Solar gate opener options. Experiences and opinions needed.

CHRIS_WNC

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Good morning everyone!

Do any of you have a solar gate opener setup up and running? I'm looking for experiences, dos and don't, "what I would have done differently" kinds of input. We have some property being worked on and there will be a clean graded gravel driveway finished on it next week some time. We are already getting trespassers driving up in via a logging road and I want to put a stop to it after all of the big equipment is gone. This will be a temporary solution until we have power run out to the property.

I watched a video that used a Ghost Controls opener to open up a 16' tube farm gate. This was for a swing arm, not a chain drive pull it out of the way type of setup. That would be sufficient for the time being. If any of you have experience with this type of setup, let me know what I'm getting myself into.

Thanks!

CHRIS
 
Hey Chris - I am about to hit the road for a long drive. Shoot me your number and I can give you a call. I can tell you my experience with my solar gate opener and what to look out for.

Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk
 
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When I lived in KY I used an opener from Tractor Supply by Mighty Mule (model #350 I believe). It moved a 14 foot gate with zero issues. I did use their solar collector and buried a battery box with a small automotive battery next to the pole. I had a locking latch and it functioned flawlessly for about 3 1/2 years until I moved. Used a remote that you program the private code in very simply.

Very good system! No, it was not cheap but still less than most other systems I looked at.

You won't be disappointed!
 
We have been running one for about 3 years now. I use a full size (group 24?) battery and a 50 watt solar panel. I have a back up battery that I will swap out evry 6 months and put the used battery on my fancy charger- I don't know if it helps but makes me feel good, lol. We have a 16 ft tube gate on it. Its our main driveway at home. All the car have the remotes to get in and out with, but there is a key pad for service folks to get in as needed.
It's about a 8 out of 10- it does the job but wish the remote had a little more range, if wind is blowing strong against it when closing the safety stop can kick in ( you can adjust it but to keep dogs from getting hurt I keep it light-ish), it's slow and you can't change that.

Biggest thing is with a gate over 12 ft is the pole it is mounted on. I used a 6"x6" square tube 2 ft in concrete and I still got some sag. But not enough to have to change anything
 
I've never had any sagging issues but used an 8" treated post on the mount (hinge) side and the latch side. I did weld up a different mount bracket for the actuator than what came in the kit. Each specific scenario will drive the particulars. Good luck!
 
I’ve been using a Mighty Mule opener from Tractor Supply on a 14’ gate about 6 months now. I bought a marine battery and plastic storage box and connected a 10watt solar panel. Gate probably gets opened 5-10 times a day and hasn’t had any issues other than the range of the remote is kinda limited. Two of our cars have the mighty mule remotes and I programmed the built in remote in the van to open the gate as well. They go on sale frequently if you watch for it.
 
This has been on my "to-do" list for many years. I gotta get around to it, gettin too old to get out and open and close it every time.
Me too although I don’t have the gate yet. I’ve wondered about the merits of swinging gates versus those that slide. I have room for either.
 
Hey Chris - I am about to hit the road for a long drive. Shoot me your number and I can give you a call. I can tell you my experience with my solar gate opener and what to look out for.

Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk
@amnesia
I missed your post earlier. Was headed out to pee-wee football after I posted. Thanks for the offer. I’ll send my number and maybe we can talk next week.

CHRIS
 
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