Reliability of Electric Drive Entrance Gates

[Pilatus]

I am considering having a pair of electrically operated gates fitted at the drive entrance to our house. How reliable are electric gate mechanisms and the electrics that go with the system. Is it a case of "you get what you pay for"?

 

[TripleSix]

the best are the underground electro hydraulic type.

Make sure they're correctly installed with a good warranty.

They do want a service yearly really, just to check the motor pit isn't filling with mud and water which generally kills the unit eventually.

you do get what you pay for, also the skill of the installer has a big bearing on reliability!

 

[Pilatus]

the best are the underground electro hydraulic type.

Make sure they're correctly installed with a good warranty.

They do want a service yearly really, just to check the motor pit isn't filling with mud and water which generally kills the unit eventually.

you do get what you pay for, also the skill of the installer has a big bearing on reliability!

Thanks for that.

 

[Blue.]

I and other family members have above ground Came motors,out of 5 fitted 8+ years ago only one has failed and that was the one on a wooden gate,we put it down to wind resistance.

 

[Doing it for the kids]

I'm in the same boat.

Been quoted £2600 for supply and fit!!!

Went on the the electric gate shop on line and will probably buy a I it for £600 and get sparkie to fit

 

[Quivogne UK]

+1 for Came (underground), very reliable but get a professional to wire them.

 

[zyklon]

Is there such a thing as solar powered entrance gates? Just wondering if there was a way of having gates on a lane way without a 230v electric source.

 

[simon-0116]

I'm in the same boat.

Been quoted £2600 for supply and fit!!!

Went on the the electric gate shop on line and will probably buy a I it for £600 and get sparkie to fit

only draw back is make sure all red tape. sensors tests carried out as I no a few people won't fit gates due to people been hurt and people looking for someone to blame.

 

[milkloss]

Go and see some in action, I've got two sets of gates to tackle within my family circle: one results in me leaning on the horn until they blip the gates and they are painfully slow' most of the time I park outside and walk in in a fraction of the time. The others are also painfully slow to open but at least they gave me a blipper (which I can't leave in the car in case someone nicks it and can get in their drive!)

 

[Blue.]

Go and see some in action, I've got two sets of gates to tackle within my family circle: one results in me leaning on the horn until they blip the gates and they are painfully slow' most of the time I park outside and walk in in a fraction of the time. The others are also painfully slow to open but at least they gave me a blipper (which I can't leave in the car in case someone nicks it and can get in their drive!)

You need a dial to open controller,we never use the fobs anymore.

 

[Blue.]

Is there such a thing as solar powered entrance gates? Just wondering if there was a way of having gates on a lane way without a 230v electric source.

Hollins applications sell a solar kit.

www.hollinapplications.co.uk/Agricultural/Gate.htm

only draw back is make sure all red tape. sensors tests carried out as I no a few people won't fit gates due to people been hurt and people looking for someone to blame.

My brother is a came installer.there is only photocells for safety same as a roller shutter door.

Anyone not wanting to fit them is a lazy twit,they are very easy to do.

 

[Pilatus]

Local Came installer told me over the phone £4,000/£5,000 to do installation ,and that's me putting in the 2 x9ft wooden 5 bar gates!!! I think that seems very high cost ,as furthest gate post only 16mtrs from fuse board in the house.

 

[TheTallGuy]

Hollins applications sell a solar kit.

www.hollinapplications.co.uk/Agricultural/Gate.htm


My brother is a came installer.there is only photocells for safety same as a roller shutter door.

Anyone not wanting to fit them is a lazy twit,they are very easy to do.

With roller doors, there is normally only one trapping point - with gates, there's potential for more so a single photocell/breakbeam without other measures wouldn't normally be enough mitigation. Almost anyone can fit an opener system, but doing it to be safe is another matter - I used to do high spec door and window systems and found that few of the people I came into contact with (especially customers) realised the potential hazards.

 

[Dman2]

Have a Came gate opener on a single gate 5 m wide, on the entrance to a Caravan storage compound.
It opens and closes hundreds of times each year, in fact every couple of years we change the hooks and eyes because they wear out ( should really put a rose joint on with a greasable bearing)
Its a 24v motor version which I have been told is stronger than the 240v option.
Been on for over 10 years now without problem

 

[Blue.]

With roller doors, there is normally only one trapping point - with gates, there's potential for more so a single photocell/breakbeam without other measures wouldn't normally be enough mitigation. Almost anyone can fit an opener system, but doing it to be safe is another matter - I used to do high spec door and window systems and found that few of the people I came into contact with (especially customers) realised the potential hazards.

A proper gate kit has an overload,no way it would harm you.

 

[TheTallGuy]

A proper gate kit has an overload,no way it would harm you.

It depends on what the overload protection is protecting against - a hand trapped at the hinge requires much less force to cause an injury than you might imagine, plus it also assumes that the protection hasn't failed. These days, I would be looking for dual/redundant protection as well as passive protection around the pinch points e.g. rubber sheeting/gaiter along the hinged edges.

 

[Blue.]

It depends on what the overload protection is protecting against - a hand trapped at the hinge requires much less force to cause an injury than you might imagine, plus it also assumes that the protection hasn't failed. These days, I would be looking for dual/redundant protection as well as passive protection around the pinch points e.g. rubber sheeting/gaiter along the hinged edges.

Shutting your hand in a car door isn't nice,you can't protect everyone.

 

[simon-0116]

Shutting your hand in a car door isn't nice,you can't protect everyone.

No true but kids public family etc don't want to be getting hurt. used to do electric gates but to many rules now to follow to sign them off.

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

Have a Came gate opener on a single gate 5 m wide, on the entrance to a Caravan storage compound.
It opens and closes hundreds of times each year, in fact every couple of years we change the hooks and eyes because they wear out ( should really put a rose joint on with a greasable bearing)
Its a 24v motor version which I have been told is stronger than the 240v option.
Been on for over 10 years now without problem

View attachment 352628

The other advantage of 24v motors/system is that the whole shooting match can be run off 2x12v batteries for backup when the power goes out or off solar. Otherwise carry the spanner with you.

 

[Hawthorne]

I have them in 6 years now with no problems worth talking bout. Got the box fitted last year so i can open it with my phone great job never use the button any more.