Automatic swing gates in New Zealand
A swing gate opener turns a hinged driveway gate into an electric gate, or an automatic gate if that's the name you use. Dominator's swing gate opener is the Elite SGO-1, which has a DC motor and optional smartphone control. Merlin's New Zealand range is the Swing L300, Swing A200 and Swing LR 500.
Merlin's New Zealand pages give no gate weight limits, so ask the door specialist to check the rating of any model they quote against your gate.
Room to swing
A swing gate sweeps an arc, and everything in that arc matters. Parked cars, a letterbox, a rising driveway or a bank on one side can all stop a gate short of fully open.
Slope is the one people miss. If the ground climbs inside the gateway, a gate that opens inwards can hit the driveway before it finishes, so tell the door specialist which way the ground falls. Where the swing doesn't fit, a sliding gate motor may suit better.
One leaf or two
Say whether you have a single gate or a matching pair. A pair usually means a motor on each leaf, which changes the wiring and how the two are timed so they don't clash in the middle.
Sound hinges and posts matter here. The NeoSlider manual's rule for sliding gates is a fair test for a swing gate too: the gate should move by hand with no more than 15kg of force, and a faulty gate gets repaired before the opener goes on.
Power for a swing gate
Mains power at the gatepost is fixed wiring for a licensed electrician, who issues a Certificate of Compliance. Where the mains won't reach, ask whether the model you are quoted has a solar option, or a battery that keeps the gate running through a power cut.
Keep clear of the swing
A swing gate sweeps across ground people walk on, so a child or pet can be caught between the leaf and a post. Dominator's sliding gate manual strongly recommends safety beams, and we would ask for the same on any electric gate that swings.
Good to mention when you send the job
- One leaf or two, and how wide each one is
- What the gate is made of
- Whether it opens in towards the house or out to the road
- Whether the ground rises or falls inside the gateway
- Where the nearest power is
What you can do, and what to leave
You can
- Oil the hinges if the maker's care notes allow it
- Keep the arc clear of bins, bikes and toys
- Measure each leaf and the arc it needs
Leave to a door specialist
- Fitting the opener arms and setting the limits
- Fixing sagging leaves and loose posts
- Safety beams and their underground cabling
- Any new wiring at the gatepost, by a licensed electrician
What we would do
Walk each leaf through its full swing with a tape measure before you send the job, and note where it stops. That one measurement often settles whether a swing opener will work or whether the gate should slide instead.