Types Of Automatic Gate Opener Motors

Discover the types of automatic gate opener motors, how they work, and their benefits and drawbacks. Linear Gate Openers offers three main types of automatic gate openers, including swing gate openers, slide gate openers, and barrier gate openers. Automatic gate openers require a motor to operate its respective gate type or types.

Linear Ram Motor

Linear ram motors are used for swing gates, and no matter the method of arm operation, the arm is retracted to the motor, reducing the length to open the gate or extending to close.

The pros of a linear ram motor are that it is affordable, installation is simple, and motor strength can be increased to accommodate large gates. These motors will also not suffer backlash, windup, or compliance effects. The con of the linear ram motor is the possibility of heat generation, depending on the material and the impact of heat on the motor.

Articulated Arm Motor

Standard on smaller swing gates or gates with large pillars, articulated arm motors have a hinged arm. The motor itself is attached to a post or pillar, while the gate is attached to the end of the motor arm. Acting as a pincer, the motor pulls the hinged sections together to open and expands the arm to close.

The pros of articulated arm motors include their ability to fit in difficult places due to their hinged arm, speed of operation, easy installation, and reliability. The cons of articulated arm motors include their unfortunate possible trapping point, less attractive appearance, inability to be used on closed boarded gates, and the amount of space it will obtain.

Sliding Motor

Appropriately named, sliding motors are for sliding gates. These tend to be installed because space in front of or behind the gate is limited, the driveway is sloped, or the gate would need to be opened extraordinarily wide. These gates use roller guides, a guide track, and wheels, and a gear on the motor output shaft engages with a toothed rack along the length of the gate, attached to the gate to open and close it.

The pros of sliding gate motors include the easy handling, its ability to be used in various environments, and easy installation. The cons to these motors are that they are high maintenance and expensive.

Underground Motor

Underground motors can be used with any gate and are popular for people who want to hide their gate mechanism. The drive arm is connected to the bottom of the gate, with the motor placed underground in a protective encasement.

The pros of underground motors include their hidden location and quiet operation. Aside from the rust-proof lid, the housing is not visible, and because it is encased, the operation noise is limited beyond the box. Additionally, its manual release only requires a large Allen-type key to disconnect the lever should there be a power break. The cons of underground motors include cost and installation time. Underground motors also require extra drainage and welding and are hard to retrofit, and digging enough for the box may not be possible.

No matter what type of automatic gate you are considering, also consider the type of motor you will need or prefer.

Please feel free to contact us to learn more and discuss gate opener motor options.