Electric gates are great until you have a power outage or another power failure and can’t open the gate. If you have an emergency, it can be a nightmare. Luckily, there is a way to manually open an electric gate. People often think that it is a difficult and complicated process but it is really just a few simple steps. You can open the gate and secure it again after you use it.
There are different types of electric gates and the process varies for each type. It is important to learn why the electric gate failed so that you can repair it properly. Keep in mind that most gates have a manual key to release the gate hinge. It might have a lever or handle in place of the key but it will have something that you can use to open it. Take a look at the following types of gates and how to open them manually.
How to Open a Medium Automatic Swing Gate
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Most medium automatic swing gates have a key. You will find this key in the case around the motor or attached to the inner side of the gate. You can insert the key into the lock to unlock the motor. You should see the round valve and you can turn the handle so that you release the hydraulics of the gate. Once you have done this, you should have no trouble pushing the gate until it is open.
If you have two gates in your setup, you will need to repeat the process on each side. It is important to remember to close the gate and close the valve once you are finished. Then you should lock the motor again so that your gate stays securely closed and will work when it has power again.
How to Open a Large Electric Swing Gate
Although these large electric swing gates are rare in residential homes, they are common in gated communities. It is important to understand how to manually open the gate if the power goes out so that you can easily come and go from the neighborhood. The motor on this kind of gate will likely be larger than a motor on your home’s gate.
On this type of gate, you will look for the motor. It should be near the wall on the side of the gate. It is normally covered with a plastic cover and you can loosen the screw on top that holds it in place. Once you unscrew the cover, you can lift it up off the motor.
You should see a handle inside of the motor case. If you pull on the lever, it will release the pressure in the shaft. This will allow you to move the gate open or closed without any risk of damaging the gate. You can lock it back in place once you have the gate set where you want it. If this gate leads to a community, you may want to leave it open until the power comes back on or it is repaired.
How to Override an Electric Sliding Gate
Some people have electric sliding gates that will open by sliding to the side. They use a different kind of motor and it is usually larger than a medium swinging gate. Normally, this type of motor comes with a key to override the electric function.
You need to find the lock, which is normally found on the bottom right side of the gate. Once you find it, you can slide the key in place and turn it. Once you do, the knob will turn and free the gate from the electric automatic function.
There are different models of sliding gates and some will make it very easy for you to get around the electric function when there is no power. You may only need to open the door to the motor to enable the manual override. Be sure to inspect the gate and the motor to learn what type you have.
How to Override Sliding Gates with an Allen Key
Some gates will not work with a normal key and they will require an Allen key to override the electric sliding function. You can start by opening the external door of the gate. Once you do, you can remove the manual cap from the motor. Now you can insert the clutch release. You will tighten it before inserting your Allen key and turning it. You can slowly slide it once you do this.
This kind of gate is more difficult to open manually but it can be done with time and patience. You need to remember to remove the clutch release once you have used the gate and return the cover to the motor. This is especially important if you are suffering a power outage because it will allow you to make sure that the gate is ready for use when the power comes back on.
Why Does the Gate Motor Stop Working?
Electric gate motors are dependent on electricity to function and the most common reason why they stop working is a power outage. In these situations, you can find yourself trapped inside of or outside of your property. If you live in a gated community, you may not be able to enter off the road. In these cases, it is important to know how to open the gate manually so that you aren’t trapped. Just be sure to lock the gate in place once you finish so that it is ready to operate once the power comes back on.
Your electric gate can also fail to open when your remote control is out of batteries. You may not have batteries with you so you can open the gate manually to come and go until you can replace them. In addition, someone could accidentally leave the gate in manual mode, which will cause it to be unresponsive to electric commands until it is put back into automatic mode.
It is important to clean your gate and make sure that insects do not take up residence in the motor. This can impact the gate’s ability to respond to commands. Finally, make sure that nothing is in the path of the sensors so that the gate operates correctly when it senses your vehicles. Your gate may not be responsive in this case but you can fix it by clearing anything that is in the way.
Final Words
If you have a gate at your home or in your community, there will be times when it may not work. In these cases, you want to be able to open and close it manually. It might seem overwhelming to determine how to open your gate but it is actually a lot easier than it appears. Most gates have a key that can unlock the gate and release it from the motor.
The important thing is to know where your gate motor is and what kind of key or lever you have to unlock it. You should also be sure to reconnect the gate and lock the motor back in place once you are finished using it so that it is ready to go when the motor is operating again.