A guide to selecting the right gate operator.

With so many options that can cost thousands of dollars choosing a gate opener can turn into hours of research and indecision. To keep things simple we have broken it down into a 3 step process.

1. Determine the type of gate you have.

2. Determine the conditions around your gate.

3. Determine features and safety devices you wish to have and balance against budget.

As a rule of thumb in order to install an operator on your gate you will need a source of power (or accommodation for solar installation) a purpose built gate or a gate capable of being retrofit with a gate operator. The preferred material for gates is aluminum or galvanized steel with a poly paint to prevent corrosion. Wood only gates and non-reinforced wood only doors/gates are not desirable for automatic installation due to their weight and weakness.

What kind of gate do you have or wish to purchase as part of your automatic gate project?

A linear or slide gate will look something like this where the gate slides behind the existing fence to open.