Mounting the motor to the gate – 10 most common mistakes

10 most common mistakes made when installing automatic entry systems

In the following article, we present the 10 most common mistakes made when installing the motor to the gate. Each of the following points should be checked, regardless of whether we are amateurs or we install gate drives in a professional manner. Some of these points may not be noticed at first glance, but in the future they can have a significant impact on the operation of the machine.

1. Assembly of the drive to the gate – Make sure that everything is mechanically working

Assembly of the drive to the gate – 10 most common mistakes the installer makes

In the first instance, any gate that is to be opened automatically should function properly for manual opening. The gate should open smoothly, lightly and without jamming. Mounting the drive to the gate will not eliminate these problems. In the future, this may lead to some problems. Better to prevent than to cure

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2. Gate on inclined surfaces? Think twice

Avoid using gates on slopes, uneven places, running upwards, etc. This will only complicate the installation, and in addition, it will require additional equipment and strain the automation work. Of course, this is doable, as a matter of common sense, but it’s better to avoid such solutions.

3. Is the selected gate automation suitable?

Make sure that the selected set is suitable for your gate in accordance with the specifications provided by the manufacturer. For example, for a gate weighing 800 kg, use a drive, that is adapted to such loads. Bad matching may result in the future failure to recognize the guarantee and, as a result, unnecessary loss of money.

4. Electric actuators are no submarines, check the IP class

Each actuator, that works outdoors requires at least IP54 tightness, and even better IP65. The weather conditions in Poland do not forgive mistakes related to too low tightness. Self-sealing the cylinders usually helps, but not always.

There are also underground actuators on the market. In this case, make sure that the soil moisture is adequate.

The actuators are designed to work underground and not underwater. That is why you need to pay attention to the ground humidity. Underground actuators are much more expensive than traditional ground cylinders, more difficult to install and not necessarily failure-free.

Their tightness class is usually IP67. This means that:
– the product should not suffer any harmful effects if it is up to 15 cm underwater for a maximum of 30 minutes
– water should not be harmful when there is immersion in water under certain conditions of pressure and time (up to 1 meter of immersion)
– the time of the above tests is 30 minutes
– immersion is made to a depth of at least 1 m at the bottom of the device, and at least 15 cm at the top of the device

5. Make no risk, hire a professional

The device for automatic gate control should be installed by a professional fitter. This may result in slightly higher costs, but in such a situation, this person will advise us with proven machines. Additionally, he is fully responsible for the installation and bears some risk approved by law. Sometimes we are tempted by the lower price and the fact that we can install the gate kit ourselves. Additionally, we do not know the company that offers such sets, nor do we know the quality of their products. In addition, all responsibility for proper assembly rests with us. If you are not sure if you can install the device yourself, have it done by a qualified person.

6. The impact of wind

Attention should also be paid to the condition of the surroundings, especially the wind that will affect the gate. Even an „open rail” gate will to some extent resist the wind, and a „squeezed wooden” gate will be like a sail in a strong wind. The most preferred choice by users today are low voltage systems, e.g. 24V, due to the internal safety of the installation. However, it should be remembered that the lower the operating voltage of the actuators, the lower is usually the power required in strong winds.

7. Ways of opening the gate

Make a decision on how you want to open the gate: outside or inside the property, and select the method of its launch.

Common ways to open the gate:
– remote controls,
– combination keyboards,
– card readers,
– external buttons,
– induction loops,
– photocells,
– via mobile phones (GSM)

8. Guest access

If there is no alternative entrance for visitors, then we need to think about how outsiders will contact to gain access and entry.

For pedestrians, access from the outside without remote controls and a reader may be possible by opening one of the leaves or opening both to some extent, depending on the system.

Another form is to install a video intercom. Thanks to it, we know who is in front of the gate and we can open the gate with a button at home.

Examples:
– video intercom with a built-in code keypad
– intercom with or without a built-in code panel, with a range of 100m in the open area.
– GSM with a panel for entering a code – unlimited range, but dependent on the range of local networks.

9. What about the postman and the gardener?

We should also think about the access of external service providers such as cleaner, postman, gardener etc. This is often achieved by combining a button with a timer. This will allow the gate to be opened at specific times.

10. Self-closing gate and use of locks

The automation of the gate by means of a drive makes it less susceptible to intrusion from the outside. However, security can be increased even more by using an electric lock. The use of an ordinary, mechanical lock makes sense only when you do not intend to open the gate for a long time, e.g. during longer trips. However, with the security of the gate, you shouldn’t overdo it, as any intruder can easily jump over the fence or gate. Therefore, the use of expensive electronic locks or complex encrypted codes is in most cases unnecessary.