Anybody out there do gate/opener installs

[rubberneck]

Looking to put up a set of swinging gates over my driveway. The driveway is 16ft wide where i want to install the gates, so each leaf would be @8ft. Will be going with steel gates of whatever design the wife picks out. I want to to put openers on the gates. I want remote as well as keypad entry, automatic exit opening, and intercom to the house. There are many styles available, so i am looking for opinions on which openers/systems to get. I dont really like the way the linear actuator style openers look, so i was thinking about the swing arm style. I have also seen an inground model made by doorking I think. Anybody have any advice. thanks

 

[Bill Stockard]

We are using a GTO Mighty Mule electric dual gate opener which has worked flawlessly for a year. It is powered by two 12-volt gel cell batteries and recharged by a 20-watt solar panel. The entrance gates are too far from our house (800’+) to use a 120-volt powered operator. We use Home Link in my truck and in my wife's Honda Odyssey to open and close the gates. We also have an outside keypad on the curved arm in order for someone who knows the code to get in. The codes are easily entered into the keypad. Currently, we have our personal codes, the local REA electric cooperative meter reader has a code assigned to him, and a local farmer who cuts and bales our hay has his code.



Also, we have the optional electric gate lock and the pin locks to keep anyone from removing the pins and gaining entrance. We don't have the automatic close function activated nor do we have the sensor buried in the driveway to automatically close and/or open the gate. We use the hand held remote control we carry on the Kubota RTV and the tractor, the key pad, or the Home Link in our vehicles to operate the gate.



The electric gate opener was professionally installed by a local fencing contractor. We live in the country with two Priefert 16' lightweight (68 lbs. each) tubular steel entrance gates mounted on 6"x 6" treated wood posts. Since we don’t have any cattle or horses we used lightweight gates to make it easier on the openers. We don't have any city codes and/or homeowner's associations’ regulations to meet.



It’s nice to have an electric gate opener after over 20 years of having to get out of the vehicle to open and close the gate.



Bill

 

[rubberneck]

Cool, thanks for the info. I shouldn't need heavy gates either. The gates are mostly to keep the "honest thieves" out if you know what i mean. If somebody wants in all they need to do is drive through my orchard and up around the house. I just want to keep the delivery trucks and garbage guy off my new concrete drive. I am going to check out the electric lock also, sounds like a good idea. The gate is only 350' from my house, so i did run 110 power out there, but am thinking i may get the low voltage system anyway that way the gates will still operate during power outages. thanks.

 

[bighammer]

The timing here is amazing. I'm in the (slow) proccess of fencing in a part of our property. (the ranchers will laugh, but it's probably only 2. 5 to 3 acres) I've got a couple corners in and one side nearly done. It's just a plain 4' farm fence on steel T posts with wood corners.

For our driveway, I have a 14' opening that I plan to put a single gate in. Probably just a plain steel ranch gate until I can make something more attractive. (saw some really nice wood gates for $$$$$)

I think our Tractor Supply has the Mighty Mule opener, and I like the price. Surfing around the net, it looks like there are many different brands. There is an underground model, but I forget the name. Not sure about the durability of stuff in a hole in the ground (with snow, sand, mud, salt, etc. ) so I didn't really look at that one.

The fence is really for our 2 Rottweilers, but I'm thinking about sheep or goats just for the heck of it. I'd have to think about winter, but I like the idea of not mowing anymore.

 

[Bill Stockard]

Cool, thanks for the info. I shouldn't need heavy gates either. The gates are mostly to keep the "honest thieves" out if you know what i mean. If somebody wants in all they need to do is drive through my orchard and up around the house. I just want to keep the delivery trucks and garbage guy off my new concrete drive. I am going to check out the electric lock also, sounds like a good idea. The gate is only 350' from my house, so i did run 110 power out there, but am thinking i may get the low voltage system anyway that way the gates will still operate during power outages. thanks.

Yep, like you, we have the gates to keep out the "honest" thieves, heavy trucks, and "sight see'ers".



The 120-volt models use a transformer to drop the voltage to 12-volts since the system works on 12-volts. It also utilizes the 12-volt gel cell battery so the gate will work if there is a power outage.



I had already placed a conduit under the driveway before it was paved so we didn't have to cut into the driveway. The dual gate system requires a cable to one of the motors under the driveway. The only problem we had was with using 16' gates, the operator motor wire harnesses were at their length limit reaching to the control box. GTO doesn't recommend adding any wire to the multi-wire harness to the operators.





Yes, Tractor Supply and Home Depot sell the DIY version of the GTO gate. I decided to have our gate installed since it was a dual gate, required a gate stop in the asphalt driveway that could be driven over, and also required reinforcement of the gate where the opener connected to it. The installer did a very good job installing the equipment, setting it up, and showing me how to enter codes and tips on how to make any adjustments I wanted to the gate opener. The installer supplied the pin locks keyed alike and the 20-watt solar panel which aren’t available in the DIY version. He also recommended using two 12-volt gel cell batteries instead of one because of the dual gates. There is room in the control box and it is prewired for a second battery.



So far, we are very satisfied with the gate opener and the installation.



Bill

 

[rubberneck]

Bill, thanks, more good info. I wasn't aware of the gate stop in the middle. What does it look like? I will have to do some more searching. I did put a 4 inch conduit under the driveway to use as a chase to run conduit, or water line under there if i ever need it.

 

[rubberneck]

There is an underground model, but I forget the name. Not sure about the durability of stuff in a hole in the ground (with snow, sand, mud, salt, etc. ) so I didn't really look at that one.

If its the same one ive seen, its made by doorking. Luckily for me, i dont have to deal with snow or salt here in central CA. One of the few benefits Cali has left. :-laf :-{} It is supposedly in a sealed box, so hopefully they would be ok out here. I would really like to here from somebody who has one to see if they are really ok though. I might just end up calling a pro. I need to start asking some locals for recomendations. My dad had a sliding gate installed last year and the installer was a total clown. So if i cant find somebody better than him, it will definitely be DIY

 

[Bill Stockard]

Bill, thanks, more good info. I wasn't aware of the gate stop in the middle. What does it look like?

Using dual gates, the gates have to stop at the same place and firmly against a stop when closed other wise it would be easy for someone to spring the gates apart and walk in. I used a 3/8" x10" long galvanized steel headed spike shimmed with a 3/4" hex nut driven into the asphalt for a gate stop. It is high enough to contact the gate and still can be driven over with out damaging it or a tire. The gate installer welded a small steel plate to the bottom outside corner of the gate to contact the stop in the ashpalt. The second gate, on a 5 second delay, contacts this plate welded to the other gate that is already firmly against the gate stop when it closes to make a secure closure. The dual gate controler opens the second gate 5 seconds later than the first gate. The last gate to close is the first gate to open.



If you like, I can e-mail photos to you showing the gate stop and how it works.



Bill