Electric gate openers for driveway

[Jason B]

Looking into putting an electric gate at the end of a driveway. There are 2 columns on each side, about 50 inches high, and 14 feet across, will need (2) 7 foot sections for an electric dual swing gate. There are 2 lights on the columns on a dedicate 20 amp circuit in the panel in basement.

Just looking for suggestions on where to buy a gate and the motors, etc advice.... I see costco has very well rated motor setup that comes with everything, key pad, battery backup, the works. Probably won't use it all, but nice that it's all there.

And if there's a better place to post this, let me know.

 

[strutaeng]

I bought a gate opener, photo eye (now required by some UL requirement), and transmitter from AffordableOpeners.com

Stuff arrived bolted on a mini pallet. I called because I didn't know how to wire the transmitter and the guy was very helpful. Told me I had to wire the photo eye for it to work, which I was not planning on wiring...

I got the DC instead of the AC one. The DC have dual 6V batteries that serve as a back-up if power fails. We hardly have power outages, but a nice feature. Price is a few hundred more than AC.

Mine is a cantilevered gate, but opener is the same as sliding gate. Don't know about the swing type.

 

[rattle_snake]

Budget?

Why 2 gates? 14' isn't much.

GTO is common brand, part easy to get, but not professional quality. $5 motors wear out, but I get about 20,000 cycles+ per motor.

 

[falconero]

Mighty mule and ghost controlls are the ones I have been looking into

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[Torque&Recoil]

I am on my second opener. The first was a mid-priced unit, that was a PITA to get working, and lasted about a year and a half. I now have a Nice Apollo opener with the Titan actuator. The Nice brand unit is so much better that I can't believe I wasted my time with the cheaper one. I am currently swinging a 14' metal gate with no problem, but Nice also makes dual openers if you want to do two 7' gates. The Nice remotes are small, elegant, and have a range of about 500 feet (that's a guess). I press the button when I'm driving down the street and the gate is practically open when I arrive. I have and use a keypad on a post, for guests, contractors, etc. If you do the installation yourself, you will find the digital circuit board with display easier to use than the older ones.

 

[60acres]

I would check out amazinggates.com. I installed the Strasbourg 14ft bi-parting gate two years ago and was very happy with them. Everything shipped to a local terminal and I picked it all up from there. They have excellent customer service also.

 

[Jackfre]

I have a Liftmaster gate opener very similar to what you describe your needs as. 6 yrs without problems.

 

[tarmy]

This is a Mule gate opener. 11 years in snow country...works great. I did have issues when I first put it in...but they sent basically all new guts and no problem since.

It is moving a 960 pound 24’ cantilevered gate...

 

[LifeLongWNYer]

If your gate will be where snow builds up, I suggest a rolling, ( sliding ) gate leaf. All it has to do when traveling is shove aside snow the width of the gate leaf, typically 2 - 2.5", while a swinging leaf has to "clear a path" through the whole arc of its' travel.

Also, the operators for sliding gates are better at resisting collisions between the leaf and vehicles than the screw operators used for swinging gates. When closed, a sliding gate is secured by a fork, or a "catcher", at the free end post, the supporting rollers at the opposite end post. Also, a sliding leaf can be of any length, with only one leaf and one operator, where as swinging gates, once the leafs exceed 8 - 9 feet, need two leafs and two operators. There are operators which can swing a gate in snow country, they lift the leaf before beginning to swing it, but they are "industrial strength" and very expensive. The widest opening the I ever put a sliding gate in was in a 48' wide opening, one leaf, and one operator, absolutely no problems.

The new hydraulic sliding operators are unbelievable fast, and automatically slow the leaf down when it approaches the end of its' travel path.

 

[Bretny]

You get snow in that part of PA? 50in tall gate post dosnt leave much room for snow.

 

[kbs2244]

I second the idea of a sliding or RR gate style in snow country.
The RR style needs no snow removal clearance at all.

 

[koditten]

Cantilever gates are what I'm researching now. Seem very easy to fabricate, but those 4 rollers are spendy!

 

[strutaeng]

Cantilever gates are what I'm researching now. Seem very easy to fabricate, but those 4 rollers are spendy!

Yes, rollers are expensive. I created a thread a while back on one I built. 22' opening, 28' overall. 7' tall. I installed an All-O-Matic operator. Been working very well for almost 2 years now.

I did mine cantilever due to slope issue, but what I gathered is they are better for snow areas.

If anybody is interested:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=392634&highlight=Cantilever

 

[rburke65]

Obviously, as in most things, ya get what you pay for. Quality is long remembered after the pain of cost is forgotten.

 

[ard]

Agree that 14 ft isnt much, Id use one gate- one opener. cuts your cost in half.

Some people get hung up on the idea of two gates parting to let them into their palatial estate tho...

Ive only use doorking, linear and elite, overkill for most residential.

 

[koditten]

Yes, rollers are expensive. I created a thread a while back on one I built. 22' opening, 28' overall. 7' tall. I installed an All-O-Matic operator. Been working very well for almost 2 years now.

I did mine cantilever due to slope issue, but what I gathered is they are better for snow areas.

If anybody is interested:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=392634&highlight=Cantilever

Thanks for the link to your. I am interested.

 

[tarmy]

Cantilever gates are what I'm researching now. Seem very easy to fabricate, but those 4 rollers are spendy!

You need 8 expensive rollers! My set up has 4 in each post to carry it...when fully extended...two carriers are in compression...two in lift prevention...



It is not clear how they function in this photo...but each of the two post has a roller on each side of the gate to direct horizontal alignment...and one that carries the load and the other on top so when the gate is extended...the back post then gets loaded...upwards.

 

[strutaeng]

You need 8 expensive rollers! My set up has 4 in each post to carry it...when fully extended...two carriers are in compression...two in lift prevention...



It is not clear how they function in this photo...but each of the two post has a roller on each side of the gate to direct horizontal alignment...and one that carries the load and the other on top so when the gate is extended...the back post then gets loaded...upwards.

Here are the rollers I bought. They have gone up $100 in the last 2.5 years that I bought mine, and I thought they were expensive then:

https://www.hooverfence.com/igd-chain-link-standard-nylon-cantilever-rollers-square-post

Also, a crude sketch to illustrate how these gates work. The red arrows are the reactions. Note how the reactions alternate as gate rolls across.

Perhaps a new thread should be started, since we have gone off track...typical GJ thread

 

[ssrobzoom]

good info

 

[tarmy]

Here are the rollers I bought. They have gone up $100 in the last 2.5 years that I bought mine, and I thought they were expensive then:

https://www.hooverfence.com/igd-chain-link-standard-nylon-cantilever-rollers-square-post

Also, a crude sketch to illustrate how these gates work. The red arrows are the reactions. Note how the reactions alternate as gate rolls across.

Perhaps a new thread should be started, since we have gone off track...typical GJ thread

You are going with a single post?

How are you controlling the horizontal alignment?

My gate is very heavy...how much weight is going to be cantalivered?

 

[strutaeng]

You are going with a single post?

How are you controlling the horizontal alignment?

My gate is very heavy...how much weight is going to be cantalivered?

Single post? Where? The single post is where it latches. The gate rolls on a pair of posts. As for the horizontal alignment, the wheels have some flanges that prevent the door from falling off. Click on the link. There are rollers for square stock and round stock. The rollers match the profile. 2,000 lb is the rated capacity. Gate probably weighs 800lb

Your setup looks different than mine. I see why you say 8 wheels. The one I built only has 4.

 

[Jason B]

Def needs to be DUAL SWING gate. Two 7 foot sections.

 

[tez929rr]

Apollo openers are ubiquitous around here. We have two at our place, both on heavy 14 foot gates. The only issue is that the newer rolling code receivers don’t work with Homelink vehicle systems. That may not be an issue for you. All of the keypads, vehicle sensors, etc. are add ons so you can modify as needed. We changed our receivers to Liftmasters which fixed the Homelink problem.

All this stuff is available on line at good prices.

 

[My Old Tools]

Our lake neighborhood has a Doorking slider. It has been in operation for 20 years or so. An occasional lightening strike will fry a control board or loop controller. Otherwise, it's pretty bullet proof.

 

[Jason B]

Ok, the next thing. Where is the best place to buy these gates from?

I'll need two 7 foot wide, 4 foot high gates...

 

[mcbane]

Ok, the next thing. Where is the best place to buy these gates from?

I'll need two 7 foot wide, 4 foot high gates...

I had good luck with gatedepot.com. Keep in mind that shipping large gate parts could be outrageously expensive so your best total cost may be local even if the gate price seems a little high.


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[tez929rr]

Ok, the next thing. Where is the best place to buy these gates from?

I'll need two 7 foot wide, 4 foot high gates...

Find a local welder who does gates and can offer you options.

 

[Jason B]

I had good luck with gatedepot.com. Keep in mind that shipping large gate parts could be outrageously expensive so your best total cost may be local even if the gate price seems a little high.

Ok, tried them and they gave I think a pretty nice price. Prices are before shipping. Curious where are you located??

 

[mcbane]

CA. I was able to pick up at their location so my shipping was free.

 

[DeeDubz]

I've had a lift master swinging gate for 4 yrs no issues. I had a pro install.... I should have done it myself but toooooo busy. I had them instal a solar panel. I put a wireless keypad on the gate. Theres an app on my iPhone that I can open my gate and garage with. Makes it pretty handy.