Installation of automation on swing gates allows you to open and close the structure using a remote control without leaving your car or home. You can choose a mechanism that is suitable for the price from those on sale or, if you have the necessary technical knowledge, make it yourself.
Advantages and disadvantages of automatic swing gates
The installation of electric swing gates is now not as common as the automatic equipment of suspended or rail gates. This is due to the fact that the latest design options do not "eat up" the useful space when opening, which allows them to be mounted in areas with a limited area. At the same time, swing models are more reliable and resistant to damage, have a long service life, despite a certain risk of the canvas sagging if the installation nuances are not followed. By equipping such a structure with an automatic block, the homeowner will simplify its management without losing burglary resistance. It is possible to organize the opening of the gate inward and outward.
There are several types of mechanisms, differing in design and requirements for the fence. The user will be able to choose an option that is suitable for price and performance characteristics.
The downside of the design is the need to prepare the surrounding area and the impossibility of installation in areas where objects are located near the gate that will interfere with the movement of the leaves.
Before installing the system, you need to assess whether the site meets the space requirements. Also, it is not suitable for areas where strong wind gusts are often observed.
Choice of automation for swing gates
Before installing the automation on the gate, you need to inspect the area where the drive is planned to be located. Since after the stop command, the gate will move for some time under the action of inertial force, it should not be blocked by any objects. If there is a lot of snow in the region in winter, it will have to be removed regularly. It should also be remembered about the incompatibility with this design of padlocks.
The choice of an automation unit is influenced by the following factors:
- The drive must have a safety margin. If the opening speed of the leaves is not the same, the movement blocking must be activated.
- It is important that the capabilities of the automation correspond to the mass of the sash, otherwise a wind gust can damage the system. The area of the canvases and the distance between the loop and the post support matter.
- The intensity of use. In case of large passability of the gate, preference is given to a fast-reacting mechanism.
- The influence of frost and temperature changes on the quality of the automation.
The most common types of actuators are linear and lever actuators. The first is attractive for its low price, but the shutters move slowly when using it. Such a system often has to be modified in order to achieve complete closure of the sashes during use. The version with a lever is somewhat more expensive, but it works more efficiently and faster, and also differs in ease of installation. When using it, the doors close to the end.Another option is an underground drive, which differs from the previous ones in invisibility to an outside observer. It is more difficult to install than other models.
Self-creation of an automatic unit is not an easy process, requiring accuracy and sufficient qualifications in the field of electrical engineering. In the absence of proper knowledge and experience, it is better to purchase a system ready for installation. Improper assembly of components can backfire on the homeowner and site.
Self-installation of equipment
Before starting work, you need to study the recommendations for the purchased product on how to properly install the automation on swing gates. Attention should also be paid to the requirements for the opening and the space surrounding the site.
What you need to work
One of the main things when installing automatic swing gates is safety of use. Therefore, it is preferable to purchase blocks designed for low voltage indicators (up to 36 V). You can buy a ready-to-install actuator on the leaf (you need two of them - one for each leaf).
It is also important to think over the organization of an automatic engine stop at the extreme positions of moving elements so that the system does not fail. To solve this problem, limit switches and proximity sensors are used.
It is not difficult to prepare the opening directly with your own hands. For rack supports, metal pipes are used. A frame is made of the same elements, while a profile of two types of section is taken - 4x2 and 6x6 cm.It is also important to purchase the components of the locking mechanism. Embedded parts are made from channels or tubes.
Installation when opening the gate inward
The brackets are fixed on the removed embedded inserts, while at the extreme corners of the structure's stroke, thrust elements are mounted. They are made from a corner or reinforcement parts. Installation of the operator is possible after the installation of the doors themselves. This method is suitable primarily for linear structures. If the pillar is made of brick, a niche is made in the middle.
Installation when opening the gate outward
A tube or channel with a square section (side - 10 cm) is mounted in the middle of the brick support and then the reinforcement is welded. For a profile tube, 3 mortgages are taken out. The hinges are welded to the support post. The height of the fastening of the drive elements must be identical to the placement of the embeds. When installing the automation, one bracket is welded to the frame frame, the other to the mortgage. When laying wires, it is important to check their condition (in particular, the integrity of the insulation and the absence of other damage).
The instructions often state the maximum permissible installation height of the drive (eg 2.5 m). At the same time, most models are not recommended to be placed close to the ground (at a height of less than 0.3 m).
Setting up automation processes for gate control
Brackets in the form of the letter P are used to attach the drive to supports and canvases. They provide the required degree of system mobility. For the axis of rotation, hardened bolt parts with a cross section of 0.8-1 cm are suitable. For the sake of economy, you should not use Chinese-made galvanized fasteners. Due to insufficient hardness, they wear out faster, due to which the system will lose in reliability. The control unit is installed with cable entries downwards to prevent moisture ingress.
The lever and the electric motor are mounted in the upper part of the sash. The block is first attached to the pole supports, and then to the parts of the canvas. When the mechanism is installed, the gate is tested by manual opening and the limit switches are set. To prevent the engine from breaking, the system must be equipped with a mechanism that turns off the network when the current rises.It is also important to install an indicator light to indicate the voltage is present. The installed system is tested for smoothness of opening and closing. The motor and gearbox must be fitted with covers to prevent water ingress.
In order for the automatics to serve for a long time, it is important that when opening and closing the gate, they do not encounter interfering objects. It is necessary to regularly inspect the structure and lubricate the mechanism, following the instructions in the instructions. If the system is jammed, do not put pressure on its elements. When the gate needs to be repaired, it is recommended to call a specialist. The electrical network must be equipped with a protective earth.
