How to Find the Best Gate Opener


How to Find the Best Gate Opener

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There are a large variety of automated gate openers available on the market today, and for the average consumer, finding the right one can seem like a daunting task. There are, however, a few key points to consider that will make finding an electric gate opener less of an undertaking. Gear system, motor size, housing construction, speed, outputs (for accessories), and sleep draw are all important features to consider when purchasing a driveway gate opener.

Gear system is integral to the longevity of the automatic gate opener. A gear system with an advanced design will ensure that the gears undergo less stress making the whole system more reliable and durable. Two advanced gear systems found in gate closers are planetary and worm systems. A planetary system is designed with one central gear surrounded by multiple smaller gears; when these smaller gears turn, they turn the center gear. This distribution of force means the whole system has a longer life for a more reliable electric gate opener. A worm system features perpendicular gears. This distributes the force in more than one direction (as opposed to traditional gears, the force of which is constantly grinding against one another). Like the planetary design, the worm system offers a more durable design for an automatic gate opener.

Motor size is another important aspect to consider when purchasing an automatic gate closer. A larger motor means more operating power, which can not only handle larger gates easier, but can also offer quicker opening and closing cycles. 24 Volt motors, like those found on the Estate Swing Classic line, are some of the most powerful driveway gate opener motors available.

It is important to investigate the construction of the motor housing. Housing constructed of plastic is not as durable as metal housing, and this is a serious flaw because the housing includes the pivot point for the electric gate opener. This pivot point is the weakest point of the gate closer, so it is essential to have stronger material at that point. For this reason, metal housings are a sign of better quality gate operators.

For convenience, speed is a key consideration, one that many homeowners overlook (and later regret). One way to quickly determine if a gate opener will have shorter cycles is to check if it meets UL325 standards. UL325 standards ensure a higher quality because they measure safety precautions; if there are better safety precautions, then the automatic gate opener is allowed to have shorter opening and closing cycles, which is convenient for homeowners and their guests.

Also significant for convenience is output for accessories. Without this feature, the electric gate opener cannot supply power to the accessories, and more wires must be run to the driveway gate to power the accessories that make the system more convenient and fully automatic.

Finally, the continuous operation of the electric gate closer needs to be considered. Sleep draw refers to the power used by the automatic gate opener when it is "idling", and it is important to ensure that the selected electric gate opener has a low sleep draw. Because the driveway gate opener will likely be idling for most of the day, it is important that this mode does not use an excessive amount of energy.


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   Dynmaic FAQ
What are the advantages of DC over AC? ▼
With a DC opener you don’t need an electrician to install it, is it safer because it is low voltage, and power is more readily available through everyday outlets.
What is the range of use for the automatic driveway gate opening transmitters? ▼

The range of use for the automatic driveway gate opener transmitters would vary for each automatic driveway gate opener installation; varying on model installed and external factors. 

The Estate Swing automatic driveway gate openers generally have a range of approximately 300 feet for the automatic driveway gate opener transmitters that comes with each system. .

The published range for GTO and Lift Master radio controls is 50-100 feet, and must be used in line-of-sight of the gate for safety purposes.

The Apollo automatic driveway gate openers generally have a range of approximately 300 feet for the automatic driveway gate opener transmitters that comes with each system (when bought from GateCrafters.com).

How should I run my wire to my automatic gate lock? ▼
It runs from your control panel. What we suggest is running it along a vertical bar on the gate. You can use zip ties to hold it to the back, matching the color of the zip ties to that of your gate.
Which automatic driveway gate opener to use with a wood gate? ▼

Privacy fences usually don't work well with swing automatic driveway gate openers because the solid surface acts as a "sail" in the wind. 

This adds strain to the motor of the automatic driveway gate opener and generally trips safety sensors that are a part of all automatic driveway gate opener systems. Either you can use an automatic slide driveway gate opener or you would have to manually operate a swing driveway gate opener in windy conditions. It would also be recommended to use an automatic driveway gate lock to lock your driveway gate shut in the closed position. This takes pressure off of the automatic driveway gate opener’s arm when the wind pushes against the driveway gate.

The easiest automatic driveway gate opener to manually operate would be the Estate Swing E-S 1600/1602 automatic driveway gate opener. The Estate Swing E-S 1600/1602 automatic driveway gate opener has a key release on the top that releases the gears and allows the driveway gate to be moved manually without having to remove the automatic driveway gate opener.

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