Question about electric gate openers

[GT2]

Is is possible to have a gate opener activated by a photo eye?
So that it opens at sunrise and closes at sunset?
I'm researching building an outdoor solar hot water heater, and want to make an insulated door that opens when there is sun and closes when there is not.
Thanks, Tim

 

[jlsmith]

Is is possible to have a gate opener activated by a photo eye?
So that it opens at sunrise and closes at sunset?
I'm researching building an outdoor solar hot water heater, and want to make an insulated door that opens when there is sun and closes when there is not.
Thanks, Tim

My brother installs gate operators and ill ask him tonight. Seems i recall him putting something like that on a gate at one time.

 

[DennisArrow]

Tim........OF COURSE there are switches like this......they operate a multitude of devices that are common........Outdoor lighting?...........You just need one that has the capability of being sensitive enough for clouds or full sun???????? Gate/door opening mechanisms are merely motors/drives hooked up through a variety of switches through a board.......

Good luck......Dennis

 

[mefyj]

My GTO gate opener has a multitude of options. Call or search "Gates That Open" they are really good about answering questions.
However my personal opinion is that you should get a commercial grade opener as you will be much happier. Only a few dollars more and long term results are exceptional.

 

[GT2]

My GTO gate opener has a multitude of options. Call or search "Gates That Open" they are really good about answering questions.
However my personal opinion is that you should get a commercial grade opener as you will be much happier. Only a few dollars more and long term results are exceptional.

Thanks for the link, I called them and they couldn't say if it would work or not.
All they could say is that they did not have the items to do it with.

I know there are many types of switches and such out there... I just don't know if its possible to open/close using a photo switch.
From my limited knowledge, a photo switch usually opens and closes a circuit, ie interrupts voltage to a light.
However I would think its not this simple with a gate opener, seems you need something to apply power to open, and then something to reverse the power to close.

Just rambling out loud, feel free to add if you want!
Thanks

 

[JRobyn]

The control boards of most of them (MightyMule, GTO, Liftmaster, Apollo) just have terminals that any combination of normally open or normally closed switch or set of relay contacts can be wired to. The Mighty Mule/GTO User Manuals that show the control board wiring details are available from their website. But these are very low or no voltage circuits, so a photocell switch would likely need to operate a relay and then the relay contacts be wired to the gate opener.

- Jay

 

[Jimbrown]

I have three gate openers. They all work off of a momentary switch. There is no off on thing like a light switch. You close the circuit and it opens you close the same circuit again and it closes. I would think that any solar switch would do the same.

 

[Jimbrown]

I have three gate openers. They all work on momentary contact. There is no switch like a light switch that has an on and off. You close the circuit momentarily and the gate opens. You push the same switch again and it closes. The ones that they sell are very close to a doorbell switch.

 

[Redbug]

Seems to me a simpler solution to your question would be to use a timer to open and close the gate, instead of relying on a photo cell type of arrangement. A photo cell could be blocked by snow, dark clouds at opening time, etc. The timer could be adjusted periodically to match the seasonal sunrise/sunset times. Interesting question you have...

 

[BobRip]

I would think you would want it to only open on sunny days. My solar collectors does not do anything on a cloudy day. You really need a positive device that says sun is shining and it opens. Sun is out and it closes. The momentary contact thing will get out of phase and open when it should be closed and vice versa.

 

[adjusterr]

You might want to consider if you are able to hookup a solar/photocell switch, you would need some type of safety switch as you don't need the gate to operate,(due to low or bright light, while you are driving through. Just a thought. Good luck.

 

[redberankubota]

You might want to consider if you are able to hookup a solar/photocell switch, you would need some type of safety switch as you don't need the gate to operate,(due to low or bright light, while you are driving through. Just a thought. Good luck.

He`s talking about using the gate opener to open a door to a shed for a water heater...not to open and close a gate

"I'm researching building an outdoor solar hot water heater, and want to make an insulated door that opens when there is sun and closes when there is not."

 

[adjusterr]

He`s talking about using the gate opener to open a door to a shed for a water heater...not to open and close a gate

"I'm researching building an outdoor solar hot water heater, and want to make an insulated door that opens when there is sun and closes when there is not."

Whoa! you sure caught me on that one, I'll have to read posts more closely.

 

[larrysedl]

I have just installed a mighty mule gate open and have an issue. I have since learned their tech support is terrible. They told me disconnect the yellow wire. Doing so renders the open inoperable.
The problem is I installed an exit wand on both sides of the gate so anyone coming or going could just drive up and the gate will open. The fence and gate are only decoration only not security, open on both ends.
What is happening is trucks on the road are setting it off unwanted. I live right on US20 and this home owner grade opener will not last for this many false openings.
It is 35 feet off the driving lanes. I have tried putting it inside of plastic pipe, then steel pipe. also tried building a box around it out of solid concrete blocks with more blocks for a lid. Still get false openings.
Soft sided trucks or aluminum dump trucks do not open it, while some, not all, enclosed semis do. A sea can always does. I could live with that, there aren't many of those.
Next we will try adding potentiometer to this circuit.
Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks Larry

 

[Jimbrown]

This

Gate Crafters Wireless Exit Air Hose Driveway Pressure Sensor - Sensor Only

 

[JRobyn]

Or read this - GTO/Linear Pro Automatic Exit Sensor - 5' (FM139) / Mighty Mule (FM138)

Specifically the part from their senior application engineer regarding adjustable sensitivity wands. It appears that their recommendation is for a different wand, their "Estate Swing" which can be ordered with a separate sensitivity adjust board that splices into the ground lead. I can't find any details about this board on their website, so maybe you'll need to call GateCrafters.

I suppose you could alternately just add a small pot on the ground supply line to decrease the voltage to your existing wand and accomplish similar. I'd have no clue what resistance value would be appropriate.

 

[joefromga]

If it sends voltage to the circuit board you could measure that and replace the wand with a motion or light beam sensor like on a garage door opener so that a car has to physically break the beam before it opens.

 

[flyerdan]

How high off the ground is the wand? I assume it ties into the loop detector circuit, so maybe having it lower will help.

 

[larrysedl]

Or read this - GTO/Linear Pro Automatic Exit Sensor - 5' (FM139) / Mighty Mule (FM138)

Specifically the part from their senior application engineer regarding adjustable sensitivity wands. It appears that their recommendation is for a different wand, their "Estate Swing" which can be ordered with a separate sensitivity adjust board that splices into the ground lead. I can't find any details about this board on their website, so maybe you'll need to call GateCrafters.

I suppose you could alternately just add a small pot on the ground supply line to decrease the voltage to your existing wand and accomplish similar. I'd have no clue what resistance value would be appropriate.

I really don't want to add something else to mow around, and the beams could get covered with snow.
I did find this on gate crafters;
GTO PC Board w/ Tuning Pot for GTO FM139 / Mighty Mule FM138 Vehicle Exit Wand
So I picked up 3 different potentiometers to try when it stops raining

 

[larrysedl]

How high off the ground is the wand? I assume it ties into the loop detector circuit, so maybe having it lower will help.

The wand is buried 1 foot deep