Slide Gate Operators

How to Choose a Slide Gate Operator

Gate Weight, Length and Track

Weigh the gate if you can, and measure its full length as well as the opening. A V-track gate rolls on wheels in a ground track. A cantilever gate hangs on rollers mounted to posts and has a counterbalance tail, often about half the opening width, so the operator moves more steel than the opening suggests. Pick an operator rated above both numbers.

Drive Type

• Chain drive: the most common setup. A roller chain runs the length of the gate and wraps a sprocket on the operator.
• Rack and pinion: a toothed rack on the gate meshes with a gear on the operator. FAAC 844 and 746 models use this drive.
• Friction wheel: HySecurity SlideDriver models press drive wheels against a rail on the gate.

Duty, Speed and Power

Count daily cycles. High-traffic and industrial sites need commercial or continuous-duty units, and faster gates cut wait time at busy entries. Match voltage and phase to the site, since many industrial models come in three-phase. A DC operator with battery backup keeps a gate running during an outage.

Safety Zones on a Slide Gate

Slide gates have entrapment zones at the leading edge as it closes and along the back where the gate runs past the fence or post. Cover each zone with monitored photo eyes or safety edges, and add guards or screen mesh over rollers and openings.

Common Questions

How much room do I need beside the opening?

The gate needs clear space alongside the fence equal to its full length when open, plus room for the operator pad.

Which slide gate opener is right for a commercial site?

Pick a UL 325 Class II or III rated unit sized for gate weight and peak traffic. See our commercial and industrial operators, and add loop detectors for free exit.