Liftmaster gate opener power wire size?

[SSStang]

I’m about to trench a water line the length of my driveway. Next summer I plan in installing a gate and a Liftmaster csw24ul gate opener. Figure I’ll put the water and power line in the trench.
According the chart I need 8/2 wire is that correct?
That’s some pricey wire.
It’s about 400ft from my power supply to the future gate opener

Here is pic of wire size guide

 

[ducksface]

The ac only powers a wall wart charger type system for the 12v batteries.
The ac has nothing to do with the gate opener other than to charge a battery.
The ac does not over ride a dead battery. The battery is the only thing that opens the gate.
If you don't install the batteries, the gate won't work. If your batteries go bad, the gate won't work.
The gate runs on the batteries only.
The gates run perfectly on a $24 solar panel.
The batteries commonly used, the ones that fit within the opener control housing, will open and close the gate (if a single) about 50 times without charging.
If that is not enough times without daylight, a cheap car battery is just a jumper wire away from allowing it to open 100 times.
Your chosen opener is 24vdc motored.
Double check me on all of this.
If it will run on battery back-up, that means it doesn't need ac power.

Running the ac literally does nothing except cost you money.
(I worked on a liftmaster just yesterday. Some turd pushed it open by hand and I had to do a reset so it could find its limits.)

And
400ft is a long way for a liftmaster remote in many landscapes.
I spliced a super long distance $15 amazon remote control right into the 'emergency open' line switch because some people are just too stupid, too unknown, or too untrustworthy to either be given the code or work the keypad.
And
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07GFDQ467?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_image
This spliced into that same line allows Alexa and Google voice or app control.
Me: echo, open the gate.
Ecbo: 'OK. What fresh hell will this become?'
Or
Me:echo, open gate
Exho:'ok, send in the clowns. The damned clowns'

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I’m about to trench a water line the length of my driveway. Next summer I plan in installing a gate and a Liftmaster csw24ul gate opener. Figure I’ll put the water and power line in the trench.
According the chart I need 8/2 wire is that correct?
That’s some pricey wire.
It’s about 400ft from my power supply to the future gate opener

Here is pic of wire size guide

That chart is too blurry to read but i wouldnt bother with it.

Whats the actual load? You can do the voltage drop calcs yourself

When you say 8/2 it sounds like youre referring to either NM-b (not permitted for outdoor use) or UF-b. UF-b is more expensive than just putting 3x THWN in pipe.

 

[ducksface]

The actual load is just enough to power a wall wart charger.

 

[SSStang]

Ok obviously I don’t know anything about electrical. So just say I want to run power to this gate opener. What wire size and type should I use?

Main AC Supply 120 Vac, 4 Amps (10 Amps including Accessory Outlets) OR 240 Vac, 2 Amps
When Optional Transformer Kit Model 3PHCONV is installed in the field, operator is rated 208/240/480/575 VAC, 4.8/4.2/2.1/1.7 A, 60 Hz, 1 PH

Link to Manuel
https://www.fastaccesssecurity.com/manuals/Liftmaster-CSW24UL-Installation-Manual.pdf

 

[tarmy]

I just put one of those in...about 400’ from my panel. Great opener.

I would run a 1 1/2” to 2” conduit for pulling wire when you are ready. There are some wire feeds that need to be properly located to come up in the cabinet.

Mine are #8...works great. They have their own breaker and have been working for 11 years.

 

[ducksface]

Ok obviously I don’t know anything about electrical. So just say I want to run power to this gate opener. What wire size and type should I use?

I'm out.
Spend the money.
Hire a professional.
Code may require a professional.
Code may require a seperate ditch for water and electric.

 

[SSStang]

Thank you for the in put

 

[sberry]

Good place for 240v. If it can be wired that way.

 

[tarmy]

The ac only powers a wall wart charger type system for the 12v batteries.
The ac has nothing to do with the gate opener other than to charge a battery.
The ac does not over ride a dead battery. The battery is the only thing that opens the gate.
If you don't install the batteries, the gate won't work. If your batteries go bad, the gate won't work.
The gate runs on the batteries only.
The gates run perfectly on a $24 solar panel.
The batteries commonly used, the ones that fit within the opener control housing, will open and close the gate (if a single) about 50 times without charging.
If that is not enough times without daylight, a cheap car battery is just a jumper wire away from allowing it to open 100 times.
Your chosen opener is 24vdc motored.
Double check me on all of this.
If it will run on battery back-up, that means it doesn't need ac power.

Running the ac literally does nothing except cost you money.
(I worked on a liftmaster just yesterday. Some turd pushed it open by hand and I had to do a reset so it could find its limits.)

And
400ft is a long way for a liftmaster remote in many landscapes.
I spliced a super long distance $15 amazon remote control right into the 'emergency open' line switch because some people are just too stupid, too unknown, or too untrustworthy to either be given the code or work the keypad.
And
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07GFDQ467?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_image
This spliced into that same line allows Alexa and Google voice or app control.
Me: echo, open the gate.
Ecbo: 'OK. What fresh hell will this become?'
Or
Me:echo, open gate
Exho:'ok, send in the clowns. The damned clowns'

Just so you know...this particular opener(the one mentioned by OP) does not operate as you stated above.

My GTO did operate as a 24v system...the AC supply charged batteries that actually ran the 24v motor.

This model is an AC motor. The power also charges the two (either 7ah or 35ah batteries) that are only for back up if the AC supply is interrupted. LiftMaster does have a 24v system...this just isn’t it. This model is a great upgrade from my old system...easier to work on or replace components.

 

[sberry]

I was wondering if there was some model confusion here.

 

[ducksface]

If it has a battery backup and can run without ac, it's capable of running on solar.
Does this one run on a battery backup and is it capable of running without ac?

And
A link proving it is 24ac will not make one of us look silly.
A link proving it won't run on battery power will make one of us not look silly.
Because:
24vdc is the very first words in the official liftmaster description.

Maybe I'm guilty of having that 7?

 

[mike93lx]

For 2a at 240v, you could run #14 copper. If 4a at 120v, you'd want #10 copper

That said, you can get #6 aluminum xhhw cheaper than #10 copper thwn and it would give you more capacity.

3-#6xhhw in 1-1/4 conduit would work. If it is a straight shot, 1" might work, but I would probably bump up

Might be a good opportunity to put some lights along the driveway, if that's something you want eventually

 

[SSStang]

Great thank you for the information. Im gonna go ahead and run 1 1/4 conduit and pull the wire when I ready to install gate and opener.

 

[tarmy]

If it has a battery backup and can run without ac, it's capable of running on solar.
Does this one run on a battery backup and is it capable of running without ac?

And
A link proving it is 24ac will not make one of us look silly.
A link proving it won't run on battery power will make one of us not look silly.
Because:
24vdc is the very first words in the official liftmaster description.

Maybe I'm guilty of having that 7?

Whatever..

 

[ducksface]

Whatever..

Your 'whatever' might mean you're a saboteur and posted that wrong information on purpose.


I took the time to explain, offer alternate solutions, links, and two add-ons based solely on very recent experience.
You posted astoundingly wrong information solely to overwrite a fact based post and your reason for doing so is:
Whatever.
Would you at least take down your wrong information so as not to confuse other members?

You're my first blocked member.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Your 'whatever' might mean you're a saboteur and posted that wrong information on purpose.


I took the time to explain, offer alternate solutions, links, and two add-ons based solely on very recent experience.
You posted astoundingly wrong information and your reason for doing so is:
Whatever.
Would you at least take down your wrong information so as not to confuse other members?

You're my first blocked member.

If he's blocked, then how could he read your comment asking him to take it down?

 

[dcg9381]

The answer to your question was in the install manual of that unit... https://embed.widencdn.net/pdf/plus/cgi/g5vfstqguk/0139380.pdf?u=mcyivk - Page 17.

Most of these won't work on AC power. as they don't want you locked in if power goes down. This one pulls enough, it appears, that it can run on AC power, but I can't tell for certain. The power requirements are substantial enough that I'd think it might work without batteries, but can't tell without reading more.

 

[mkef]

While you're trenching. Toss another conduit in there so you can wire up a camera or hardwire controls to your house. As said above, 120v is just to charge the batteries. Some have a gearbox and you can add a heater if youre in a cold climate but that's more on commercial units.

 

[mkef]

So I read the diagram for this model. You run ac to the unit. Power is knocked down through the transformer then through a bridge rectifier to convert from ac to DC. Main operations are through the rectified dc with batteries as a back up. Therefore, you could technically run it on solar. The wiring diagram is on the site in the resourses area for that model operator. I do alot of la500 ops and they are alittle different

 

[Eastern Washington]

I’m about to trench a water line the length of my driveway. Next summer I plan in installing a gate and a Liftmaster csw24ul gate opener. Figure I’ll put the water and power line in the trench.
According the chart I need 8/2 wire is that correct?
That’s some pricey wire.
It’s about 400ft from my power supply to the future gate opener

Here is pic of wire size guide

Everything Ducksface says about the gate operating is correct. I have a double leaf swing gate that is 700 ft away from the power source and am using dual Liftmaster LA500DC actuators. I ran 4 each #12 AWG conductors (including ground) in conduit and am powering the gate controller (standard plastic box) with 240 AC. Amp draw is so low its almost not mensurable because all the AC is doing, is charging the batteries. The reason I installed #12 and am using 240 volt is to ensure minimal voltage loss over this distance. The reason Liftmaster specifies such large wire is to power the 15 amp convenience outlet inside the controller. My outlet is disconnected.
I tried powering the controller with only solar which works great during the non-snow seasons. A layer of snow or ice on the solar panels was enough to prevent adequate charging of the batteries (we use the gate a lot). My biggest problem is the cross-beam sensor being covered by wind-blown snow. Once the gate opens, it doesn't close until the sensor is cleaned of snow. I'm researching other sensor types to eliminate this issue.

 

[dave*99]

Everything Ducksface says

Everything Ducksface says got him banned long ago. This thread is over 3 years old.