Slide gates are great in that they take up little of the driveway. They are chain driven and the biggest decision for the homeowner is whether the operator is AC or DC motor driven. Bay Cities Automatic Gates recommends three consistently reliable residential slide gate operators but we service all models.

Elite SL3000UL [PDF download]
This is the work horse AC motor powered slide gate operator. It is designed for commercial applications and as a result comes with a 7-year warranty. We recommend it with a battery-back-up system so that in the event power goes out the gate will open.

All-O-Matic SL100DC [PDF download]
This is an excellent, reliable DC powered operator with a smaller footprint than the SL3000, similar cost, 7-year warranty and the advantage of working continuously even with a power outage.

Viking L3 [PDF download]
This is another excellent DC powered operator which also has a 7-year residential warranty and is priced more aggressively.

Swing gates are very popular in residential applications and make a lovely welcome to your property in their closed impressive majesty and as they open welcoming your guests to your home. The automation of swing gates will depend on several factors: The material of the gate (wood or metal); whether there is a single gate or a bi-parting, (primary/secondary) gate system; whether the driveway is level; and what room is available for installing the gate operator.

Solid vs. Open Design
Solid (whether wood or metal) gates are popular because they provide more privacy to the property. The flip side of being solid is that they catch more wind and this means they require an operator with more power than an open gate. We note below which operators, for reliability and durability reasons, should only be installed on open design gates.

Actuator Arm
An actuator arm operator attaches directly to the gate which provides the benefit of using less space and allowing the gate to close up within 12 inches of a wall.

Viking G5 (open design only) [PDF download]
This is an excellent, cost effective operator with a 3 year warranty. It is DC powered so it continues to operate even in a power outage. We service all DC actuator arm brands and can say with certainty that this is the most reliable.

FAAC400 [PDF download]
This hydraulic motor driven actuator is strong enough for solid gates and even light commercial applications. It comes with a two year warranty. It requires AC power.

Pad/Post Mount
Pad or post mounted operators are mounted on or off the ground (on posts) inside the swing of the gate. They are the most common commercial-style gate operator and can handle heavier, longer gates because of the added leverage they gain by being a distance from the gate. We service dozens of these types of operators but particularly recommend the following three for residential applications.

DK6050/6100 Series [PDF download]
The DoorKing 60506100 series is reliable and a smaller profile operator that the CSW200. The operator sits up off the ground and uses an under arm connection to the gate. It is priced more aggressively than the CSW200, and it also requires a battery back-up and comes with a 5-year warranty.

Elite CSW200 series [PDF download]
The Elite CSW200UL series is the workhorse commercial swing gate operator. It is extremely durable and reliable. It is AC powered. We recommend it be installed with a DC2000 battery back-up system. For residential applications it has a 7-year warranty.

Viking F1 [PDF download]
The Viking F1 is a reliable DC motor powered operator also with a 7-year warranty.

In Ground
In ground operators are installed in the driveway under the swing of the gate. As a result they are very discrete…the gate seems to move by itself! We recommend two operators.

FAAC760 [PDF download]
This is a hydraulic motor operator running on AC power. It has enough power to move a solid residential gate as long as it is not exposed to too much wind. It comes with a 2-year warranty.

Viking I8 (open design only) [PDF download]
This is a DC powered operator allowing it to operate even with a power outage. It is not a strong as the FAAC760 but is perfect for most residential gates and comes with a 3-year warranty.

Each automated gate must have adequate safety devices to protect people, animals and objects from being inadvertently struck by the gate. The three most effective and common devices are photo eyes, sensing edges and vehicle detection loops. See the Safety and UL 325 Section in this web site for more information on safety.

Photo Eyes

Photo eyes create a beam of light that, when interrupted, triggers a relay which tells the gate operator to take action to avoid an obstruction. Photo eyes are either through-beam or reflective. We recommend FAAC or EMX through-beam photo eyes and Omron reflective photo eyes.

Sensing Edges

Sensing edges are mounted on the gate, on a stationary post or on a wall next to the gate. When they are pressed by an object they send a wireless signal to the gate operator telling it to take action to avoid further contact with the object. We recommend Miller Edge products.

Vehicle Detection Loops

Vehicle detection loops DO NOT sense people but they do sense large metal objects like a car. They are placed in the ground typically on either side of an automatic gate and wired to the gate operator. When they sense a vehicle, they tell the gate operator to take a specific action.