Solar/battery farm gate openers

[Builder]

OK, looking at the 350 and the 500 series. My first gate is 14' tube gate. Fairly heavy. I'd say 200+lbs judging by the "back-o-meter".

Here's a stupid question: Once closed, can the gate still be forced open by a tresspasser or does the rod hold it shut real well?
If there's a power failure to to opener, how do you over ride the system and release the gate?

 

[RPW]

With whatever brand of gate opener get the optional gate lock. It's automatic and will help in keeping your gate closed. Most if not all brands use some kind of battery backup to work a few gate open/closures. Most if not all will have a release pin on the opener to override and manually open a gate. Also remember locks are for honest people. No lock in the world will hold up to a determined criminal.

Good luck.

 

[BeezFun]

Here's a stupid question: Once closed, can the gate still be forced open by a tresspasser or does the rod hold it shut real well?
If there's a power failure to to opener, how do you over ride the system and release the gate?

It will open far enough to get in with little effort. That's because of the slack in the system, you won't actually be able to force the screw to turn. So you couldn't open it far enough to drive a car in.

There's a special latch plate you can install that locks the gate, when the gate closes the latch engages and it can't be opened. Generally a power failure doesn't affect things because it has a battery. As I recall I had to remove the pin connecting the closer to the gate in order to open it without power.

 

[BeezFun]

I have read good & bad reviews of them. What I don't understand is some of the kits come with a battery & charger, but suggest a marine battery in a box. Is this because the battery they supply is small and won't hold enough charge for frequent open/close cycles?

Are there any other readily available brands? MM seems to dominate the market for gate openers.

The battery it comes with is very small, won't do more than a few actions. For the solar setup, or for longer power outages, you need a deep cycle battery like a marine that can be discharged and not be damaged.

I was not able to find any other brands in the consumer category. There were some nice looking architectural systems but they were thousands of dollars, probably what they use in LA for the movie stars.

 

[Oldgreybear]

Try these--they work very well on our gates. We have 2 8'x8' steel gates one controller and 2 operators. Everything from consumer grade to commercial.

Swing Gate Operators, Swing Gate Openers from Chamberlain LiftMaster

 

[Builder]

It will open far enough to get in with little effort. That's because of the slack in the system, you won't actually be able to force the screw to turn. So you couldn't open it far enough to drive a car in.

There's a special latch plate you can install that locks the gate, when the gate closes the latch engages and it can't be opened. Generally a power failure doesn't affect things because it has a battery. As I recall I had to remove the pin connecting the closer to the gate in order to open it without power.

OK, so someone who wants to get in can simply walk up to the gate controller and pull a pin and they're "in"?

Actually, I'm less worried about that than being able to manually override the gate in case there's a mechanical failure so I can get my equipment out of the barn driveway.

 

[Soundguy]

i'm on my 2nd one in 10ys. first one finally died via lightning.. and being hit by the wifes truck 1 too many times. I think she bent at least 3 gates one year backing into them

this 2nd one is going strong. both have used the mm solar panel.. I have it on a interstate car battery... even in winter never had an issue... mind you florida winter rarely gets to single digits.. and generally don't have low 20'
s or teens more than a couple - three weeks at the worst of it.

soundguy

 

[Ken45101]

OK, so someone who wants to get in can simply walk up to the gate controller and pull a pin and they're "in"?

Actually, I'm less worried about that than being able to manually override the gate in case there's a mechanical failure so I can get my equipment out of the barn driveway.

There is a pin secured by a small hairpin. Pull it, and the gate swings free.

That applies both to the operator as was as the "locking latch".

As far as real security is concerned, it will only keep out very honest people and delivery people who are looking for an excuse to avoid the delivery.

 

[Soundguy]

heck gates AND fences only keep out honest people..

soundguy

 

[NC4AB]

The MM 500 we have is going on 12 years old, the only real issues have been vandalism by squirrels. It is charged by the standard MM solar panel, when the internal gel cell died I replaced it with an old car battery.

In order to keep the "honest" thieves out you need to purchase 2 of the MM locks to keep someone from lifitng the actuator off the mounts and opening the gate.