The invention provides a method and an apparatus for determining a height of a point on a wire loop. A height gauge device is positioned over the point on the wire loop to be measured. Incident light is projected from the height gauge device for illuminating the point. The height gauge device receives reflected light produced from the incident light and a processor coupled to the height gauge device determines from a characteristic of the reflected light the height of the said point relative to a reference surface. Further methods and apparatus for finding a position and height of a highest point on the wire loop are also provided.