Question about electric gate openers

[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