HOW TO MEASURE DRIVEWAY GATES THAT ARE SWING

 

Always check the slope across the driveway it may not look like there is any slope but there usually is so it pays to check when installing any type of driveway gates. A Laser level is very handy for getting a level line even a low cost one from a your local hardware store will work, otherwise a level on a box section steel, long straight timber or a level string line will also do. For more accuracy measure inside the gate posts at the top and the bottom and with a spirit level measure how plumb (straight up and down) the posts are.

 

How to choose the correct swing gate operator?

With driveway gates there are many factors that together will combine to help you choose the right operator for your gate or driveway gates. Below are factors that you should consider when making your choice.

 

• WIDTH OF THE GATE/S - Obvious we know but this is the starting point. Although weight is a consideration the width of a swing gate has a far greater bearing on choice than weight on driveway gates. At this point we assume that you have a good set of hinges or you will be choosing a good set of hinges (the right hinges is almost more critical than the motor choice). So note down your gate/s width as your first point of reference.

• GATE CONSTRUCTION AND WIND RESISTANCE - Your main point to consider here is the style of driveway gates. A gate with 25mm vertical uprights at 150mm centre's as it's main centre infill will have a smaller wind resistance than a gate with a totally enclosed centre infill of say timber or colorbond. You need to consider your wind resistance taking into account site conditions and size. EG: Wind resistance of a fully enclosed gate of 3.5 metres width in a coastal environment would be considered "high" whereas a well protected site and an open design gate of the same size may be considered "low". Note that even an open design gate of large dimensions (above 2.5metres in width) in a windy environment will provide at least a "moderate" resistance. Note down your wind resistance level - "low", "moderate", or "high".

• NUMBER OF DAILY OPERATIONS OR "DUTY CYCLE" - With driveway gates in general terms we consider even 50 operations a day to be a small number assuming that the 50 operations were spread evenly over an eight hour period. If however the gate/s performed 25 operations for half an hour in the morning and the other 25 during a half hour period in the afternoon then this would be considered medium to high duty cycle. Some operators are designed to work all day long whilst others like a more laid back lifestyle and prefer a home with lazy usage. In general terms a "commercial" motor will be more suited to higher duty cycles. So make a mental note of whether your duty cycle may be considered low, medium or high.

• LOW VOLTAGE VERSUS HIGH VOLTAGE - Simply you can expect to pay more for a low voltage (12 or 24 volt) motor than a comparable high voltage (240 volt) motor. Also a low voltage motor will run cooler and therefore have a higher duty cycle rating than a 240 volt motor. Low voltage can also be equipped with battery backup which is much more difficult with 240 volt systems.

• PRICE - I wish we could tell you you can be guided by price but it simply isn't so. Some of our lowest priced operators have been our best performers time and time again. It is however fair to say that price will be an indication of the quality of build of the motor.

 

Click on the links below to choose from gate oprators to swing gate hardware for your driveway gates

 

                                             SWING GATE MOTORS                                                           SWING GATE HARDWARE