AUTOMATIC GATE DESIGN
Tim Nordstrom, Systems Specialist

This article is usually reserved for technical or troubleshooting practices. However this time I would like to focus in on automatic gate design or more simply job layout. You may save some technical headaches down the road with a carefully planned job layout.

There are 3 main questions to focus upon when laying out a job: 1) What type of power do I need? 2) How do I get people into the residence? 3) How do I get people out of the residence?

Most automatic gate installations can be broken down into two categories: residential and commercial. Although both share common installation techniques, there are enough differences to warrant discussing them separately. This article will focus primarily on residential job installation.

Power
What kind of power is available, if any? We are no longer committed to having 115 or 220 volts at the operator. Low voltage operators have made huge strides in this industry in the last few years. These operators use existing 115 power at the house, garage, etc.,.. Using a plug-in transformer, the installer any run low voltage direct burial cable hundreds of feet to the operator, resulting in substantial labor saving to the end user. These low voltage operators are generally powered by a battery, which is constantly "trickle charged" by the plug-in transformer. As an added bonus, in the event of a power outage the battery will cycle the operator several times.

Solar Operators
Another option for low voltage operators is solar. If a job layout requires an operator to be placed too far to run 115v or low voltage power, solar may be an option. Given the right circumstances and proper homework, we can even design a solar gate operator installation with full systems such as phones systems and loops.

Getting People In
Once we have figured out if it's a sliding or swinging gate application and high voltage or low voltage situation, we have a simple but very big question to answer (Visitors don't just consist of friends and family. US Mail, UPS, Fed Ex, garbagemen etc... are all people we have to concern ourselves with once we automate a gate).
How do we get homeowner's and their visitors in and how do we get them out?
All of the following are types of systems that may be used in conjunction with an automatic gate to allow entry:

Telephone entry systems
Phone systems have the best of everything. They ring the resident's phone allowing audio communication as well as allowing the homeowner to grant access through the gate. Most phone systems also have a keypad on them for entry codes. Some phone systems even have time zone capability, so that you may restrict the days and time that certain codes will work.

Intercoms
Intercoms allow audio communication to the gate. However unlike a phone entry, they can only call another intercom. That means you must hardwire from the gate to each intercom you installed in the house. They may also include a keypad.

Keypads
Keypads are the most basic option. They don't allow audio communication. However some come equipped with time zones, so that codes can be restricted at certain times.

Radio controls
Radio controls are generally reserved for the homeowners only. From dipswitch models to code rotating versions, radios are still probably the most common item sold with an automatic gate.

Getting People Out

Loops
If the homeowner uses radio control transmitters, getting in and out is not a problem. But how do we get the visitors out? Loops are a great alternative. Loops are not biased - they let anybody out that is driving a vehicle. For safety reasons, a free exit loop is always used in conjunction with reversing loops and possibly a shadow loop on a swing gate. We never want to create a situation where we can allow a gate to close on a vehicle. It is our responsibility to install an automatic gate with all the necessary reversing and safety devices.

Exit Wand or Probe
The probe is an alternative to a free exit loop. The detects only moving metal and therefore can only be used as an exit device, not a reversing device.

Photo Beams
Photo beams have become increasing popular since UL-325 was introduced. Photo beams can open, keep open, reverse or stop an automatic gate. These are very important especially if children will be present around the gate.

If you have any questions on a job layout, please give us a call and we will be happy to assist you.