Electric Gate Opener

PSDStu · Aug 7, 2005

I was wondering if anyone has an electric chain link fence gate opener?

My MIL is considering having one installed for her driveway entrance. She has a chain link fence and the gate will be the sliding version.

One of her questions is how does someone who gets to the gate contact her that they are at the gate? Is there something like a doorbell button that rings in the house to notify you that they are at the gate?

Is there a remote control like a garage door opener in the house so she can remotely open the gate from the house?

Just looking for information about them if anyone has any info.

Thanks!

OkeeDon · Aug 7, 2005

My experience is with a swing gate, but that's not important to the questions you asked.

It somewhat depends on the distance from your MIL's house to the gate. Over 1,000 feet, and all bets are off -- you'll probably need to install a dedicated phone line, like the gates in some gated communities. Up to 1,000 feet, you can install a push button at the end of a low-voltage line buried to the gate. That will open it, but won't solve the intercom problem.

I went with openers from GTO/Mighty Mule which will make my buddy Wrought'nHarve made at me, because they are not considered to be especially heavy duty. But, I figured I make lots of repairs for the difference in price. We have it set up so both my daughter and SIL and us have the same gates, same controllers and same codes. Folks can come in one gate and go out the other (The drivewways run about 300' on the kids' property and connect to about 800' of driveway on mine).

GTO has come out with some great entry and exit accessories for homeowner prices. The latest one is a combination keypad and intercom that will work for up to 500' wireless and 1,000 feet on low voltage wire. The primary problem with using it as a wired device is that GTO only recommends using their low-voltage wire, and they think it's worth it's weight in gold -- about 50 cents a foot, if I recall, which is $500 for 1,000 feet! The intercom/keypad lists for $399 but I've seen it for $299.

In my case, I put up a $65 keypad outside the gate with programmable codes, and another inside the gate, which has one simple code my guests use to get out. I have assigned different codes to folks like the meter reader, plus my family and friends; they can just come in any time they like. If we're expecting a crowd, like for a party, we include a gate code in the invitation, then set it for the one day only.

For friends who drop by on a casual basis, or strangers who think they would like access for some reason, We're handling it in a very simple way. We all (me, my wife, daughter & SIL) all carry cell phones with us all the time. Nowadays, most anyone who pulls up to the gate and deserves entry also has a cell phone. They can call us no matter where we are, and we can give them a code to punch to get in. If they ar not someone we want to come in again later, we give them a "stranger's" code that we change after they leave. Each keypad can have up to 25 codes, so there are always a few spare codes we can easily remember. Frankly, we don't usually change them. We're not looking for absolute security so much as keeping out kids on 4 wheelers and keeping in the toddlers and dogs.

I haven't taken pictures of our entry and gate, yet, but here's one that shows part of it.

GaryM · Aug 7, 2005

Do those gate openers have any kind of latch on the moving end. Or does it just depend on pressure from the opener to keep the gate closed?

OkeeDon · Aug 7, 2005

Latches are available if they aren't included with the more expensive openers. With the GTO/Mighty Mule systems we have, the latches are optional. Without the latch, and with a 16' gate (which we have at both entrances), it's possible to push the gate enough to walk around the end of it without jamming or breaking the opener mechanism.

The latches have a solenoid mechanism which withdraws the locking pin a split second before the gate opens, controlled by the same controller that handles the gate. The oin is then returned to the locking position, and snaps shut when the gate is closed. Because there is wiring and a solenoid involved, the aren't cheap -- around $200 for the GTO gates.

I plan to order one soon, for my gate, because we're not living on the property yet, so it will add a measure of security. Nothing is actually foolproof security, because anyone who wants in just has to drive over the fence with a 4WD truck, but it helps keep the honest folks honest. It also keeps the one more agressive dog from pushing the gate open enough to get out.

All told, I'll have something close to $1200 invested in one gate. The 16' gate is $113 from TSC. The opener was under $500. The keypads were $65 apiece and a couple of extra remotes were $35 apiece (1 comes with the gate, but we have 3 vehicles). The solar panel was about $160. A padlock on the to replace one of the clevis pins on the opener was about $35. The locking latch will be about $200.

jmc · Aug 8, 2005

We wanted to control the gate with the garage door openers we already carry in the cars so the installer sent one of our wireless openers to the factory when he ordered the gate opener and they matched the frequency.