Loops are the most dependable method used for safety in gate openers. However many do not go this route because of the difficulty of installation and the cost. Loops (need loop detectors as well) are installed in the driveway. Most commercial properties have 3 for safety. One on the outside of the property, one on the inside past the swing of the gate, and one directly under the gate. The one directly under the gate is called a shadow loop. The way this set up would work is if a car is coming or going while the gate is opening or closing part of the car should be over one of the two safety loops that are right past the gate in the open and closed position. When the gate is open or closed and not moving the shadow loop comes into play. The shadow loop is only active when the gate is not active. Because it is directly under the gate path it becomes inactive when the gate begins to move so it will not detect the gate itself. If a car is in the path of the gate before the gate has started to move the shadow loop will stop the gate from beginning. All safety, show and exit loops are the exact same product; what makes it a specific type of loop is the terminal the loop detector is connected to.

Photo eyes are the residential version. These are the same devices most are familiar with that are at the bottom of most garage door openings. If the beam that is crossing the driveway is broken the gate will stop. The reason this is popular for residential is the ease of installation. The reason it is not popular for commercial is because they are above ground and someone in a commercial setting like an apartment complex could tamper with them. For slide gate openers most use one set of photo eyes parallel with the gate. For swing gate opener installations two sets are used. One parallel with the gate in the closed position and perpendicular of the gate in the open position right past the end of the gate. For photo eyes (also know as photocells - same thing) GateCrafters.com sell mounting posts as well, they should be mounted at a height where a car or truck will break the beam.