I'm looking for an automatic gate opener for a lightweight dual gate. I had a mighty mule years ago and had nothing but trouble with it in our cold climate (Chicago) due to thermal expansion in the mechanical components. I'm looking at Ghost Controls and USAutomatic, both have good reviews, and offer support/installation videos. I need a linear actuator for space and other reasons. Anyone with first hand experience with these or other brands?
Automatic gate opener
- Thread starter BeezFun
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EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
I looked at those brands before buying mine, but I wasn't very excited about any of them. Somebody on here recommended JSJ ProTech LLC
I called them up and bought one for my place. They guy on the phone was very helpful, and the opener arrived in about a week. Instruction where a little odd. Everything you added to it, like remote opener, had to be connected to the main control panel. It felt confusing to me, but I did manage to figure it out.
I've had it for a year now and so far it's been flawless. We only had snow once and I shoveled the snow away from the gate so it would open without having to push all the snow out of the way. We don't stay very cold for very long, but it was -8 one day, and we stayed below freezing for five days.
I like that it's stainless steel, and that it's a worm gear. I think the hydraulic cylinders wear out too quickly in the other types of openers.
I called them up and bought one for my place. They guy on the phone was very helpful, and the opener arrived in about a week. Instruction where a little odd. Everything you added to it, like remote opener, had to be connected to the main control panel. It felt confusing to me, but I did manage to figure it out.
I've had it for a year now and so far it's been flawless. We only had snow once and I shoveled the snow away from the gate so it would open without having to push all the snow out of the way. We don't stay very cold for very long, but it was -8 one day, and we stayed below freezing for five days.
I like that it's stainless steel, and that it's a worm gear. I think the hydraulic cylinders wear out too quickly in the other types of openers.
Hoodoo
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Beezfun - I've been very happy with my Ghost Controls system. I bought it almost 2 years ago and installed it myself, pretty easy if you're somewhat handy. Very reliable...I've had to call customer service twice for adjustment advice, not the systems fault, just getting run into and settling. We get hot weather and also snow up here and it has been bulletproof. IIRC, it cost almost exactly $1,000 for everything including solar and batteries....
Thanks Eddie, I like how you hung that 4' gate for people, wish I had thought of that before I set my gate posts.
I'll check out Protech.
Great to know. I read on another forum that the guy who was the president of Mighty Mule started Ghost controls when the company got bought out. They claimed he made a lot of improvements because he knew the problems with Mighty Mule. Who knows if it's true, I read it on the internet.
kenmac
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You know mighty mule offers several different grades of openers ?
I have the mighty mule 502 (dual openers) and the only issue I have had in the 5 yrs. I've been here is, lightening hit the circuit board. Other than that, they have been flawless
Previous owner said he installed them in 2015 and never had any issues with the openers.
My gates are pretty heavy all steel gates custom made.
I have the mighty mule 502 (dual openers) and the only issue I have had in the 5 yrs. I've been here is, lightening hit the circuit board. Other than that, they have been flawless
Previous owner said he installed them in 2015 and never had any issues with the openers.
My gates are pretty heavy all steel gates custom made.
Skagit
Silver Member
I used Ghost Controls, no problems so far other than if it closes on a car (or in my case a log processor) and safeties out it's a bit of a trick to get it to reset. Installation and programming was super easy. I used the small solar panel and the battery hasn't run dead in the year and half since I put it in (we live north of Seattle where it rains every day)...
We had snow and 6 degree weather here a couple weeks ago and no issues.
We had snow and 6 degree weather here a couple weeks ago and no issues.
jyoutz
Super Member
I’ve had a single (very heavy) gate opener called Patriot made by US automatic for about 15 years. It has been rock solid and is operated by a solar charged battery. The only issues I’ve had: two fuses have blown and needed replacement and I’m on my third battery in 15 years. The buried actuator that opens the gate when a vehicle exits shorted out due to moisture years ago, so we use key fobs in the vehicle to control the opener and also have pin pads mounted in waterproof boxes on either side of the gate. Considering how heavy my welded pipe gate is, I’m extremely impressed with this workhorse that continues to operate every day.
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This is like when I bought a brand X car and had nothing but trouble with it from the day I bought it. Psychologically it's hard to ever go back and buy another brand X car even if they're making totally different cars now.
That's identical to the setup I have except it's a driveway and not a bridge. A couple questions
1. You have a latch between the two gates, is that the Ghost latch? If so does it keep the gates from being pushed open enough that a dog could sneak through the opening?
2. What size battery do you have and about how many hours of sun do you get a day? How many times a day is the gate operated? My location only gets a few hours of sun in the winter and I'm not sure I can keep the battery charged.
3. How far away will the remote operate the gate? Our house is about 200' from the gate and I'd like to be able to open it from the house if possible. If that won't work I'll have to either put in a keypad or a button so people can let themselves out. I can't use the driveway vehicle sensor because the tractors and mower will trigger it.
