Generally speaking hand held remote handsets can work from 20 to 30 metres away

Remotes (aka zappers, clickers, blippers etc.) work on a radio wave frequency - actual range will depend on various local environmental factors:-

• Stone walls

• Heated car windscreens

• Weather conditions

• Low Battery

This can get involved as you need to take into account quite a few factors, our best advice is to start off and keep it simple!

Identify Primary, Secondary and Other or Unexpected Users.

Your new gate can be viewed as your front door – who do you want to let in – who do you want to keep out - how do you want allow them in and let them out again.

Primary Users – You, your family, close friends and relatives.

Suggestion – issue primary users with remote control hand transmitter – this activates gates from a vehicle or on foot.

Install a Code pad (aka Key pad) – issue a secure pin number to trusted persons

Secondary Users – Close neighbours, Postman, Wheelie bin collection, regular or arranged deliveries

For less secure situations the gates can be held open on a ‘timed’ basis during key periods in daylight hours and timed to close in the evening or night time.

Install a Intercom with or without Code pad– an intercom (voice only or voice and vision) will allow you to identify a person before deciding whether or not to let them in - issue pin number to trusted persons – this can be changed from time to time for security.

Other or Unexpected Users – Unexpected visitors – wanted or unwanted.

As above, although you may wish not to give out the pin number for the code pad.

Install a Intercom with or without Codepad– an intercom will allow you to identify a person before deciding whether or not to let them in - issue pin number to trusted persons – this can be changed from time to time for security.

It may sound daft, but this question can easily be overlooked! There are a number options to consider both in terms of security and convenience.

You can let persons out by your remote control hand set, activate the gates from the house via the intercom, fit a exit push button, fit an exit code pad, install an induction ground loop set for ‘auto exit’.

Yes you can, and from a tablet and PC if required, although this assumes it is a smartphone. There are many different smartphone apps available for automatic gate systems and often they expand to control many other products around your home.
More than half of the electric gates we now install have voice intercoms which link to mobile phones so the owner can operate the gates from anywhere in the world if required.

Many systems exist of course with video interface as well as voice and then different controls which are set up when installing such as partial opening for pedestrian access or maybe just one gate leaf opening when they are swing gates.
Nearly all electric gates have a timed closing cycle so the gates will always close after being opened. The inclusion of proper safety is imperative to comply with regulations if you are operating electric gates from a remote location and the gates have auto close as well.

The simple fact that electric operated gates have motor drives which are powerful enough to move the gates means they have an inherent danger if they were to trap or hit a person.

The safety required on the gates is to prevent entrapment of any kind whether it is the swing gates closing onto someone or a sliding gate closing and crushing a person.

The fact with remote controls that you can operate a large set of electric gates without actually being able to see the gates is the main reason you need safety devices incorporated.

The safety devices on larger gates are often a careful balance between getting the gates to move without the power on the motors being set too high but then also making sure they do open and close in the windy conditions. Some swing gates also have the locking for the gates by way of the motor drive units themselves so they have to apply a lot of force on the gates to keep them closed and secure.

The touch sensitive rubber edges you might see on gates are there to stop a gate instantly if it hits any obstruction. The pressure settings for the motors are a different issue.

There are recorded deaths by electric gates in the UK, so there are now quite clear directives on what should be built into a remote control gate system of any kind. You may choose to ignore this because of the costs perhaps if you decide to automate some gates yourself but this is at your risk and is not recommended at all…