electrical wiring for automatic gate?

[_RaT_]

Have you seen the price of 14/2 and 12/2 lately. Yesterday I paid $63 for a 250' roll of 14/2, 12/2 was over $100.

I would run a 3/4" conduit, run stranded #10 wire for the 120V legs and a #12 for the ground. #10 will help slightly with the severe voltage drop you will get with larger loads. You won't be doing ny welding though. If you never intend to use the oulet for anything but the gate opener, #12 is probably OK, but we don't have a clue what your actual load will be. If you want to run christmas lights etc at the gate as well as the opener, go #10 with a #12 ground. Stranted pulls easier in conduit. Another option is to use a 12V battery and a solar cell, its works very well. Yet another option would be to go with a battery and 120V charger. Could be a problem though if the Mule is using 24 volt, harder to find and more costly battery I suspect.

 

[_RaT_]

Have you seen the price of 14/2 and 12/2 lately. Yesterday I paid $63 for a 250' roll of 14/2, 12/2 was over $100.

I would run a 3/4" conduit, run stranded #10 wire for the 120V legs and a #12 for the ground. #10 will help slightly with the severe voltage drop you will get with larger loads. You won't be doing ny welding though. If you never intend to use the oulet for anything but the gate opener, #12 is probably OK, but we don't have a clue what your actual load will be. If you want to run christmas lights etc at the gate as well as the opener, go #10 with a #12 ground. Stranted pulls easier in conduit. Another option is to use a 12V battery and a solar cell, its works very well. Yet another option would be to go with a battery and 120V charger. Could be a problem though if the Mule is using 24 volt, harder to find and more costly battery I suspect.

 

[anojones]

Thanks for the replies. The most versitle solution would be to run power to the gate- and probably would be close to the same cost as running the mighty mule low voltage wire. I like the idea of solar, and we have plenty of sun and there is no shade in the area of the gate (or anywhere really!)- a 5 watt panel is actually cheaper than running wire. The numbers for a 5 watt panel suggest the gate could only be opened 5-10 times a day, does anyone have experience with this? I suppose I could add another panel in the future if it doesn't work as well as needed.

 

[anojones]

Thanks for the replies. The most versitle solution would be to run power to the gate- and probably would be close to the same cost as running the mighty mule low voltage wire. I like the idea of solar, and we have plenty of sun and there is no shade in the area of the gate (or anywhere really!)- a 5 watt panel is actually cheaper than running wire. The numbers for a 5 watt panel suggest the gate could only be opened 5-10 times a day, does anyone have experience with this? I suppose I could add another panel in the future if it doesn't work as well as needed.

 

[Unclebuck257]

I've had a double Mighty Mule gate now for about 5 years. I did not wire it in to electricity but opted to use the solar panels for power. My electrical box that was the closest one I could use was too far away from the gates themselves for me. Of course, I live in Texas and have about twice the sun you do.

If you get to the point where you consider using the solar chargers, DO NOT use that little battery Might Mule has!! Go to a Wal-Mart and buy a 12v Marine Battery and hook it in instead. Use the plastic boxes they have for boat batteries to house it by your gates. If you have two gates, you'll need two solsar panels too!!

If you have a period when you don't get a lot of sun, that 12v Marine Battery can be charged up completely on your battery charger and last quite a long time with no sun. Those original little Mighty Mule Batteries aren't worth a flip and don't hold much of a charge for very long at all. Since I put in that Marine Battery, we haven't had a problem one!!

Also, be careful when you mount your Mighty Mule power arms to the gates themselves and make sure they are on the right angles etc. If not, you'll be tearing up hinges every year or less.

 

[Unclebuck257]

I've had a double Mighty Mule gate now for about 5 years. I did not wire it in to electricity but opted to use the solar panels for power. My electrical box that was the closest one I could use was too far away from the gates themselves for me. Of course, I live in Texas and have about twice the sun you do.

If you get to the point where you consider using the solar chargers, DO NOT use that little battery Might Mule has!! Go to a Wal-Mart and buy a 12v Marine Battery and hook it in instead. Use the plastic boxes they have for boat batteries to house it by your gates. If you have two gates, you'll need two solsar panels too!!

If you have a period when you don't get a lot of sun, that 12v Marine Battery can be charged up completely on your battery charger and last quite a long time with no sun. Those original little Mighty Mule Batteries aren't worth a flip and don't hold much of a charge for very long at all. Since I put in that Marine Battery, we haven't had a problem one!!

Also, be careful when you mount your Mighty Mule power arms to the gates themselves and make sure they are on the right angles etc. If not, you'll be tearing up hinges every year or less.

 

[anojones]

How many panels are you using? Mighty Mule makes a less expensive opener that you have to purchase a 12V auto battery for- this might be the way to go. I'm in the eastern part of washington state, lots of sun, about 12" of rain a year with not much humidity- our summers have plenty of 100 degree + days.

 

[anojones]

How many panels are you using? Mighty Mule makes a less expensive opener that you have to purchase a 12V auto battery for- this might be the way to go. I'm in the eastern part of washington state, lots of sun, about 12" of rain a year with not much humidity- our summers have plenty of 100 degree + days.

 

[_RaT_]

My gate had two solar panels and the battery never went dead regardless of the number of times the gate opened and closed. I eventually ran power down to the gate (about 600') from my shop. I did that so my wife could put up holiday stuff at the gate and light it up. I also ran a little charger (Battery Tender) that kept the battery fully charged. I took the panels down and have two panels sitting around now.

 

[_RaT_]

My gate had two solar panels and the battery never went dead regardless of the number of times the gate opened and closed. I eventually ran power down to the gate (about 600') from my shop. I did that so my wife could put up holiday stuff at the gate and light it up. I also ran a little charger (Battery Tender) that kept the battery fully charged. I took the panels down and have two panels sitting around now.