Using a Might Mule opener with a battery and solar panel

[Mike058]

I'm installing a Might Mule (MM) opener and will use a battery and solar panel to power it. I have a solar controller that hooks to the solar panel, battery and load. I'd plan to run wires from “load” to the battery terminals on the MM controller board. Then I noticed the MM controller board has input for the solar panel. Do I have to connect my solar panel to the board? Or can I use my own controller like I'd planned?

 

[Mrsig]

I did it the way they said to and no problems with it. I am using a marine battery also.

 

[Hay Dude]

Mine go from solar panel to the solar connections on the board
13 years and just replace a battery maybe every 4-5 years

 

[RalphVa]

I'm installing a Might Mule (MM) opener and will use a battery and solar panel to power it. I have a solar controller that hooks to the solar panel, battery and load. I'd plan to run wires from “load” to the battery terminals on the MM controller board. Then I noticed the MM controller board has input for the solar panel. Do I have to connect my solar panel to the board? Or can I use my own controller like I'd planned?

I've a different type of operator/board, but connect the 2 solar panels directly to the marine battery. Recently, we had a board installed to allow the gate to be opened by the buttons on the mirrors of our cars. This is taking more power. Have a spare battery that is rotated as needed. The 2 solar panels are not enough.

 

[oosik]

A question. I've long considered solar powered gate openers. I have two gates - one is where my driveway enters the county road - a mile from the house. The other is where my driveway enters my property - 100 yards from my house. Neither would have 120V power.

What have you done that allows guests to open the gates?

 

[jyoutz]

A question. I've long considered solar powered gate openers. I have two gates - one is where my driveway enters the county road - a mile from the house. The other is where my driveway enters my property - 100 yards from my house. Neither would have 120V power.

What have you done that allows guests to open the gates?

My neighbor has a key fob for our gate. For family members or other close friends we give them the pin pad combination, or just lock the gate open when we are expecting company.

 

[jyoutz]

I'm installing a Might Mule (MM) opener and will use a battery and solar panel to power it. I have a solar controller that hooks to the solar panel, battery and load. I'd plan to run wires from “load” to the battery terminals on the MM controller board. Then I noticed the MM controller board has input for the solar panel. Do I have to connect my solar panel to the board? Or can I use my own controller like I'd planned?

Mine is the patriot brand opener, but I’m sure pretty much the same as the mighty mule. I have one small solar panel wired to the panel inside the box and use a AGM (AGL?) type battery. I’ve had this setup for about 15 years and have replaced the battery twice. We have a pin pad in a waterproof box on either side of the gate and several key fob openers. When I first installed the opener, I had a sensor buried about 20’ from the inside of the gate so it would automatically open when a vehicle crossed the sensor. This was a nice feature but it shorted out from moisture during the first year of use. It cost several hundred dollars to replace, so we just use the key fobs.

 

[oosik]

jyoutz - thanks much for your reply. Giving the pin pad number to guests or friends sounds like the way I would go. Can't leave the gates open- cows would be out on the county road or in on my property. The "outer gate" keeps the cows in - the inner gate keeps the cows out. Makes a lot of sense - doesn't it.

My driveway is a mile long connection from my otherwise landlocked 80 acres and the county road. All the land between my property and the county road is open range land. Cows aplenty.

NO - that's not just dust/dirt in the Taco Wagon's wheel wells. Like one of my neighbors says - "that's the smell of money".

 

[Mike058]

I got the pinpad for the mighty mule. It will hold up to 25? numbers. I key in the last four numbers of their phone number. You can also make any number invalid after 1 to 7 days. It can be wired or wireless. Very handy when you need to open the gate but forgot to bring the fob.

 

[Mrsig]

I got the pinpad for the mighty mule. It will hold up to 25? numbers. I key in the last four numbers of their phone number. You can also make any number invalid after 1 to 7 days. It can be wired or wireless. Very handy when you need to open the gate but forgot to bring the fob.

Yep this is what I did to. Made mine wireless and works fine. I like how you can make a temp code for up to 7 days.