Guides
How to add smartphone control to a gate opener
How a Wi-Fi gate opener receiver adds phone control to the opener you have, what your gate needs for it to work, Eagle's EG380 setup step by step and safe use.
Updated Nov 2026
Gate opener guides
Plan the job before you buy: sizing, power, mounting, safety sensors and what UL 325 means for your gate.
Guides
Gate opener installation, DIY or professional?
Should you install a gate opener yourself? A task-by-task split between you, an installer and an electrician, what the manuals say and the real cost difference.
Updated Nov 2026
Guides
How long do gate opener batteries last?
How long gate opener batteries last, what kills them early, how to check one with a multimeter, when to replace it, and whether a bigger battery or panel helps.
Updated Nov 2026
Guides
Gate openers in cold weather
Why gate openers struggle in cold weather, what to do before winter, how to keep solar and battery openers running, and what to do about snow, ice and storms.
Updated Nov 2026
Guides
Gate opener maintenance checklist
A gate opener maintenance schedule to follow. The monthly safety test from the manuals, seasonal checks for slide and swing gates, and worn parts to replace.
Updated Nov 2026
Guides
Gate opener wiring explained
Gate opener wiring explained. Which wires run to a gate, who installs each, how wire size and voltage drop work, and how loops, photo eyes and openers connect.
Updated Nov 2026
Guides
How to install a sliding gate opener
How to install a sliding gate opener step by step, with a maker's real numbers for the pad, chain height and sag, clearances, sensor heights and loop layout.
Updated Nov 2026
Guides
How to install a swing gate opener
How to install a swing gate opener step by step, from the pad and arm geometry to limits, reversing force, sensors and master/slave wiring for double gates.
Updated Nov 2026
Guides
How to open an automatic gate without power
How to open an automatic gate without power. Find the manual release, use it safely, re-engage the opener, and plan ahead so an outage never leaves you stuck.
Updated Nov 2026
Guides
How to set up a solar panel for a gate opener
How to set up a solar panel for a gate opener. Where to mount it, how to aim and tilt it, adding a second panel, the cable run and what to check the first week.
Updated Nov 2026
Guides
How much does a gate opener cost?
What a gate opener costs in 2026, line by line, with four real scenarios from DIY to a pro install with trenching, and what installer quotes leave out.
Updated Nov 2026
Guides
UL 325 gate opener requirements, explained
What UL 325 requires for an automatic gate, in plain English. Usage classes, monitored photo eyes and edges, the 2016 changes, install rules and a checklist.
Updated Nov 2026
Guides
How to choose a gate opener
How to choose a gate opener in seven checks, in order. Gate type, size and weight, power, daily use, outage plan, safety and access, with a tool for each step.
Updated Nov 2026
Guides
How much does my gate weigh?
How much your gate weighs and how to check it with a bathroom scale under the free end, why you double the reading, plus typical weights for common gates.
Updated Nov 2026
Guides
Push-to-open vs pull-to-open gate openers
What a push-to-open gate opener setup is, why most gates pull to open, when an outward swing makes sense, the bracket you need and the safety rules that apply.
Updated Nov 2026
Guides
Solar gate openers explained
How a solar gate opener works, how to size the panel and battery for your state's winter sun, what cold does, and when running power is the better choice.
Updated Nov 2026