Poor Gate Posts and Hinges
A swing gate post may look strong enough but if it's not very deep in the ground it can move and cause a gate to hit the ground or jam preventing the Automatic Operator from working. Generally if you have trouble opening a gate by hand don't expect an automatic opener to open it any easier, the gate must be hung from a good solid post that is set deep into the ground and have good hinges so it will open easily before you can automate it.
Cabling has become faulty below or above ground
Cabling that is buried in the ground should be contained in conduit and be of a type that is suitable for direct burial like TPS Power cable, CAT 5 and telephone wire rated for outdoor in ground use. Cable that is running to a device that moves like an automatic gate actuator or electric lock should be a flexible cable. Flexible cable should not be buried driectly in the ground as it can rot. The flexible cable should be run to a weather resistant junction box and joined to a cable that is suitable for burying in the ground. Cable MUST NOT BE JOINED IN THE GROUND! unless in a well drained electrical pit and proper connectors and protection from the elements is used.
Ants, spiders, slugs or lizards getting into the control electronics
Every hole into a control box should be sealed up with silicon to prevent bugs and lizards getting in, although small ants can get into just about anything so moth balls or ant poison may need to be placed in the bottom of the control box to keep them out.
Gate is too big for the Operator
It is important to match the size of the operator with the gate. If too small the operator may work for a while but will more than likely break down constantly and cost a lot more in the long run with service technician fees to keep it going. A suitably sized operator can give years of reliable service if installed properly and lets face when you're in a hurry to go some where you want that gate to open! See the information pages for our Gate Operators at Swing Gate Operators or Sliding Gate Operators more information.
Gate operator mounting brackets coming loose
If mounting brackets are bolted to brick, not the concrete core of a brick post or incorrect fixing hardware is used they will come loose. For correct fixing proceedures see our installation manuals for our Gate Operators that can be downloaded from the information pages for our gate operators at Swing Gate Operators or Sliding Gate Operators more information.
Battery back ups that don't work when the power fails!
A problem with most gate operators that have a battery back up is the battery is normally not used so when the power fails so does the battery so it may as well not even be there. Grant's Automation does not use a battery back up in our Gate Operator Systems, instead we run the operator from the battery all the time. This conditions the battery so it works properly so when the power goes off it will work. The expected life cycle for a back up battery is about 6 months and it needs to be checked regularly by a technician. If running the operator from the battery the expected life is up to 10 years and doesn't need to be checked at all, if the gates working the battery is good.
Gate Locks that jam in the wet!
Gate posts in the ground will always move with change in weather conditions so if choosing an electric lock, Grant's Automation highly recommends a magnetic clamp as this will not jam if the gate moves, unless the gate moves so much it strikes the ground. Strike locks are cheaper but have a very small margin of error so if the gate moves they will jam. See Electric Locks for more information.