Where do you Start?
Ok you've decided you'd like an automatic gate but how do you go about getting one?. The first thing to consider is who will be using the gate and how will they get in?
Each adult resident with a vehicle will need a remote control and others such as school children, friends, family, tradesmen, domestic help and the meter reader will need some other way to get in, a Digital Keypad will allow anyone with a correct code to get in. For those visitors without a code an Intercom System allows visitors to call inside and the gate can be opened from inside the house.
Grants Automation offers a large range of Digital Keypads and Intercoms including: wireless systems for acreage properties and Intercoms with a Digital Keypad built in. All are for outdoor installation and made to blend into your property.
Number of Users
If you share a driveway with your neighbour(s) you can consider sharing an automatic gate too. One rated for Residential use can be shared by up to 5 house holds or an average of no more than 60 operations per day.
Any more than this and a larger commercially rated operator is recommended, which requires a larger investment but if this is split between all the house holds involved the total per household will still be less than one house with a residential automatic gate and it will add value to each and every household and in most cases more than the initial investment required. See Gated Communities for more information.
If the gate is for an appartment building, office building or other commercial car park see Commercial Gates.
Swing or Sliding?
If you would like a new gate and not sure whether a swing or sliding gate would be better see Choosing a Swing or a Sliding Gate for more information.
Existing Gates
Now if you already have a gate and wish to automate this then see Can an Existing Manually Operated Gate be Made Automatic? for more information.
What happens if there is a Power Failure?
Ideally the automatic gate will continue to work regardless, well this is possible with our battery powered option, where the battery is charged automatically from a power point in a nearby building with low voltage wiring only run out to the gate. This option can also save a lot of money during installation. If you already have or can easily install a power point at the gate all our operators also have the option of running from power only with no battery. If you choose this option we recommend installing a small side pedestrian gate so if there is a power cut, you can get still get in to manually release the automatic gate. See Power Options for more information.
Does an Automatic Gate need an electric lock?
Sliding Gates operators lock the gate too so nothing further is needed.
Swing gate operators do hold a gate closed reasonably well and if the gate frame is rigid enough there is no need for an electric lock. If a gate is wider than 2m (per side), has an opening angle of more than 110 degrees or has a high security requirement then an electric lock is recommended.
You may also have a Small Side Pedestrian Gate and would like an intercom installed for visitors that electrically unlocks with the push of a button inside, then relock's once the visitor has entered, electric locks are available for this too.
See Electric Locks for more information.
Can you install an Automatic Gate Operator Yourself?
Well this depends on how handy you are. See our DIY Installation page for information
Getting a Gate Made
If you have no gate at the moment and wish to have one made then see our Gate Styles page, we can fabricate gates and ship them to you anywhere in Australia for you to install yourself or if you're in Brisbane or surrounding areas we can install it for you complete with automatic opener.
Building a new house, landscaping or Laying a new driveway?
and would like to allow for an automatic gate, intercom or digital keypad before you start, including cabling. See the PDF brochures or installation manuals at Swing Gate Operators or Sliding Gate Operators more information.
What other options are there with automatic Gates?
Well you can have a Photocell installed that will prevent the gate from closing on a vehicle for added safety and more efficient control over closing of the gate automatically. You can also have the gate opening automatically by any vehicle leaving a property by installing a ground loop vehicle detector into your driveway. You can even have the gate turn on the lights for you, which is a feature included with all our gate operator systems.
see Swing Gates or Sliding Gates more information.