Solar/battery farm gate openers
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Look into a company called GTO, they have a better line of openers, I have installed several for customers and also have them here at home. Forget the keypad and go with remotes...only problem was a receiver that was out of warranty and they sent me one free anyhow.
Stihlrunner
Silver Member
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Yes they can be forced open, especially if you don't opt for the optional lock. For some reason people think if the gate is closed you should shove on it. Breaking the cheap casting off the motor. By people I mean specifically the neighbor and the Fedex man.
Sandlot
Gold Member
I bought the MM 502 kit along with a keyboard, a couple spare keychain transmitters, two batteries, a solar panel, and the electric locking unit. I didn't want to run power out to that area so used their solar panel and install two batteries in the control box as recommended. I live in the High Desert and so far haven't had any problems with running out of juice. We use the gates (twin 14' chain link) several times a day during the week and a bit more on the weekends. The electric lock works great and will prevent someone from forcing the gates open or removing an actuator to gain access. The locking pins they sell for the actuator are really to prevent someone from stealing the actuator, not gaining access since the actuators should be on the inside of the closed gate anyway. The keypad is kind of lame and I only trust mine inside the yard and use it to open my gates (mounted on carport) while working around the house without needing to go to one of the vehicles and using a transmitter. They (keypad) are just too easy to open which would reveal the dip switch settings, allowing somebody to program their own transmitter and gain access. I also keep a transmitter on one of those rubber wrist loop things hung up in the house. This allows us to open the gate for company and I can slip it over my wrist while tractoring around the property. Anywho, mine has worked great for over two years.
Soundguy
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i hope this isn't a spoiler or anything.. but gto ( gates that open ) makes mighty mule..
now for a higher grade unit.. get an apollo setup..
soundguy
I have already mounted one gate and the two posts. Is it too late for the optional lock? By that I mean is there a precise clearance required to make the optional lock fit on one of the posts?
I'm looking into the Chamberlain gate openers as they have a distributor closeby.
Sandlot
Gold Member
This should give you the info you need on the lock.
http://www.mightymule.com/PDF/Manuals/FM143-Mighty-Mule-Automatic-Gate-Lock.pdf
http://www.mightymule.com/PDF/Manuals/FM143-Mighty-Mule-Automatic-Gate-Lock.pdf
joeyd
Platinum Member
Builder - You don't mention where you are located or how many cycles a day you think the opener will get. We had a solar panel/battery operated gate on our community road but during the cold overcast winters the solar wouldn't keep up with demand so we had to leave it open. Not what we had installed the gate for.
We had to run power to it, set a transformer and meter which meant $$$. The gate and security light that activates while the gate is open draws about $2.00/mo. worth of electricity. We have 7 full time and 2 part time families on the road.
We had to run power to it, set a transformer and meter which meant $$$. The gate and security light that activates while the gate is open draws about $2.00/mo. worth of electricity. We have 7 full time and 2 part time families on the road.
Valid point(s) you raise.
One will only be used 1-2 times per day. The other 2 will get used more like 3-5 times per day. Thinking the "small" battery might work on the low-use gate. And use the marine battery on the more frequently used gates.
Located near Wilmington, DE which is a mid Atlantic climate. Usually doesn't get colder than 15* on cold nights here. Sure sometimes we get single digits, but only a few times/winter.
Would like to know how an owner of a marine battery backup is supposed to store this battery. I know it's in a battery box, but is it just sitting on the ground? Does someone make a battery box with hardware to mount to the post?
joeyd
Platinum Member
We used a heavy plastic storage container for a battery box, we had two deep cycle batteries if I remember right. You can find them with metal latches. A hole drilled a few inches from the bottom and sealed to keep moisture and critters out for the cable to run. If you wanted to you could screw it down to some 4x4's to raise it up off the ground even.
If you can fabricate some brackets you could mount it to a pole if you wanted. I am wondering if a tool box or something similar would hold your battery?
If you can fabricate some brackets you could mount it to a pole if you wanted. I am wondering if a tool box or something similar would hold your battery?