Are Parking Sensors Worth It?
No one wants to get in a car accident, especially in their own garage! And who wants one of those tacky tennis balls hanging from the middle of the garage all the time? Surprisingly parking sensors aren’t very expensive, but then it’s easy to question their quality. We’ll break down the benefits, and provide you our pick so that you can decide if they are worth your money.
Parking sensors provide visibility, better parking, and avoid potential damage. It’s a relatively small investment that prevents hitting the back of your garage or even someone getting hurt. Preventing hundreds to thousands of dollars in repairs. They save time, money, stress, and are worth buying.
Throughout this article, you’ll also learn the following information about parking sensors:
- Which one is the best one on the market
- How and why you should get a parking sensor for your garage
- Comparisons to similar parking sensors
Why Should You Get a Parking Sensor?
Parking sensors are becoming more common in modern homes. Some of them come equipped with sensors already, but if yours doesn’t, then you’re probably wondering if you’d benefit from getting one.
Here’s a quick list of five reasons that you should consider installing a parking sensor in your garage:
- It’ll prevent damage to your vehicle. If you’ve ever driven into a garage or parking lot late at night, then we understand how challenging it can be. Parking in a low lit area or extremely tight space can result in damaging, denting, or scratching your vehicle in the process.
- You’ll save money on garage repairs. In addition, crashing into your garage can crack the wall, floor, or ceiling. These types of structural repairs on a house can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. Compared to the average parking sensor that costs less than a fraction of that price.
- Parking sensors free up space for other belongings in the garage. As long as the sensor doesn’t stay on the ground, you’ll be able to keep the floor free for other belongings. However, parking sensors also let you park to the far right or left of the garage, ensuring that there’s more room for everything else.
- You’ll be able to train yourself to park in tight spaces. If you have a small garage, then there’s no doubt that you’ve faced parking troubles daily. The good news about getting a parking sensor is that it shows you how to park in a small space, helping you park better in other scenarios like parking lots, parking garages, and more.
- They make it easier for your guests to park. If you have a lot of guests, then a parking sensor can take some of the stress of parking off of their shoulders. It also shows that you care about creating an easy parking situation for them. This can also come in handy for your teen who is learning how to drive and park.
What’s the Best Parking Sensor Available?
Now that you’ve heard the main reasons parking sensors are useful, you’re probably wondering which one you should get, especially since the price range is between $16 and $200.
The STKR Concepts Garage Parking Sensor is currently the best parking sensor for the price. It has a plethora of notable features, making it a high-end pick for any homeowner without having to pay an arm or a leg as it comes in it right at $29.99.
Review the list of perks that you’ll get with this garage parking sensor below.
Pros of the STKR Concepts Garage Parking Sensor
- It has a traffic light communication system. This sensor communicates your distance using three colors: Red, green, and yellow. It works the same way that a traditional traffic light does. Which makes it clear and easy for just about anyone to understand. As you pull your vehicle in and there’s space in front of the vehicle, it displays a green light to “Go” forward. As you need to approach more slowly with caution, it turns yellow. When you’ve reached your user-defined parking spot, it turns red for you to stop.
- It sits flush with the back of your garage. You don’t need to use any brackets or stands on the floor since this sensor rests against the back wall of your garage. There’s no clutter, nor will you have to worry about running multiple cables around the room to keep it powered.
- You can adjust the sensor’s sensitivity. The sensor can be adjusted to work anywhere between six inches to six feet. This wide range of sensitivity means that you can use the garage parking sensor in virtually any parking scenario you can imagine.
- This sensor comes with an LED walkway. Unlike the vast majority of parking sensors, this product includes a built-in LED light that illuminates your walkway. You’ll be able to walk in front of the vehicle while having a clear visual path to get into the house safely. It stays on for two minutes until the timer resets.
- It’s small enough to fit almost anywhere. This unit is smaller than most, which means it won’t clutter up the wall and works great in even the smallest of spaces. You can fit it below shelves and keep it hung on the wall without you having to worry about bumping into the wall. You could also opt to attach it to objects in your garage you specifically don’t want to hit. For instance, you could attach it to the front door of a refrigerator or on a large upright air compressor. It’s not limited to just saving your walls.
Alternative uses for the STKR Garage Parking Sensor
It’s very easy to picture the most common use of being able to pull a vehicle into your garage exactly where you want it. However, the technology behind this parking sensor makes it a very versatile tool.
In a shop full of cars that are currently being worked on, the easiest way to make more room, (especially if the vehicle doesn’t run), might be to use four-wheel dollies under each tire so that you can push the car sideways over to the wall.
Car dollies might be how you slide your old Camaro project car around the shop when you need more space. Or maybe you sell cars and this is how you arrange your indoor showroom.
Well if you have a very inexpensive tool like this garage parking sensor then you've got another set of eyes to let you know if you've pushed the car close enough to where you want it. That also applies for just about any other heavy objects you're moving around for that matter.
Another scenario that requires communication from two points is when someone is pulling a vehicle onto a Dynamometer (or dyno for short). It's that machine that they ask you to pull onto when you're getting your emissions test done that has the metal rollers in the floor that you gently park your vehicle's wheels on. Many businesses have specialized equipment like this and could use a handy distance sensor.
If you have a trailer that you have to park in the same spot repeatedly like on the side of your house or in a specific parking area, then there's another opportunity for this device to help gauge distance and it gives you direct feedback on how close you're getting.
Another scenario that could help keep people safe is to use something like this in a factory setting where there is a lot of forklift work as it could be set at a high traffic corner or intersection and the sensor could actually be pointed into the intersection or around the corner preventing a possible collision.
These are just a few of the examples where an amazing sensor like this could be used. And because they're so affordable, the scenarios are endless if you bought multiple. For multiple parking spaces, multiple walls, toy-haulers, and even enclosed trailers.
Notable Specs of the Garage Parking Sensor from STKR Concepts
Although you’re well-educated on the perks of this garage parking sensor, there are a few other specs that you should consider. Parking sensors shouldn’t be too complicated or difficult to work with. Fortunately, that’s exactly what this Garage Parking Sensor offers.
The sensor is quick and easy to mount
Most of the time when installing a parking sensor, it usually requires all sorts of drills, pilot holes, screws, and other supplies. However, with this sensor, it comes with everything you’ll need and is very simple to install. Making it easy, temporary if and when you need it. Provided in this kit are strong double-sided tape and durable velcro strips.
Rest assured, once you install the parking sensor, it’s not going anywhere. It’s tried and tested and proven long-lasting. To its contrary, it's also incredibly convenient in its ability to allow you to easily remove it, and reposition it to a new location. All you have to do is take off the velcro patch, move it somewhere else, and reinstall the sensor. There’s no need for countless holes or painted patches all over the place.
You can power it with a USB cable or add AA batteries
It’s very easy to keep this sensor powered. Not only does it consume barely any energy compared to most other models, but you’ll have two power methods at your disposal.
The first method uses a USB cable to power the sensor. Plug any typical cell phone USB cable into the micro USB port on the sensor. These cables are so common these days that most households have several unused cables stored in a drawer somewhere.
The second method of charging the garage parking sensor is by using AA batteries. Each unit uses four batteries, which will last for many months before they need to be replaced.
The cable length is three feet long
Between the octagon-shaped traffic light and the smaller round sensor is a 3’ cable. This allows you to position the sensor right around the height of your bumper and still be able to mount the traffic light high enough that it’s visible to the driver.
2 minute walkway light
There’s a timer that starts every time the sensor shines an LED light. This walkway light is designed to illuminate your path in the garage, making it easier for you to see everything as you’re walking into your house. It lasts for two minutes, which is more than enough to allow you to get inside before it turns off.
This sensor won't add clutter
One of the most notable specs of all is that this device barely takes up any space in your garage. From the compact 4.7-inch x 3.5-inch display down the three-foot cable to a tiny little sensor, nothing on this system is cluttered.
It’s quite impressive to think that it can help stop car accidents without taking up more room than anything else in the garage. Most other sensors sit on the floor like a pole or hang from the middle of the ceiling, both taking up vital garage space or adding another obstacle to dodge. However, that’s not the case with STKR’s Garage Parking Sensor.
What Should You Look For?
If you’re still on the fence about getting a parking sensor, then you should probably know what you’re looking for before you get one. After all, it’s not a big investment, but it is something that you have to install in your home.
Read these considerations before getting a garage parking sensor:
- Make sure the sensor is sensitive enough for your preferences. Some sensors barely turn on, whereas others are far too sensitive. Adjustability is an absolute must. STKR's parking sensor allows you to adjust the parking distance so it's completely custom for your specific space.
- Are the lights bright enough for you to see in the dark? Another issue that many sensors have in common is that the lights aren’t strong enough to see. Make sure that the traffic lights (if there are any) and the walkway lights are powerful enough for you to be able to see in the dark.
- Does it clutter the floor, or is it wall-mounted? There are several types of parking sensors that look like traditional floor lamps. These types of sensors are known to cause clutter. Wall-mounted sensors are often the best choice, especially if they don’t have too many screws or tangled cables.
- What kind of lightbulbs does the sensor use? According to Wayfair, incandescent, LED, CFL, and halogen bulbs are the four most common types. It should be noted that LED lights last longer than any other type of bulb, they’re more energy-efficient, and they’re brighter. The STKR bulb is an LED, making it the best choice.
- How quickly does the light turn on? An instant flicker is necessary at the very least. There needs to be an immediate sensor that recognizes movement right when it comes within range. Since it uses an ultrasonic sensor, you can expect instant results with this Garage Parking Sensor.
If you want to know why the Garage Parking Sensor by STKR Concepts is better than the average garage sensor, then read on.
Comparing to the Competition
Why is it that so many customers prefer this setup over any other? You’ll find out all of the reasons below.
Easy installation and nothing in the way
No need for complicated ceiling mounts like tennis balls and lasers. Nothing mounts to the floor creating a trip hazard in your garage. The STKR Garage Parking Sensor mounts in minutes and is never in the way.
This sensor is more adjustable than any other parking sensor
You can move the sensor wherever you want in your garage, set the sensitivity, and adjust how wide of a range it covers. It’s more adjustable than you’ll find in competing brands, making it better for people of all driving experience levels.
The light is brighter than you’ll find elsewhere
Since it’s an LED bulb, you can expect thousands of hours of bright light that you wouldn’t get with incandescent or fluorescent bulbs. LEDs are the current leader in the market, which is why STKR Concepts uses them.
Familiar light colors rather than solid red
Most parking lights have a solid red light that blinks when you’re getting too close. While this setup might work for some people, those with troubled vision might have problems noticing the difference at night. Fortunately, this light has red, yellow, and green lights, just as you’d see in a traffic light.
Size matters
Something else to add is that you need to make sure the sensors light indicators are big enough to see. Some lights are pretty small which might make it harder to see if you are getting too close. Verses STKR’s is small enough to not clutter up your wall but still big enough to see each color clearly.
You don’t need special tools to install the STKR parking sensor
Rather than having to drill pilot holes and put screws in the wall, you only have to use the included velcro and double-sided tape. Not only does this make it quicker and easier to install, but it also means that you don’t have to hire a professional.
Two power methods are better than one
Many parking sensors require a 12V plug-in or some sort of combination of batteries. However, you’ll be able to choose either four AA batteries or a USB cable with this model. There’s no need to settle for one of them if you’re offered the convenience of both!
There are many other reasons that so many people choose this Garage Parking Sensor over the vast majority of parking aids out there. Despite the fact that you’ll get all of these sought after features, it’s much more affordable than almost any other parking sensor that you’ll come across.
More Garage Parking Safety Ideas
Parking spaces and effective lighting do not always come hand in hand. Most garages, shops, and covering parking areas could always use more light.
STKR also makes two garage lighting systems that screw directly into an empty light bulb socket. Check out the MPI and the TRiLIGHT to give your garage a huge lighting boost to make it easier to see where you're parking.
Conclusion
Parking sensors are well worth buying for everyone who has a garage or tight space. Even if you’re an expert driver, it gets rid of the guesswork saving time and can come in handy for friends, family and guests. Think of it as just another tool you use to make your life easier.
Here’s a quick recap of the post:
- Parking sensors save your wallet from unwanted repairs of your garage or vehicle(s). They take out the guess work, saving time, better parking, and lessen stress.
- The STKR Concepts Garage Parking Sensor is the best one on the market because it's simple easy to use, small, adaptable, can be a temporary easy install or designed for year's of use.
