Are you tired of having to get out in the rain and snow to open up your gate to your property?
Maybe you have a gate that separates your pasture from your house but you use it all the time?
The Snohomish and Monroe Co-op started carrying a brand called Ghost Control and they have amazing options to create the perfect gate for you and your property that is able to adapt to your property needs. Not only that but they are designed to be easy for you to install yourself!
First thing for you to do is to determine what type of gate panel(s) you will be using. They have options to make flat or tubed gate panels work and a setup for single or dual gate panels. Once you've determined what type and how many then examine the support post you are currently using or will be using to hold the panel(s) up. Ghost advises a minimum of a 6”x6” for a wooden post or 3” diameter for a Metal Post.
What about Power sources?
For those who have power available nearby to their gate area, Ghost can be run directly to an outlet which converts the AC power to DC to keep the batteries tended. This is a great option so even if there is a power outage the gates will still run off the batteries.
This is a huge deterrent for most people who wish they could have an automatic gate but just don’t have power close enough. Ghost Control has you covered with their solar option. Here is a diagram to determine which type of solar setup you would need to run your gate to fit your activity level as well as your area's weather patterns.
We recently set up a demonstrational gate and that has allowed us to test this product and its functionality and let me tell you.. It is awesome!
The options they have are amazing at a reduced price than what you would find with most other brand options. The versatility of their products to customize to your needs make it easy to set up and seem like a professional job on your first try.
We set ours up on a solar system even though we had power access just to be able to test it and show our customers, and it works great. We operate the gate multiple times a day and the batteries are always full of charge.
Now once you've determined what type of gate, where it’s going to go and how you're going to power it, the last big decision you have to make before you get started is to decide which direction you want your gate to open. If you want the gate to open into your property (pull) then you will be able to use the hardware provided in the package with your gate opener. If, however, you would like to have your gate open out away from the property (push) then you will need to pick up a ….
Two automatic opener remotes are included with the gate opener package. These work great and can activate the gate up to a ¼ mile away. These are automatically programmed to the gate control. You will also need to purchase a Ghost control battery box regardless of the type of power source you choose. This is actually a good thing as we discussed earlier, it allows power to be available to operate your gate even in times of power outages. This battery box is purchased separately and includes two deep marine batteries inside.
Once your gates are hung in the appropriate spot and as level as possible, it’s time to attach your hardware to the post. This will be done on the back side of the post perpendicular to the gate(s). Once mounted then attach the arm brackets to the post hardware. Then you will attach the gate open to the brackets. Once they are on you will need to attach your gate openers to your gate at the point at which the gate is fully closed. This will determine the closed position of the gate and will not be able to be adjusted.
Once you have attached the gate opener to the gate and are happy with the closed position, you will need to mount your control panel. This should be done on the same side as the gate opener, and if you are using a dual gate system, then it should be on the side of the number 1 gate opener (the one with the shorter wire coming out of it). Make sure to mount it high enough off the ground or above an obstruction to allow the wires to be fed through the bottom of the control panel.
Next you will want to mount the battery box near the control panel. Follow the instructions on how to properly connect which wires to the designated area to make sure your configuration is going to operate properly.
If you are utilizing the dual gate opener option, you will need to have a trench dug under the road to lay your wires in to run from one side of the road to the other without being damaged by driving over them. Lots of cord is provided for this.
If you are using a solar option, make sure to mount the solar panel on the side of the Control Box. This will be wired into the control box, not the battery box. Make sure it is mounted in an area with maximum light and is best to be south facing.
Once you are all set up, you can turn your gate on by the switch underneath the control panel. There are audible signals when the power is on, as well as when the gate is in motion for standard safety reasons. Follow the instructions on how to set your gates open position.
There are lots of customizable options you can also include to your gate as well as some great things you can program your gate to do as well!
Ghost Control has the Zombie Lock which is an automatic lock feature that will unlock and re-lock whenever the gate is properly activated by an opener providing a more secure gate. This is easily installed on your already programmed gate with just simple mounts and connecting a couple wires. No programming necessary to have this operate correctly!
They also have premium remote option which can be programmed for two gates and also has a party mode which will allow you to open your gate for a indefinite amount of time which you could utilize for deliveries or a get together in which you don’t want to run your gate opener repeatedly and just have it open for your guests!
For those that may need a weatherproof gate opener, they make those to and can be mounted to a motorcycle, or tractor without worry of being shorted by any water. These can be used with gloves as well.
The wireless keypad is one of my favorite options. Running off of two “C” batteries and easy to program in under 5 minutes this can work in conjunction with a remote controlled gate opener. This key pad has the option of making up to 40 lock combinations which allow you to give certain guests their own code but not have to change yours if you choose to deactivate a certain code. This also has the party mode option.
An easy access button can be installed as well to allow the gate to be opened by the press of a button. This is useful in an area with lots of traffic or on the inside of the property as a backup and exit option. This can be wired in while utilizing the other options at the same time.
The gate opening duration can be adjusted to anywhere between a couple of seconds up to an hour before the gate will automatically close. The speed and power of the gate can also be adjusted in the control panel and with the directions.
They have extra wire for your various wiring needs to make it run perfectly.
And for our chicken enthusiasts, Ghost has an automatic chicken coop opener which is fully programmable for your home coop! Ghost thinks of everything and is here to make our lives better with every one of their products.
Stop in and try out our demo gate at the Snohomish store and visit either of our Snohomish or Monroe locations to see our options and purchase your automatic gate opener for your property!
We’ll see you at the Co-op!
