Hydraulic Gate Operators

Frequency asked questionas about Hydraulic Gate Operators:

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Are hydraulic openers self contained? 
Yes there are no external parts,  the hydraulic pump is built into the unit, only an electrical cord comes out from the opener. 

Why is a hydraulic opener more powerful?
Because hydraulics in general are more powerful than a gear driven opener built into the same opener enclosure.

Why is a hydraulic opener more durable?
By it's nature,  Hydraulic operation has fewer moving parts, that's why it's used universally on all heavy construction equipment.

Does a hydraulic opener require more maintenance? 
No, it requires less, just check the fluid level and make sure that the opener is operating properly.

Are hydraulic openers more expensive than  mechanical openers?
No, they cost about the same, but don't compare the cheaply made mechanical openers to quality hydraulic or mechanical openers.

What's wrong with the cheaper mechanical openers?
They work for up to 1 or 2 years and break, too expensive to fix you end up having to replace the unit.

Why should I do a 120 volt installation instead of a 12 volt?
Because 120 volts are necessary for a powerful operation, 120 volt AC motors are by far the most durable.

Can Hydraulic openers handle larger gates?
Yes, the SEA full tank openers can open gates up to 23 feet!

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What is the duty factor for an opener?
The better the opener the more cycles per hour rating it will have, cheap openers have low cycles per hour ratings because they overheat.

Do hydraulic openers work well in cold climates?
Yes, hydraulic openers work at lower temperatures than mechanical openers whose gear grease can lose it's lubricating properties.

What if I have an opener installation in a windy area?
You need to plan for a larger opener to handle wind loads especially if you have a solid gate.

Can I easily replace a mechanical opener with a hydraulic opener?
A hydraulic opener will mount into a prior mechanical installation without any special requirements.

What is UL 325 or ETL? 
It's a listing that is required by some Building Departments, with includes additional safety devices.

The most common way to move the gate is with a cylinder. As we discussed in the post on the power source, a 1.5&#; cylinder is enough to move most gates. As for length, 12&#; to 16&#; is most common and it depends more on how the geometry of mounting the gates is looking, how far does it need to swing, and how are you going to mount the cylinder. The Surplus Center 9--xx cylinder series works really well

One of the important things with mounting up hydraulic cylinders on gates is that you want to have a strong enough gate for it. You need strong hinges (I like sleeves over a round end of the gate on all gates). You also need a strong frame to the gate. I like to use a gate that has sch 40 pipe for the top rail when I know that the gate will be hydraulic. 14 gauge is too light and the tubes can break.

The next thing is to have mounts that are strong and also allow you to remove the gate relatively easily. This design works good for this series of cylinder. It spreads the load out along the gate, making it less likely to break off, and it also gives you an easy way to pin the cylinders in place. This lets you remove the cylinder to open the gate is your hydraulic system breaks down.