How big of a wire gauge for a gate opener?

   / How big of a wire gauge for a gate opener? #1  

4570Man

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I’ve got a customer wanting me to run a wire underground for a gate opener. They don’t have the opener yet to look at the amperage but I don’t think they’re very many. Electric charts suggest like 6 gauge but I’d have a hard time believing 12 gauge and 10 for good measure wouldn’t work. I haven’t measured the distance but it’s like 150 feet.
 
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   / How big of a wire gauge for a gate opener? #2  
I'm guessing you meant 16 gauge??? 6 Gauge would wire the gate & the security hut (& some other stuff)... so most only require 16 gauge depending o the length of run... so 14 or 12 gauge will also work.. (10 is probably overkill)...
 
   / How big of a wire gauge for a gate opener?
  • Thread Starter
#3  
I'm guessing you meant 16 gauge??? 6 Gauge would wire the gate & the security hut (& some other stuff)... so most only require 16 gauge depending o the length of run... so 14 or 12 gauge will also work.. (10 is probably overkill)...

No I meant 6 gauge. That’s how big the electric charts I looked at said and an electrician suggested the same. I forgot to put the length in the first post. I haven’t measured but it’s about 150 feet.
 
   / How big of a wire gauge for a gate opener? #4  
Lots of questions. How long is the run? Is the gate battery powered? Do they also want a light?

I ran a 12-2 W Ground 2500' but I knew I was only going to power a battery trickle charger and a 60 watt bulb (now LED) so if I had 2-3 usable amps I was good.
 
   / How big of a wire gauge for a gate opener? #5  
How far are you running?
 
   / How big of a wire gauge for a gate opener?
  • Thread Starter
#6  
Yes they’re wanting 2 low wattage gate post lights and a security light. I might put it on a separate circuit. I assume they wanted an 110 volt opener but they don’t have it yet. The customer said it was only 100 feet but they haven’t measured. They sent me a picture and it looks like more than 100 feet. I’m guessing 150-200. I’m gonna try to measure tomorrow. I guess a battery opener with a trickle charger would work but IMO for this distance a 110 volt one that doesn’t need a battery or the upkeep of one seems better. If they were going that route I’d suggest a solar panel and skip the whole running a wire project.
 
   / How big of a wire gauge for a gate opener? #7  
Yes they’re wanting 2 low wattage gate post lights and a security light. I might put it on a separate circuit. I assume they wanted an 110 volt opener but they don’t have it yet. The customer said it was only 100 feet but they haven’t measured. They sent me a picture and it looks like more than 100 feet. I’m guessing 150-200. I’m gonna try to measure tomorrow.

I wanted battery due to the distance and if the power was out it would still function. LED's use practically nothing.
 
   / How big of a wire gauge for a gate opener?
  • Thread Starter
#8  
I wanted battery due to the distance and if the power was out it would still function. LED's use practically nothing.

I’m not getting hired to install the opener. They just want me to dig the ditch and leave the wire in a box for later use. I don’t claim to be an electrician but I can hook up 3 lights. I’m pretty confident that 10 gauge would be adequate but I’d hate to do that and then find out it needed 6 gauge after all.
 
   / How big of a wire gauge for a gate opener? #9  
I’m not getting hired to install the opener. They just want me to dig the ditch and leave the wire in a box for later use. I don’t claim to be an electrician but I can hook up 3 lights. I’m pretty confident that 10 gauge would be adequate but I’d hate to do that and then find out it needed 6 gauge after all.
10 gauge sounds like overkill to me. Direct bury 12 would be my guess without knowing the draw of the opener motor.
 
   / How big of a wire gauge for a gate opener? #10  
Depends on the amperage, but ive run lots of openers at least 200 feet on #10 copper. If i were to run aluminum id run #6. There about the same price at the different gauges. Voltage drop doesnt even matter under 100’, then it starts to add up. If its only a battery charger it would not matter much. It does affect motor loads.
 

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