Stop Arm Camera Gen2: Installation

The Stop Arm Camera Gen2 supports school transportation safety by automatically recognizing, capturing, and storing evidence of vehicles passing a bus with its stop arm activated. The camera captures three recordings for each stop arm violation.

1. A wide-angle view showing the entire pass, this view will capture the stop arm deployment.
   
2. A rearward-facing view to capture the license plates of vehicles with high resolution.
   
3. A forward-facing view to capture the license plates of vehicles with high resolution.
   
    

Mounting the Camera

The camera should be mounted parallel to the road on the driver’s side of the bus. The recommended mounting area (highlighted in the image below) is 6 to 18 inches under the bottom of the stop sign and 12 to 16 inches forward from the stop arm’s center. 

If local laws require it, ensure the stop arm is partially in but not obstructing the camera’s view. The flashing red lights should not be directly in the camera's field of view; they force the camera to adjust its brightness, darkening the rest of the image. 

 

1. Select the installation area and stick the included mounting sticker template to the bus panel.
   
2. Verify that there is proper clearance behind the selected mounting location to avoid potential damage.
3. Use a center punch to create the five (5) pilot holes marked on the template mounting sticker. 
4. Drill the four (4) pilot "camera mounting holes" on the mounting sticker with a 3/32 inch bit. 
5. Drill the center camera cable hole to 7/8” with a hole saw or step bit.
6. Remove the mounting sticker template from the bus.  
    
7. Run the Ethernet cable through the center cable hole and hold the camera against the bus panel.
   • Use a wire fish tool to guide the cables in if needed.
      
8. Verify the camera is accurately placed for mounting: 
   • The rubber mounting gasket should be aligned with the camera, and the front lens should be above the "P" Pro-Vision logo.
     
9. Use the four (4) included screws to mount the camera to the bus panel. 
   
10. Remove all protective films covering the camera lenses and infrared LEDs. 
     

Connecting the Wires

1. Route the yellow-tinted side of the Ethernet extension towards the DVR, leaving the side with the rubber gasket by the camera cable hole. 
   • The plastic gasket on the extension cable creates a water-resistant seal with the Ethernet port on the stop arm camera. This must be routed and installed correctly to avoid wire damage.
   • When securing the cable, do not over-tighten any ties. Any coiled excess cable should have a minimum diameter of 6 inches. Otherwise, the cable may be damaged. 
     
      
2. Plug the yellow-tinted side of the Ethernet extension into the included passive PoE cable assembly.
    
   • This cable splits the Ethernet connection into an Ethernet and a four-pin connector.
3. Plug the Ethernet (RJ-45) connector into the back of the DVR.
4. Plug the four (4) pin connector into the "SD Out" connector on the back of the DVR. 
   
   
5. Plug the camera side of the extension cable (with waterproof cover) into the camera's Ethernet connection. 
   
   
6. Secure the extension's waterproof cover over the camera's Ethernet connection to create a water-resistant seal. 
   • Loosen the rear portion of the waterproof cover to allow it to slide down the cable.
   • Slide the black cover over the connection. 
   • Rotate the cover clockwise to secure it in place. There will be a small gap between the two cables. 
   • Move the red o-ring into the gap between the two connectors, as shown below.
   • Retighten the rear portion of the waterproof cover to ensure the rubber seal around the cable is water-resistant.
     
     
      

Trigger Connection

1. Locate the signal wire with constant (non-pulsing) 12Vdc running through it when the stop arm is activated.
   • This wire may be found in several locations. It is most commonly found in the harness going to the stop arm on the driver's side of the bus.
   • Typically, the harness can be followed to the outside power distribution area, the bus wire channel from the front driver side to the bus's rear, or the air solenoid that activates some stop arms.
   • This cannot be a pulsing signal as it will not trigger the camera. 
2. If upgrading from the previous Dual-Lens Stop Arm Camera model: 
   • The trigger wire should be connected to the DVR.
   • Remove the trigger wire from the DVR. 
3. Connect the located signal wire to the camera's red trigger wire.

Testing the Camera's Operation

After installation, the camera should be tested to verify its views and functions as expected. For detailed testing instructions, see Stop Arm Camera Gen2: Post-Install Testing.
 

Related Articles

• Stop Arm Camera Gen2: Viewing Events 
• Ranger DVR section of the knowledge base to learn more about the system.