Selecting the Right Automatic Gate Opener for You in
UAE
Selecting the Right Automatic Gate Opener for You
How to Pick the Right Automatic Gate Opener
So you have picked out your perfect gate: chosen the
material, design, size, and color. Now you have to decide how you want to
utilize your fancy new automatic gate. Will your gate slide open? Will it swing
open? Do you want to use a remote to open it? Perhaps an intercom system would
be better?
There
are many options on the market from which you can choose. This article covers
the various ways an automatic driveway gate can open, as well as the various
automatic gate openers out there.
To
Slide, or to Swing
Choosing
whether your driveway gate swings or slides will depend on a couple of factors:
§ How
frequently the gate is used
§ How
much space you have
§ The
length of the gate
§ Gate
Material
§ If
the Gate has horizontal support
§ If
the gate is plumb and level
What is
an Electric gate opener?
An
electric gate opener is the mechanized arm that helps your automatic gate open
and close. A signal is sent from an access control, such as a remote control or
keypad that tells the motor to open or close the gate. It will automatically
reverse in direction if it hits an obstacle and can stay open if instructed.
There
isn’t much difference between an electric gate opener and a garage door opener.
When you click the provided hand-held transmitter in your vehicle, a radio
signal is sent to a receiver box which is mounted near the gate. The receiver
carries the message to the control box that activates a circuit which initiates
movement in the gate opener arm. The arm will physically swing or slide the
gate open. The gate can be set to then close by pressing the transmitter button
again or to close automatically after an allotted amount of time.
Swing Style Automatic Gate Opener
A Swing system requires a lot of additional space, because the
gate has to have room to fully swing open. Most often times, swing gates are
used for residential purposes, rather than commercial purposes due to the wear
and strain a swing system has on gates. Additionally, a swing gate can be less
secure than a sliding option, due to low resistance to being pushed
open. Swing gate openers come in two basic styles: Linear and Articulated.
The Articulated Arm style is pad mounted and works better on heavier than
normal gates and high use situations. It is not recommended to use a solid wood
gate, as wind resistance could pose a problem. It also creates an additional
strain on the wood frame.
Sliding Automatic Gate Openers
Generally speaking, most people prefer this option over swinging
gates due to space requirements, maintenance, and security. Sliding gates
don’t need as much space to function, which leaves more driveway room for
parking cars. Additionally, sliding gates can actually work on certain slopes
where a siwng gate may not be an option. The gate is positioned on a track, and
when the remote oe other opening mechanism is used, the gate slides along that
track, opening the door.
Different Methods to Open Driveway Gates
There
are a few different ways you can choose to have trigger the gate to open or
close. The most common of these are:
§ Remote
Entry
§ Card
Entry
§ Code
Entry
§ Telephone
Entry
§ Proximity
Entry
Remote
Entry
Definitely
the most common way to open a driveway gate, a remote entry system works by
using a remote which, when pressed, transmits a signal to a receiver box which
then opens the gate. This type of entry is good for any kind of gate owner.
They are great for both commercial and private use, and are relatively easy to
maintain and very cost effective. Replacement remotes can generally be found at
big box hardware stores, so even repair is convenient.
The
only potential problem that is specific to a remote entry system is that the
remotes are easy to clone, remotes can be stolen, so if security is your main
concern, you may want to go with another option. Remote entry systems
remain the most popular type of automatic gate opener on the market.
Card
Entry
This
method is very popular with commercial clients such as aparment buildings. With
this system, a chip is built into a card. To open the gate, the driver must
either swipe the card or tap it to the receiver so the signal can be read.This
method eliminates the need for batteries which can be a problem with
remote entry systems.
Much
like their remote bearing counterparts, cards can be stolen, cloned, and so
they are not the most secure options despite being the most popular.
Code
Entry
Another
very popular method for our commercial clients, code entry is slightly more
secure than the previous two methods. The gate opener is connected to a box
with a number pad. The gate is programmed to only open if a specific code is
entered via keypad. The downside is that it requires memorizing a code.
Proximity
Entry
Likely
the least secure method, this type of automatic gate opener is designed to open
the gate whenever a car gets within range of the gate. This means that anyone
in a car who pulls up to the gate will have access to what is on the other
side. However, this method does eliminate concerns about misplacing cards,
needing batteries, or having to memorize a code.
In
this system, a magnetic strip is burried under the driveway leading up to the
gate. When it senses something the size and material of a car, it triggers the
gate to open. Some of these systems use a pressure pad to trigger the gate. For
those situations, when a car drive onto the driveway before the gate, the
weight of the car triggers the gate to open.
This
type of installation is complicated because it requires for trenches to be dug
to install the magnetic strip of pressure pad under the ground. Additionally,
maintenance of those parts requires that they be dug up all over again.
Telephone
Entry
Likely
the most secure, most globally applicable type of opening mechanism. These are
the boxes you see at most apartment complexes which require you to either have
a code, or call someone who then presses a button on their phone, triggering
the door to open. This type of system works great in any application – both
residential and commercial. Although this method may require a higher initial
cost to install than other systems – it is the most secure,
In
Closing
Choosing
the right type of automatic gate opener depends heavily on how often you use
the gate, how the gate opens, the land the gate is on, and many other factors.
You will have to live with your gate for many years, so it is important to give
this decision some thought.
And
don’t forget:
Each
system, and each gate is different- so be sure to consult with a licensed
professional before you decide on what type of automatic gate opener to use.
You really need a contractor to look at your gate and the location of that gate
to determine which type of system works as the most efficient, secure option
for your situation.
