control installs needing programmable, US-built detectors
Components/Specs: NP2 detector series, NQ4 speed/length measurement system
5. Diablo Controls
Diablo Controls has been shaping the access, traffic, and parking control industry for more than 40 years, with a history that includes genuine industry firsts - among them the first microprocessor-based NEMA controller and the first digital period-measurement vehicle detector.
That legacy carries through to Diablo's current DSP series, ranging from compact, low-power models built for solar-powered gates to full-featured units for demanding AVI and anti-tailgating applications. Diablo's traffic-grade products are CalTrans and NEMA compliant, making the brand a strong fit for both private access control jobs and public traffic infrastructure.
Highlights:
Includes Detector: Yes
Best For: High-security parking control and solar or low-power gate applications
Components/Specs: DSP detector series, AVI systems, anti-tailgating logic modules
Tips for Installing Vehicle Detection Loops
Even the best detector or loop wire will underperform if it's installed poorly. Keep these best practices in mind:
Match the loop size to the detector's sensitivity range. Most detectors specify a compatible inductance range (typically 20-2000 microhenries) - installing outside that range is a common cause of false or missed detections.
Keep lead-in wires twisted. A tightly twisted, non-spliced lead-in reduces electrical noise and helps prevent nuisance triggering from nearby loops or equipment.
Choose fail-safe vs. fail-secure deliberately. Fail-safe detectors default to "detect" if the loop fails, ideal for safety loops; fail-secure detectors do the opposite, suiting high-security exit or entry applications.
Account for Ontario's freeze-thaw cycles. Saw-cut and direct burial loops need proper sealant and adequate depth to avoid cracking or wire damage as pavement expands and contracts through winter.
Test before you bury or seal. Confirm the loop reads correctly with your chosen detector before finishing the install - it's far easier to fix wiring issues before the sealant sets.
Get a Quote on Vehicle Detection Loops from Graft Gate Supply
Of the brands covered here, Graft Gate Supply is an official Ontario dealer for EDI and National Loop - giving installers a single, local source for reliable loop detectors and detector-agnostic loop wire that pair together on virtually any job.
Whether you're specifying a full detection system or just need dependable loop wire for your next install, our team can help you get the right components on-site, on schedule.
