How to Troubleshoot a Faulty Electric Gate

Tips for troubleshooting faulty electric swing gates.

A guide with some helpful troubleshooting tips for installing faulty electric swing gates. I hope this guide helps you if you have any problems with the electric gate. It is designed to help you find the source of the problem and, we hope, help you solve it or give an accurate report of the problem to your friendly gate repair specialist.

• Check power supply. Yes, I know that sounds obvious, but some people don't check. Since the house includes power, they assume that it is included at the gate. Check circuit breakers. Look at any other equipment, such as an intercom or keyboard, to see if the lights are on. Press the buttons on the keyboards to see if there is a corresponding beep or sound. All this will show you whether the gate has power or not. If the circuit breaker continues to operate, contact a repair technician. If you have an electrical control unit, check the remote controls.

• Check transmitter. Typically, an indicator on the transmitter (remote control) lights up to indicate that it works when the buttons are pressed. This can be misleading, as sometimes the light works, but the signal is not strong enough to reach the receiver. Replace the battery to be safe. Check with another transmitter, if you have one, or use another form of access control, that is, a numeric keypad, intercom, key, etc. If the remotes are working, check the photocells, if installed.

• Check safety devices. Sometimes a short circuit on the photocell can cause the system to stop working. Wave your hand (it’s easier to use one) in front of the photocell, and you can hear a very quiet click. If you hear this click, you know that you have electricity in the control unit.

If your gate still does not function after checking the availability of the power source and correct operation of the peripheral equipment, follow these steps.

If your gate is stuck in the open position and does not close, try to wave your hand in front of one of the photocells (as described above), and you will hear a quiet clicking sound. This can only be heard from one of your photocells, so you may need to check both of them. If you do not hear this clicking sound, it may be a problem with your safety beam / photocells or with their power. It may happen that the safety beam has failed because it is broken, or it may be full of insects that block the beam, or that it has no power.

This is a fairly simple job of removing the cover from the photocell. Make sure the beams are clean. Usually there is a small light source inside the case if the correct voltage is connected to it.

You may have a type of photocell reflector, check alignment, as this is a very common reason why they do not work. If the photocells seem aligned, but do not work, you need to contact a professional. This type of photocell is usually a sealed unit without any maintenance parts.

If the gate was closed in the closed position by manual disengagement, move the gate about half, if it is installed on the pushing lever system, unlock the levers. If they are in the underground system, leave the gates swinging freely (as you can see the rotation of the engine), now activate the gates using the transmitter (if you are sure that it works) and observe any movement of the gates. If none of the engines are running and you know that you have the right power source, this could be a problem with the electronics on the control board. If one engine is running, it is likely that the other engine is out of order. If both engines are running, this does not give you a solution to the problem. This can be a mechanical problem, the gate can be clamped by something.

If the gates start working again, we recommend using them only until a professional can provide you with a service.

Please remember.

Electricity is very dangerous, please do not touch bare wires or circuit boards. Turn off the power before opening the control unit.

Call an expert if you have any doubts.

Hi, I'm Johan, I have been installing and repairing iron gate repair Los feliz and automation for gates on the Costa del Sol for the past 12 years. If you need additional information or free advice on any type of gate visit[www.gatesrepairla.com]