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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Electrical Questions >> electric automatic gate opener https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1316117052 Message started by dj-paul-c on Sep 15^th, 2011, 9:04pm

Title: electric automatic gate opener
Post by dj-paul-c on Sep 15^th, 2011, 9:04pm

Title: Re: electric automatic gate opener
Post by dj-paul-c on Sep 15^th, 2011, 9:20pm

customer asked me to have a look at there gate opener
manufacturer is "came"

cust says not worked for a while,i switched unit off and on, tried the key fob and the relays clicked a few times and heard what sounded like the motor turning ,
(the gate was in the "manually operated" mode where you can open and shut the gate by hand, (orange switch picture 4) if switch turned the other way it sets it back to motor only)
key fob didnt seem to do anything after that,i reset the unit,tested for power going to the motor,-
there are 3 connections
w v u
w-brown
v-black
u blue

i got 230v between v + u
nothing on the brown at all
black to earth on the motor 170v
blue to earth on motor 170v

could have been a bad earth most likely
but
what does the brown do ??

picture 3 -you can see the green connector with uvw connections- 3 core +earth flex to motor terminals in connector block in picture 4

is the brown ment to be powered ??
i checked controll fuses in unit,they were fine

Title: Re: electric automatic gate opener
Post by Lectrician on Sep 16^th, 2011, 8:38am

Three cores to the motor - a neutral and two lives. One for OPEN and one for CLOSE ;)

Check limit switches on motor, especially if gate has been forced or closed onto something.

Check safety switches - IR beams anywhere?

Check thermal cutouts on motor - motor seized?

Title: Re: electric automatic gate opener
Post by dj-paul-c on Sep 16^th, 2011, 11:28am

of course lec -a live to open and one to close :-X

there are 2 small bollard IR beams in the customers garden,im guessing entry from the road via key fob then the ir beams detect the car and close the gate,when i swiped my hand accross the "beam" they clicked so they seem to register

where would the thermal cutouts on the motor be located ?

with the gate in manual mode i.e the motor disconectd from the swing arm i could hear movement in the motor box after pushing the key fob, when i put the box into automatic mode i.e the gate should only open with the key fob-- there was no turning noise heard from the motor box but i was getting power to the motor ??

Title: Re: electric automatic gate opener
Post by Lectrician on Sep 16^th, 2011, 11:47am

The IR beams will be to stop the gate closing on a car. The gates will close after a time delay usually, or a second press of the fob. It depends how the system works, or how it's programmed.

Thermal cutouts are usually auto-reset, but you should see the cables near the motor, with the motor windings. Usually a pair of whites, which should be closed.

Is it just one motor or two? If two it would be odd for them both to fail, so would concentrate on the control circuit.

You can see the limit switches in your last picture - two red microswitches operated by the cams.

You could always try wacking 240v to the open/close terminals of the motor in isolation to see if the motor operates as it should.

Title: Re: electric automatic gate opener
Post by CWatters on Sep 16^th, 2011, 2:10pm

Starting capacitor?

Title: Re: electric automatic gate opener
Post by Lectrician on Sep 16^th, 2011, 2:18pm

CWatters wrote on Sep 16^th, 2011, 2:10pm:

Starting capacitor?

Would normally blow the fuse if this failed, as the motor essentially then presents a short circuit to the supply. You can see the capacitor in the motor housing too.

Title: Re: electric automatic gate opener
Post by dj-paul-c on Sep 18^th, 2011, 8:41pm

thanks for the replys

lec-its just one motor

i am going to go out in the next day or 2 for a better look,i was there doing another job and was asked to look at the gate whilst there

i will update when i have another look

Title: Re: electric automatic gate opener
Post by L.Spark on Sep 20^th, 2011, 1:25am

Lectrician wrote on Sep 16^th, 2011, 11:47am:

The IR beams will be to stop the gate closing on a car.

Or person! Don't forget there was an incident where a child was killed by an automatic sliding type gate. I believe they have to have crush switches now as well as IR.

But thankfully automatic gates is not something I get involved with!

Title: Re: electric automatic gate opener
Post by Lectrician on Sep 20^th, 2011, 6:56am

IR beams are very narrow, and can't really help to protect people.

New gates do need to have cutouts on motor slight motor overloads caused by obstruction, and you actually have to use a tester to test the compression force and record it on a certificate! Not that I have had to do this, but have spoken with a spark who has.

Title: Re: electric automatic gate opener
Post by L.Spark on Sep 20^th, 2011, 10:40pm

They are narrow but I've always seen them mounted right by the barrier, or on the up and down barriers, so if you go near it or your in the beam it won't come down. I know what you mean though it's more to let barrier/gate know car has gone past.

Title: Re: electric automatic gate opener
Post by dj-paul-c on Oct 24^th, 2011, 8:39pm

i got back to the job a few days ago with some time for a better look

the limit switches were out,loose on the spindle, properly adjusted them and tightened up,reset the gate control pack,a push of the key fob and it opened ,,but wouldnt close with the key fob
i checked the 2 safety sensors on the "road side" of the gate,one of the sensors had burned out on the circuit board
the other side was the master unit with the contacts -common and NC were used.i linked them out,and bingo a closing gate 8-)
new sensors required for the customer

thanks for the previous input 8-)