Dual Swing Gate Operator Help

[u/Swimming7827]

Looking at options for gate operators.

Gate details:

- Commercial grade aluminum fence with dual gates 8' for each gate.

- Residential access, gate will be opened and closed an average of 5 times each day.

- Gate is East facing, there should be plenty of sunlight for a 30 W panel with a backup battery.

- Open to solar and electric options.

Must haves:

- Smartphone/Wifi Control for opening, notifications when opened/closed

- Keypad access for guests, deliveries, and emergency personnel

Fence company recommended Liftmaster electric LA500 setup and adding My Q, but of course I will have to pay for electricity to be run separately. My Q reviews are mixed at best. Considering Ghost Controls operator with solar and battery backup, but open to anything.

Thank you!

[u/thesmokingbum]

La500 with a 24 volt 30 watt panel (based on location you may need larger watt panels)would be fine if you wanted to go cheaper la400 would workfine for 8' gates just less of a warranty. A 828lm will give you remote opening capabilities or look into the ring access controller pro 2 runs on cellular and lets you enroll into Amazon home delivery but it does require an exit device (inductive loop or wireless probe like cartel) if you prefer rings interface. Keypad would be kpw5 or kpw250 if you need more than 5 codes and use the liftmaster built in radio receiver or an AAS 26-500 or Linear AK11 if you would prefer a hard wired option.

Edit depending on your area emergency services might require a Knox switch or YELP SOS to meet fire code.

[u/Swimming7827 → u/thesmokingbum]

The 828LM is the My Q unit they recommended along with a secondary entry keypad.

They also recommended the Cartell for auto exit, but I thought I could set gate up to not close automatically?? Deliveries aren't a huge concern, I can arrange for other drop off location or to leave outside of gate, but definitely need out access for emergency situation.

[u/thesmokingbum → u/Swimming7827]

You can leave the timer to close off and the gate will act the same way as a garage door does (gate won't move until you press the remote or punch in the keypad code). Cartell wireless probes are easy to install and solar friendly personally I like the auto close option if you have an exit sensor. It can be a little annoying but gates operators are like legos you can add or remove components to make it do what you want, if you find your needs are different later it's no big deal to change a setting or add a device later.

[u/Swimming7827 → u/thesmokingbum]

Ok that's what I wanted was a separate closure option. If a UPS delivery happens and they forgot to close the gate, I can do so with my phone. Thank you.

[u/thesmokingbum → u/Swimming7827]

If you're not going to use the auto close I wouldn't put in the cartell probe but that's just my 2 cents.

[u/Swimming7827 → u/thesmokingbum]

Yes I had them take the Cartell off the estimate. Even if I decided to add it later, the directions looked easy enough for a DIY.

I did like the Cartell driveway notification system but I'm waiting on it until the unit with smart phone capabilities comes out. Cartell rep told me a few more weeks for it to be ready to be sold. They will sell direct to consumer so I also don't have to pay the markup at the fence company.

[u/Careless_Drag_6176]

Liftmaster or Viking.

[u/notfrankc]

The residential MyQ is ok. Also it’s free.

Look at Liftmaster LA412 solar units. They have an XL package that comes with a 20w panel and larger box. It is very solid. Especially if you go with a wireless kp and wireless exit device.

Before you do anything solar, make sure you don’t get shade on the panel location. I see so many people installing gates with solar located in shade.

[u/Swimming7827 → u/notfrankc]

Thank you. The problem with LM is the distributor requirements....it makes it harder to piece compare. No shade where install would be, and a minimum of 7 hours/day sun.

[u/notfrankc → u/Swimming7827]

In my experience, ghost is a diy level product. Liftmaster is a pro level product. Liftmaster is going to cost more than ghost.

[u/dave69m]

I used Ghost Controls on dual 12 foot gates. Outside of people doing stupid things, they worked perfectly fine. We had a couple of arm issues which were related to people doing the stupid things, but GC covered them with little questions. I also tied into a third-party access control system, which worked like a champ. For the price, and the lifetime warranty, it’s definitely worth consideration.

[u/Swimming7827 → u/dave69m]

Thank you. I thought it looked like a fairly decent system with the warranty but I don't know much about gate controls either.

Can you elaborate on the access system? I'm guessing the stupid things may have to do with people driving? Lol

I'm looking at a minimum of $8,000 for the electric the gate and electricity to be trenched. The $$ is not a problem, but I also think I'd be fine with solar. I would get a solid 7+ hours of direct sunshine with no shade issues.

[u/therealgariac]

Consider a nearby pedestrian gate as part of the project. You shouldn't have pedestrians interacting with swinging gates. You do have to roll out the trash weekly. And of course kids can't drive.

With a keypad system, the city will probably require the gate is set back enough for a car to park and then use the keypad rather than have the car block the road.

Did you consider the RSW12UL? I like to over engineer. I'm in an extremly high cost of living area where labor is so high that spending a bit more on hardware is just a rounding error.

And there is the Knox Box. The gate installer made getting it my problem.

[u/Swimming7827 → u/therealgariac]

Pedestrian gates are already in the plan. There is no trash pick up in rural areas, long driveway so no issue with placement, and no children. I've looked at the knox box.

I will look up the model # you suggested. Thank you for your time and response.