I’m looking to get a gate opener for the house. Wanting a 12 v solar set up. Anyone have recommendations on a kit? Brand? What to stay away from? It’s not a heavy gate, but is 16-foot.

Had a quote for the opener two remotes and keypad for $4,000, just struck me as pretty darn high. Probably gonna end up doing it myself.

Thanks

TSC carries the DIY Mighty Mule brand

For a ranch gate that’s used every once in a while the Mighty Mules are decent but will crap out in a couple years. If this is a gate that will be used all the time spend the money on a quality set up like a Liftmaster or Ghost. That’s why your estimate was so high, you get what you pay for on gates used all the time. I’ve thrown away more Mighty Mules over the years than I’ll admit to, they serve a purpose but their a disposable gate opener.

Put in an Apollo Titan a month or so ago. FYI - the 1050 control board requires photo eyes, I don't think the 636 or the 310 does. Those photo eyes are a pain.

My 2nd pick was a Ghost.

We have this one at the house....only issue is if it sleets real bad the arm can freeze up with ice, but there's a key release to manually open. Battery life has been good, I think we have replaced maybe one battery in 3+ years, has solar charging as well.

https://allsecurityequipment.com/pr...kiu_H_QIVuxfUAR0YPAHREAYYASABEgImWvD_BwE

We had an apollo with very little problem for 10 over years.

Ghost seemed to have a lot of options, I will look into them if they are decent, had never heard of them before.

Ghost Controls.

Mine is on a 16' gate. Put it up January 2017 - still running strong on the same battery.

It also got stress tested a few weeks ago when I was in a hurry and hung the gate on my bumper when it was opening - gate's f'd - opener still going strong.

Price comparable to mightly mule - quality much better.

Best thing you can do for any gate opener is to build some 'shock/stress' relief into your mountings (at least on the arm attachment end).
You can use heavy-duty rubber bushings from either shock-adsorbers or stabilizer-bar link bushings or diy from a piece of cut tire.
Will greatly extend the life of any gate opener.

I have a ghost control and I have sold quit a few of them as well. Work great for me at the house on a 20' gate, opens multiple times a day.

I have a Mighty Mule, which has been in place for maybe 12 years. I did have trouble with it for a while, but problems were solved by two things.

1. Don’t use those little batteries. Get a big deep cycle and a solar panel.
2. Get a heavy duty open/close arm. The lightweight ones sold by TSC don’t last on a heavy gate.

Those were recommendations from MM.

And, one more thing. When it won’t work, it’s the battery. It’s always the battery. These days it’s just the battery in the remote, in cold weather.

Makes sense I can work on that, thanks.

Ghost controls here - instead of pole mounting controller and battery box, I built a self-contained box using a fiber toolbox. Will grab a photo next time I get a chance, but deep cycle marine battery and controller sit inside with hole cut for wires to motor. Also mounted the solar charger directly to the top of the box. It won't stop a determined thief, but all mounted to the gate post with a u-bolt that is accessed when the battery and control box are removed. Pretty much trouble free, except the wireless keypad went bad after about a year of use. Ghost asked no questions when I called, just sent me a new one at no charge and 2-day shipping.

Only complaint, when it is really windy here the gate will slowly get pushed where it doesn't close all of the way to the stop. Not a big deal and easy to fix.

And as 603 said, when it starts to do weird things, almost always the battery/

Just had an Apollo installed last month, $3300.00

I used to use kids. One ranch I fed had two bump gates to get into. On the first one I had the kids get out and push it open. They were more than a little po'ed when I went ahead and bumped the second one open. That trick only works once.

I've been one since I could walk.....

I have contemplated letting my little gate openers keep doing it, I probably will before I spend $4K, but I’ve found many kits for substantially less and I’m sure me and the boy can have a beer and a pop and knock it out pretty quick.

If momma wants one we will get one if she will let me be cheap my little gate openers will get a workout.

That and a bird dog too. Creeping up on 40 and still gut my daddies deer and clean his fish too, couldn’t ask for a better old man.

Friends don't let friends buy mighty mules!

I have an Apollo 1500. Been at least 10 years with no issues. Battery powered (solar 12V). You can see the user's manual at:
https://wdbmedia.com/GATECRAFTERS/MANUALS/1500_manual_1000_2_2014.pdf

Apollo’s are solid openers as well, we had one on a gate for 8 years with zero issues before we sold the place. Liftmaster, Ghost or Apollo are the only three options for a home opener and my choices are in that order. Did I mention Mighty Mules suck?

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Whatever brand I would recommend putting the vehicle detector in a piece of PVC with the hole for the wire siliconed up. I have had two vehicle detectors fail due to water penetration. 3rd one got put in PVC, won't be any water penetration on this one.

Would not use a vehicle detector buried. Neighbor had there place broke into because all you do is drag anything metal over it and it will open for you. Keypad or remote only

Had an Apollo on two of my homes, never had an issue.