Without a doubt, farms can be expensive. In the US, the average size of farmland is 444 acres so imagine having to go to the gate each time there is a visitor or having to get out of your car every time you enter it. Quite tiresome and tedious, right?
Luckily, modern technology has allowed automatic gates to be invented. These provide farms with the protection that gates provide minus the inconveniences. What’s even better is that there are now solar-powered gates that you can install on a farm which adds energy-saving to the list of benefits that you get from it.
If you are interested in installing solar gates on your farm, then you have come to the right page. In this article, we will walk you through the procedure of how to install it and what you need to expect during the process.
Steps on How to Install a Solar Gate on a Farm
Here are the general steps on how to install a solar powered gate on a farm:
Step #1: Measure Your Gate
Like with any improvement project, the first thing you have to do is measure everything properly. If you have existing gates, make sure that the area on the sides of the hinges has room for you to install the device. If what you have requires a fixed accommodation or mounting step, measure this ahead of time as well.
Step #2: Clean the Work Area
Remember that you will be installing a solar panel, so if there are trees or items that block the sun from where you will be installing it, make sure to clear them ahead of time. Doing this will save you the headache of figuring out how to remove them without damaging your solar panels.
Step #3: Install the Gate Opener
Once the preparations are ready, you can not proceed to install the gate opener. You can do this by attaching the brackets to the gate post, followed by the mounting hardware.
Solar gate openers usually come with their own hardware, so you don’t have to worry about finding them in hardware. However, you might need power tools such as a drill to make sure that it’s securely installed. Like this:
Step #4: Install the Solar Panel
After installing the gate opener, the next step is to put in the solar panel. Make sure that you place it near the gate opener device. You can attach it to the existing fence but make sure that it gets direct sunlight access.
If attaching the solar panels to the existing fence is not an option for you, you can also consider buying a post. Making it slightly elevated increases its ability to gather sun rays. You can buy these posts in almost any hardware or home improvement store.
Also, make sure that it does not wobble, and it’s securely installed since it needs to withstand extreme weather conditions. You wouldn’t want it to dislodge during harsh winds or storms, right?
For the cables and wires, you can use PVC pipes to protect them and make them look clean and seamless.
Step #5: Connect the Gate Opener and the Solar Panel
You can now connect the gate opener and the solar panel. But, before that, check your control box and make sure that it’s turned off for safety reasons. Also, put on your protective gear during this step, as things can get quite dangerous when dealing with electrical wiring.
When connecting these two, take note that the red wires are meant for positive terminals while the black ones are for negative terminals.
Moreover, suppose you need an extension cord. In that case, you can, but the panel must ideally be close to the box. If you position it far away, you risk the chance of losing more energy making it less efficient.
Step #6: Test it Out
Once you have successfully finished the steps mentioned above, the next thing that you need to do is to test it out. Try opening the gate a couple of times and observe how it works. Make sure that it opens at a reasonable speed and it has a full range of motion. If you don’t find any problem, then you are good to go.
Final Words
There you have it. Installing solar gates on a farm is not much different from installing a traditional gate. However, you do need to put careful consideration in the electrical side of it so that the solar power works.