How Important Is the Motor Compared to the Gate?
People spend a lot of time deciding on the gate. The gate materials, the gate designs, the gate colors. These important choices distract the decision-maker from the more important choice: the gate motor. The gate motor, you may decide, the board, and the safety edge system are typically selected by the contractor based on the systems they typically install. This disparity in decision quality is responsible for most of the major gate failures within the first couple of years. High quality gates with low quality motors result in discontent from the owners in a span of months. An average gate with a proper motor and system will operate predictably and with less trouble for years. Differentiating between gate and system components is important in the decision-making process. Design, Materials and Color of the Gate Motors
Commercial gate motors are classified by how long they are able to run continuously, also known as the ratio of the active time to the idle time. For a gate motor with a passive time of 30%, the gate will operate for 18 minutes in an hour. Passive time of 30% is more than sufficient for a single car household. For a typical 4-member family household that also receives multiple deliveries and uses the gate many more times, a higher duty cycle is needed to avoid the motor from overheating and subsequently ceasing to operate, for extended and of course, the most inconvenient times.
Aesthetically, underground motors are good, but they are labor intensive to maintain. They can be a great option for installations that have well-drained soil. However, high clay or high water soil will require a more reliable option, such as an above ground arm motor.
The Control Board
The control board is the main control for an installation. It is responsible for every aspect of the cycle including the safety and obstacle detection integrations. Finally, for modern upgrades, it is responsible for managing the open and close smartphone signals. Inexpensive control boards have a much higher chance of failing and when they do, they require the entire motor to be reset. Even more, the installer of the motor is much less likely to support it multiple years after it is installed. It is common to be left in this cycle of reset after board failure. Choosing a distributor with board and control warranty options available in the UK means you can receive support and parts without the original installer. This is important to remember, especially when the installer is gone after a few years.
Safety Edges and Obstacle Detection
A closing gate that encounters a child, a car, or a misplaced object must stop and reverse to prevent harm. This can be accomplished through a pressure-sensitive edge or a photocell. Both are useful in complementing each other in functionality. The pressure-sensitive edge detects when contact is about to occur, while the photocell can stop and reverse the gate before contact is made. Both systems should be used in automated gate systems for homes.
The CE Machinery Directive, in conjunction with specific safety standards, dictates that gates are designed to comply, and part of a proper installation is including a certificate showing compliance. Unfortunately, this is not the case with most automated systems. Owners are advised to ask for the certificate, as in most cases the absence of this safety certificate poses a real liability on the owner when an incident occurs.
The Effect of the Gate Material
The weight of gate material affects how the specified motor will perform. If a heavy oak gate is balanced on a small motor that is designed for an aluminium gate, the motor will burn out quickly. This will also be the case with heavy gates that are designed to be slide or swing gates. The heavier the gate, the more torque the motor must be rated for, and the swinging arm gate setup also must be designed to the specific weight and width of the gates.
Aluminum is light, corrosion resistant, and has little expansion. Steel, though significant in weight, will eventually rust when a finish is breached, which is usually at a weld point or hollow section ends. Hardwood has the most significant weight and movement and has the most critical motor specification. However, it outperforms both materials in visual appearance. This is the continued popularity of this material, in spite of the increased design.
This is not a critique of any material. Rather, it promotes the automation system to gate design.