Foreword: I wrote this article in response to a request from World Fence News in 1986. Their normal contributor was ill and would not be able to write for their column by the deadline. So, when they told me to write anything I wanted about gate operators, their call was to the right place at the right time and for me, the name I selected was a negative approach to a positive solution to problems I had recently been involved with. I had one of those rare creative moments and less than an hour I wrote my reasons why gate operators won't work. Although gate operators have really evolved in the past 21 years, my observations still hold true. I was reminded of that years later when, upon making a call to a major gate operator manufacturer's sales manager and introducing myself, I was asked by my contact if I was the one who wrote this article. He then gave me a very nice compliment stating that my article was a major reference handout when he would teach a gate operator class. Here then is my paper.

In my experience, there are basically three reasons why automatic gate operators don't work or simply cause trouble. They are, in order of occurrence, incorrect application, improper wiring, and incorrect installation. Although not among the three main reasons for gate operator failure, I also feel that there are occasional deficiencies on the part of some manufacturers in providing installation information that would address these areas.

Misapplication is simply a sales problem: Selling less operator than is needed for the application. This comes about by sacrificing quality for price, meaning application quality and not the quality of one brand versus another. As an example, the operator specified for a 10-foot gate leaf is stretched out to operate a 14-foot gate leaf. Another example is using an operator intended for a 200 pound gate on a gate weighing 500 pounds. The correction here is follow the manufacturer's specifications exactly.

Remember that most manufacturers will not warranty an operator whose capabilities have been exceeded. You will gain customer respect by refusing to sell him “trouble.”

Improper wiring is usually caused by lack of knowledge of the product or allowing the customer or an electrical contractor to guess at the appropriate wiring for the operator being used. Since most manufacturers give wiring specifications in their installation manuals, you should get a copy of of those specifications and give them to your customer/electrical contractor prior to operator installation. When selling a gate operator, insist on at least an input to the electrician on proper wire gage. The reason for gate operator failure in this instance is usually because the gage was too small for the distance run. Too-small gage wire over a longer-than-specified distances causes “line loss”.

The horsepower rating of a motor is a power (wattage) rating. Watts are amps multiplied by volts. In an improper gage run, the volts will drop caused by line loss. If the volts drop, the amps will rise to accomplish the “watts” needed for the horsepower rating. Amps cause heat and heat burns up motors. I've never seen a gate operator that worked too well with a burned up motor. The answer is to tell the customer, “If the wiring isn't right, we won't warranty the motor.” Or, “If the wiring isn't right, I won't sell you trouble.”

Improper installation is usually caused by not understanding or by ignoring the manufacturer's installation instructions. These instructions give dimensions which should be followed. Often they are ignored when the installation doesn't exactly “fit” the installation site. At the time I wrote the original article, proper swing operator installation meant that, when fully open, the swing arms would lie one exactly above the other. Evolution has changed that design to eliminate a “pinch point” caused by that overlay. Follow the manufacturer's installation instructions in order to achieve the tightest possible overlay without creating the pinch point.

The speed of the gate from closed to open can be plotted like a bell curve. The instant the opener begins operation, the gate starts to move slowly. It gains speed to its maximum when the arms are at 90 degrees to each other. Then the gate begins to slow as the angle between the arms closes to its “open limit”. This “bell curve” action often determines the life of the operator. The slower the speed when it stops, the less the gate “torques” the operator.

The second most important point to installing swing gate operators is that they must be level. Improper installation of a slide gate operator is usually due to it not being parallel to the gate. This causes excessive wear on chains and sprockets. Leveling is also important. Distance from the gate should be as close as possible without interfering with gate travel. The biggest single problem with slider installation is limit adjustment or rather “maladjustment.” It shows up as the gate slamming into its stops. This can critically damage and shorten the life of the slide operator. Chains will stretch, mounting pads or posts will loosen, roller and latch posts will be damaged and, besides, its very noisy.

There could be a fourth reason that some gate operators don't work. Even with all of the previously mentioned problems eliminated, lack of proper maintenance can shorten operator life. Proper application of the manufacturer's recommended lubrication and adjustment schedules will give operators many years of useful life. With today's prices, this care is essential. The responsibility of taking time to educate the user on the care of the gate operator lies with those of us who sell and install them. We have fallen short if we miss this opportunity.

In conclusion,properly installed gate operators DO work. With proper planning and communication before, during and after the installation, the actual life of most operators is indefinite.