Diy Install Swing Gate Automation

Diy Install Swing Gate Automation

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Discussion

GT89

Original Poster:

391 posts

120 months

Friday 6th September
quotequote all
Short question, has anyone done it themselves.

Long question, I'm currently fitting new gates, this consists of a 900x1200 oak manual pedestrian gate.
Next to that is a 3400x1200mm oak 7 bar farm gate. This is a single leaf swing gate.

I've had a quote from a company for circa £3.2k Inc vat to install a Rogers technology 36v, one pair of photo cells, gms and provide 3 x remotes.
No key pad, exit loop etc so I would consider this to be simple.

I am providing the trenched 2.5mm swa to location and sparky Bil connecting to CU.

This strikes me as a lot, I appreciate it's the knowledge, the liability etc that they take on installing said gates.

I've had a quick price up and it's <£1800 materials for me as non trade to purchase. In my mind it doesn't look too hard to install, or am I pi**ing in the wind and should just pay the man.

For reference I'm mid way through installing the new oak gate posts, hanging the gates etc so far from inept at DIY.

guitarcarfanatic

1,781 posts

142 months

Friday 6th September
quotequote all
Yes, just fitted a Topens system (cheap) from Amazon. We have a single gate - steel frame and 3m across. It had been clad with deck boards, which I removed and fitted a nice redwood which I properly primed and stained in a Scandinavian fashion.

Install was easy enough - simple wiring etc. I trenched the 20m from my gate to the house and used a spare fused spur that had been fitted for exactly this purpose when the house was re-wired. I used 1.5mm armoured cable - my system was low draw.

It works great - key fob opening, an electric lock and I put in a switch in the garden as well. Setting the stop limit was trial and error, but I think this is easier on more premium systems. I spent £250 on the heavy duty arm, £90 on the lock and then another £50 on cable /switch so nothing on the scale your doing! But it works great for the moment and saves loads of faff.

My set-up was a little more tricky as both posts are terribly twisted! But I am just using as is as they will be replaced next year when I do some driveway work.

Excuse the messy wiring and abrupt end - it has soft start/close, but I hadn't turned it on when I filmed the video.

Before - it looks better than it was...it was falling to bits!



After (with messy wiring that hasn't been tidied!)





And gate (soft start and close turned off so it's a bit over zealous at the end!!)

https://1drv.ms/v/s!Al8DPHyemMIuiqwbmcV9dIYcAABZiA...

dingg

4,233 posts

226 months

Sunday 8th September
quotequote all
Yep

Bought house with two leaf gates electrical rams system already fitted but one ram was broken, called out the local 'experts' he decided he didn't want to fit one ram but wanted to upsell a new complete system for 1500e (4 years ago)

I didn't fancy that tbh

Found a suitable system on ebay from an Italian manufacturer (they all seemed to be made there) 250 quid iirc, fitted and working great until a wet spider managed to get into the control box and shorted out some electrickery that stopped the system remembering to open and close after one cycle.

Emailed the Italian company and by my description they diagnosed that the memory on the board was kaput, they could sell an external memory card for 40e but delivery was 45e, got same card from aliexpress with 2 new remotes for 15e.

Gates working again.

Company is

https://dieffematic.com/

They sell lots of systems which are branded differently but virtually the same control board.

Instructions were quite easy to follow and I didn't blow myself or anything else up

m3jappa

6,569 posts

225 months

Sunday 8th September
quotequote all
I have a similar job to do at some stage.

I am also probably going to buy the topens kit off amazon, it has good reviews etc

It all looks pretty straight forward but the issue i am struggling with is how do we install an intercom?

this is the bit that stumps me. i understand i can use a hikvision device. i understand that this wires to a relay in the gate kit.

what i don't understand is how is this wired over the router iykwim.

So what im saying is the basics of getting the kit to open and close a gate look easy, but having it somewhat automated looks the challenge.

mdw

359 posts

281 months

Sunday 8th September
quotequote all
Yes, used a company called easygates ( I think) it was 20 years ago. DIY install, very easy to understand instructions. Only had one new motor and linkage in that time.

guitarcarfanatic

1,781 posts

142 months

Sunday 8th September
quotequote all
m3jappa said:
I have a similar job to do at some stage.

I am also probably going to buy the topens kit off amazon, it has good reviews etc

It all looks pretty straight forward but the issue i am struggling with is how do we install an intercom?

this is the bit that stumps me. i understand i can use a hikvision device. i understand that this wires to a relay in the gate kit.

what i don't understand is how is this wired over the router iykwim.

So what im saying is the basics of getting the kit to open and close a gate look easy, but having it somewhat automated looks the challenge.
Otherwise, buy the wifi controller and use a smart battery doorbell. Then you can have the doorbell call you in the house, can view who it is and then use your chosen method to trigger the wifi switch (alexa, google home or some kind of automation).

We do the low tech version of this - doorball calls the ringer in the kitchen / our phones and we can then press the keyfob to open (which hangs near the ringer). If we added a alexa or google device with a screen, we could make it call that device with a video image as well...maybe in the future.


GT89

Original Poster:

391 posts

120 months

Tuesday 10th September
quotequote all
Thanks all, plenty of good advise.

I'm still undecided on what to do, the actual installation looks easy enough.
My only concern is around the liability "should" someone or something becomes damaged and injured.

Pistonsquirter

351 posts

46 months

Wednesday 9th October
quotequote all
Just don't be a pussy and DIY it, there's only about 6 screw holes to drill and put screws in

dhutch

15,246 posts

204 months

Wednesday 9th October
quotequote all
GT89 said:
I've had a quote from a company for circa £3.2k Inc vat to install

I've had a quick price up and it's <£1800 materials for me as non trade to purchase. I
So around £1400/1500 fitting? Two tradies for two days at £200-250 each is £800-1000, so yeah, maybe it is a bit steep?

But its not a million miles off maybe.