C
Chris
Guest
Mighty mule gate opener auto close and have the safety feature to open back up if something touches the gate while moving. Everything is adjustable including how far it opens and closes
yeah, I saw you can control how much force the obstacle must exert before it stops. And I think it opens to like 110 degrees max. I'll have to play around with settings.Mighty mule gate opener auto close and have the safety feature to open back up if something touches the gate while moving. Everything is adjustable including how far it opens and closes
So, this is my front gate from the outside:
Well, part of it. I think it is 12 to 16ft and is hollow tube style. It seems fairly heavy, but I think it is under 200lbs.
Currently it is a pain to open and close (the anchor post needs to be replaced). The current locking mechanism is a chain that wraps around a post.
I need to be able to keep my gate closed so my cows don't get out and opening and closing the gate in the rain or extreme heat is very inconvenient-- to the point that my brother refuses to close the gate behind him.
I want a solar powered unit so I don't have to worry about failure during power outages or having to run long runs of electricity from the house out to the gate since it is quite a distance.
Here is a small section of my yard (I have over 30 acres) from google maps. You can't really see the gate because it is under trees. The security light pole is over 100ft away from the gate.
I was thinking of mounting the solar panel on the light pole because it is the closest spot out from under the trees. Alternatively, I could try to mount it on the car port, but that would be a lot farther and part of the car port needs to be replaced because it was smashed. I'm not sure just how to mount the panel though or in which direction to aim it for the best sun reception.
When I was looking for gate openers, there didn't seem to be much of a selection. The brand that had the least sucky reviews was Mighty Mule. So, I'm making a list of things I would need, but I'm also open to suggestions that might help keep costs down or would make it more efficient.
Here is the list of necessary items (that I know of so far):
Optional items:
- Mighty Mule FM200 gate opener $252.50 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001FA0BYY/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
- GTO Rb741 remote control 3pck $51.07 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0030KE84G/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20 (individual remotes are $19.88)
- Casil CA1290 12v 9ah battery $17.75 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013CX23JM/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20 (I'm open to alternative suggestions on this one)
- Camco 55373 Large Battery Box $7.80 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EOX2OKS/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20 (or a box someone recommends if they think there is something better)
- Solar Panel for Mighty Mule Gate opener 20w 12v $69.99
- Some sort of cables to connect the battery to the gate's power? Not sure what to get for this.
- Wires to go from solar panel to battery. Also not sure what to get.
Does anyone here have one of these or have experience with them? Will it damage the mechanism of the opener if someone pushes the gate manually without using the remote to open or close it?
- Mighty Mule Keypad FM137 $38.89 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002YP96Y/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20 OR Wireless Intercom & Keypad system FM136 $168.35 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000QGNXJI/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
- Automatic Gate lock FM143 $117.95 (unlocks when remote is clicked to open/close gate) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009SS13Q/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20 (would love to find a cheaper solution that works the same way)
- Wired push button control FM132 $5.55 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009SNXZM/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20 (range 1,000ft-- would love a wireless version)
- Adjustable 10" gate wheel $54.99 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000AX6WG/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20 or Shepherd Hardware 9785 4-inch gate wheel $12.67 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000I1A8H6/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20 (or something better that someone recommends)
- Mighty Mule Gate Opener Replacement Transformer RB570 $15.47 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015RY4OA/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20 (just in case I need to replace it if something goes awry)
I'm trying to figure out the best solution for dealing with package delivery. Unlike other people in my area, my gate is right at the very beginning of my property instead of being set back, so I can't really put anything out in front of the gate on the outside without it being in the way of the power company & timber company. Currently with the gate open, FedEx and UPS drivers can just drive right in. I would say I could put my phone number up and have them call me to be let in, but most of them can't get cell signal to be able to call from there. I thought about a "honk to be let in" thing, but I hate when people drive up and honk (usually only Jehova's Witnesses do it)... Maybe I could set up some sort of sensor that makes a noise in the house?
I would love to have an intercom so people could talk to us inside, but I'm not sure where the best place to put the internal unit would be.
I still have absolutely no clue what cables/wires to get for the solar panel. I know it will have to be more than 100ft to reach the battery (unless I see if I can put the panel on top of one of the old dog houses out front)-- and it will require digging to put wires underground. So I will need conduit to put it in.
Thanks, MrMiz. Trenching and running line would be problematic due to the trees and waterlines-- it would intersect some. I tend to get a lot of sun and the gate would be used maybe two to four times a day-- generally only two and on some days zero. I'm hoping the battery will hold enough of a charge from all of the sunny days that it won't be an issue.
I'm getting a high efficiency solar panel. Maybe solar panels have just improved over the years? I know some can charge with less sunlight than they used to require. I'm hoping that I won't have any problems.I know I'm beating a dead horse here, but I swear that my solar gate ONLY worked when it was nice outside. Ever single time there was bad weather we had to manually operate it. I guess I'm just one of those lucky exceptions, but it drove me mad. I think it only took me a little less than a day to use a backhoe and dig an 800ft trench and roll out the aluminum line. The hook up took me a lot longer because I can only do my projects on the weekend, but it all worked out good.
If I remember right the solar panel was pumping out a constant 12v or 24v DC (can't remember now which one) as long as there was good sun. So the likely culprit in my situation was the battery. However I did change it out for a new one so I don't think that much has changed in the last 2/3 years with batteries in this application. However if it has it might be worth your dime to upgrade your battery to the new "hotness". That might keep you from running into what I had.
You can rent those 18" or 32" ditch witches from Home Depot now(at least in my area and we are somewhat rural). You still have to hand dig where you have existing lines but manual trenching is for the birds. I crossed a phone line, water line, and gas line with my trench. Though now that I think about it my water line was 6'+ down so I never crossed it I just dug down to confirm and didn't go down any farther then my test holes. I called the locator service had them come out then hand dug to find and confirm. Then I stopped my trenching at about 2ft from my lines and hand dug from the trench to the line. It's easier to hand dig when you have a trench already dug within 2 ft. The ground in my area is rock hard about 6" to 10" so getting under it and chipping into the trench makes it way easier.
Anyway I should stop trying to convince you to run a hard line! But I guess if your solar does make you nuts then you can always come back here for this info.
Just went and got the lag bolts today. They have a "washerhead"-- built in washer. We couldn't find them at first so I pulled out my phone and looked up the bolts on homedepot's website (I forgot to write down the aisle and bay number beforehand). Found the ones on the list and then started searching. They were in a bin on the very bottom shelf. My back hates me today so it let out a big Grumpy Cat "Nope" on bending down to get it. Fortunately, my mother was with me in a riding cart so she could reach it.
So, now we have what we need to make it function (aside from the post stabilizing/replacement).
Will I need special connectors for the battery though?
depends on the battery. Mine had the crimp type you push on the terminal. I'm going through past comments to see if you posted what battery you got. I attached a picture of what mine looked like from google. If your battery is in a weather proof enclosure those should work fine. If not you might want to wrap them or buy some kind of exterior grade ones.
Thank you!I couldn't find if you posted which battery you ordered. So you might have to wait till it shows up, or post a link in here and I'll try to get back to you.
Thanks, Tuffy. I'm not as handy or strong as my father was, but I did help him put up fences, gate posts, etc years ago. We would work on projects together and sometimes I would come up with ideas to make things work a little better and he had the skill to implement it. I was told that he always had very strong hands/arms-- even as a toddler. Apparently as a toddler he pulled his playpen apart with his bare hands so he could get out. The anniversary of his death was last weekend so I've been thinking about him a lot.Your smart with this kinda stuff you'll figure it out i have faith in you
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