Gates must be opened and closed, and it is usually a good idea to automate the gate for the following reasons:
• Safety – Nobody needs to get out of a vehicle in the dark to open and close a gate
• Weather – it is not necessary to go outside in bad weather to open the gate
• Convenience – it is easier to open the gate from a location inside the yard, building or outside without having to physically go to the gate to let someone in or out.
Wherever there is an automatic gate, a good opening motor must be installed, and the type of automated gate will determine what type of opener will be used. It is wise to consult a professional and to ensure that they have the correct certification before paying them for the installation, and to ensure that the professional recommends the correct type of gate and opener for the requirements of the area and function.
Several types of automated gates exist:
• Chain driven: these gates are normally reasonably cheap and are operated with the most popular automatic gate opener where the chain fits into a pulley which is operated with electricity or battery power and pulls the gate open or closed. These have a lot of parts and are fairly maintenance intensive.
• Belt driven openers tend to work the same as the chain openers but are more silent and expensive. They are also fairly maintenance intensive.
• Torsion spring openers – these can be very expensive and can be installed successfully in reasonably small spaces. They can however be unpredictable and expensive. They are also not easily available.
Safety is always a factor and all these types of gate openers have a safety system which is operated with infrared beams. When any interruption of the beam occurs, the opener will automatically kick into reverse, which means that cars or people will not be crushed by the gate. There are also pressure points on the gate itself, and if these are pressed at all, the gate will also switch to reverse to prevent the gate closing on people, objects or animals.
