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Driveway Gate Openers

D

Dean

Well-known Member
I built a new driveway this summer and will need a gate with opener about 1000' from the buildings.

I can bury a cable from the buildings, install another meter at a nearby power pole (approximately $11.50/month minimum charge) or take my chances with a battery/solar opener. Of course, the AC cable option is the most desireable but the cost of installing the cable will likely approach the cost of the gate and opener.

Anyone have any advise regarding AC and/or battery/solar gate openers?

Thanks in advance.

Dean
 
Have you priced out openers yet? They really charge a lot for them in this state. A lot of the HOA's have them; spent a lot of money on the gate plus the cost of all the openers for the members. Seems like they have a lot of service calls on those gates.
 
I've not had anyone prepare quotes but have done some research on the internet.

It will not be possible for me to get by without gating the road in this case.

Dean
 
I have installed/helped on a couple gates. There are so many different styles that a simple answer is impossible. As you mentioned the distance is an issue since you will have to contend with voltage drop. Just an offhand guess says that if your opener requires 20 amps then it will take 2/0 wire or maybe larger to supply it at that distance.
A separate meter will add up over time also, here a meter is $35/month just to have it active. I don't have any experience with solar personally but I would sure look into it, especially in how many times a day it can be used.
 

The solar works well depending on how many times a day you open the gate. Two to three times a day and no problems... any more than that and you need two solar panels to keep the charge rate up. As said by others, you can run a long 110 lead as the current draw is low. I buried a 250 foot lead to my gate and run the gate and a motion activated flood light off of it. My opener is a mightymule 500 and has worked well for 6 years now.
 

I've had a solar charged battery operated gate opener for over 10 yrs. 1st had Mighty Mule then switched to Apollo for the stronger built arm(cylinder). Either are expensive to repair but are nice when it's cold & raining especially if one is crippled such as I am. They're not a security gate opener but a convenience gate opener but they keep out lazy people.
 
(quoted from post at 10:04:20 09/22/14) Put up a metal corral gate and get a piece of chain and a padlock, just as effective as an expensive electric gate.
Click to expand...

Maybe effective but not near as convenient. Retired Farmer if you're married I'll bet your wife enjoys unlocking & opening/closing that "effective gate" in a cold rain storm. :wink:
 
Hi Greg , When I first read your post I thought ,what 2/0 , no way. You can google up some calculation charts and once you get out at 1000 feet for a 20 amp circuit , well, it takes some bigger conductors. Never thought it would take such a large size. I hate VD.
 
I have had a battery powered gate for about 10 years. I do not close the gate when I am at home.So gate only cycles a few times a day. Solar charger works well unless there is a long period of dark cloudy days. About twice a year I have to take the battery up to the shop and charge it.
 
According to the voltage drop calculator I used, at 120vac, 1000 ft., #12 wire at (guessed at) 2 amp battery tender charger, the drop would only be 5.7%.

120-6.84=113.16vac. That should run a small charger, could even add a couple of LED lights.
 
Some food for thought....
Cost of the cable from the house may be expensive, but it is a ONE TIME expense. Once paid for and installed, no further expense other than the small amount of electricity that an opener uses.
Cost of another meter at another power pole starts to add up. First is the installation cost (presumable not free). Then there is the monthly bill. For a few months, it will not seem to be much. After 10 or 15 years, it will long exceed the cost of having put in a cable from the beginning.
Just my humble opinion....solar is simply not reliable enough over the long term. Initial cost is high, capacity is limited, and will require maintenance.
My vote goes for the cable.
 
(quoted from post at 13:22:42 09/22/14)
Just my humble opinion....solar is simply not reliable enough over the long term. Initial cost is high, capacity is limited, and will require maintenance.
My vote goes for the cable.
Click to expand...

Both brand gate openers I've had still require a 12 volt battery and solar panels aren't that expensive.
 
(quoted from post at 13:22:42 09/22/14)
Just my humble opinion....solar is simply not reliable enough over the long term. Initial cost is high, capacity is limited, and will require maintenance.
My vote goes for the cable.
Click to expand...

Both brand gate openers I've had still require a 12 volt battery and solar panels aren't that expensive.
 
Never had any gates when she was around, she wouldn't have stopped to open them anyway, she would just have flown over them on her broom anyway.
 
I make and install gates. Check into a low voltage setup for the brand opener you decide on. GTO(Mighty Mule) and Apollo have them for up to 1000 and 1200 feet. It uses a small transformer plugged into a 110 volt outlet, the 110v gets converted to 24v DC. It runs to the opener using 2 conductor landscape wiring. Longer runs require a larger gauge, just bury it out of site. It keeps the 12v battery charged that runs the opener.
 
Thanks, Rob.

I wondered if someone made a DC battery powered opener with AC or low voltage charger. This would eliminate the need for heavy gage wire to accomodate starting current for an AC motor.

I'll investigate.

Dean
 
(quoted from post at 17:29:12 09/22/14) Thanks, Rob.

I wondered if someone made a DC battery powered opener with AC or low voltage charger. This would eliminate the need for heavy gage wire to accomodate starting current for an AC motor.

I'll investigate.

Dean
Click to expand...

Both brands of gate openers I had were/are 12 volt DC battery operated with a charger built in.
 
(quoted from post at 16:43:46 09/22/14) I make and install gates. Check into a low voltage setup for the brand opener you decide on. GTO(Mighty Mule) and Apollo have them for up to 1000 and 1200 feet. It uses a small transformer plugged into a 110 volt outlet, the 110v gets converted to 24v DC. It runs to the opener using 2 conductor landscape wiring. Longer runs require a larger gauge, just bury it out of site. It keeps the 12v battery charged that runs the opener.
Click to expand...
eed ~1/2 amp & less to maintain the battery, so low voltage wire & very small for such small current, if a fellow just can't live with solar, which works fine for my son's double gates. Tip: Don't install your solar panel in the shade of that big tree! :)
 
Most of the residential openers convert 110v to dc in the board are by use of a transformer. The opener motors run off the dc from a battery. AC just keeps it all charged by use of either a separate charging board or it may be integrated in the main board. Look for the wiring specs in the operator/installation manual, usually they can be found online.
 
(quoted from post at 19:51:00 09/22/14) That reminds me of gates my uncle had between fields. Push open self closing gates.
No battery or wires needed.
I know several people in west texas that have them as driveway gates.
They will sure teach you how to drive.
Click to expand...
bump gates", all over the great Texas King Ranch.........timing is important! :wink:
 
I did this. I had 5pair wire so I connect 5 wires to ground and 5 wires to 12v on the battery and then bought a charger to keep the battery charged. That was 3 years ago and it is still working. The run was 300 feet.
 
(quoted from post at 06:51:44 09/22/14) I have installed/helped on a couple gates. There are so many different styles that a simple answer is impossible. As you mentioned the distance is an issue since you will have to contend with voltage drop. Just an offhand guess says that if your opener requires 20 amps then it will take 2/0 wire or maybe larger to supply it at that distance.
A separate meter will add up over time also, here a meter is $35/month just to have it active. I don't have any experience with solar personally but I would sure look into it, especially in how many times a day it can be used.
Click to expand...

Not sure this is where to ask this question but I ll try it anyway lol
Is it possible to operate my gate opener from the battery ( with a battery maintainer hooked to it) and not use the transformer?
 
I've had an Apollo brand gate opener since 2010 and I wouldn't have any other. The battery is contained within a locked "cabinet" that has all of the electronics inside as well.

Of course, the solar charger is on top of the cabinet. I'm on my 4th battery since then, but we only get 2-3 years out of a battery on cars and equipment anyway because of the Texas heat.

My remote control will open the gate when I get about 400' from it so there's no stopping to wait, and it'll close within an owner programmed time allowance. That's handy if you have cattle nearby when entering or exiting.

It's one of the best buys I've ever made.
 
Hello Jenn welcome to YT! I hate to do this to a new poster here but an object lessons always seem to be more effective. Do YOU know if my car will run on two double A batteries?? See you do not know if I am asking about a toy car or a full sized road vehicle. Same with your gate opener, we cannot see if what you are asking is possible. If you would give use the Brand name and model of your opener we would have a better chance of giving you a correct answer because we could look it up on the net to see how it is configured. Secondly, you have replied to a 9 year old post. Due to the communication break down between the software of the to different views here replies by others are going to be all messed up. I would recommend you go to the top of the post and click on ..new topic.. at the left and enter your own new post. Get your openers make and model to put on there as well. This will work out better in the end. Thx!
 

I also have an Apollo gate opener & keep battery charged with solar panel. It's been that way for many yrs. I know some people use deep cycle batteries on electric gate openers but I can't see the advantage of deep cycle battery because gate opener isn't designed to operate at much lower than 12 volts.
 
I have a Lift Master on my gate at home and we have several at work. They are not cheap but are very reliable. The one at my house operates off a 12-volt battery. I used a solar panel to charge the battery for years but ran house power to it 4 years ago and installed a Schumaacher 1.5 amp battery maintainer. It has been trouble free.
 
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