Best Dual Gate Opener – Our Top 3

Introduction

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Many people consider gate openers a luxury, however, this cannot be further from the truth. If you’re a healthy and active person, and you’re not worried about security, you might not have any issues with operating the gate yourself. But to many other people, a gate opener is invaluable.

A gate opener is a device installed near your gate. Its job is to allow you to operate the gate without getting out of your vehicle. It gets activated the moment it receives an electric impulse emitted by a remote control, keypad, or a sensor device.

Generally, gate openers can be installed to open the gate in one direction, inwards or outwards. So if you need an opener that can handle both inwards and outwards operation, you should pay extra attention to the specifications. Most gate openers are only designed for opening swing or slide gates in one way.

In case there’s a power shortcut and your opener unit doesn’t have a backup battery, the gate will be stuck. This is why all gate openers come with a unique manual gate key that allows you to override the system. This will allow you to operate the gate manually.

A gate opener can cost anywhere between $500 and $2,000. And the average price of a high-quality one is around $800. However, the security and convenience it provides make every dime worth it.

You can expect a good gate opener to last at least 15-20 years. An if highly-maintained, it can last even more. This is why $1K isn’t a big investment in the long run.

When it comes to energy consumption, it all depends on how often it’s used and what type of powering option you chose.

What Are The Benefits of a Gate Opener?

If you value privacy and security more than anything, investing in a gate opener will offer you peace of mind. You will be able to control who gets in and out of your property. This way, you will keep your home safe from any unwanted intruders.

Gate openers are also ideal for families that have children and pets. By making the gate operable only by remote control, keypad, or sensor, you can create boundaries that you know your kids won’t be able to cross. This will keep them away from traffic and other dangers.

A lot of people that have no concerns for security also love gate openers, but for a different reason. And that’s the convenience they can provide. All gate openers allow you to operate the gate without getting out in the freezing cold or pouring rain.

However, today’s technological advancements allow us to enjoy openers with countless smart features. This includes operating the gate with your smartphone, instead of having to carry around the remote control. And these openers are ideal for property owners that love to control everything with their phones.

A gate opener can also allow you to exit and enter your property with literally one single push of a button. You can install a sensor device on your driveway that detects every time you want to leave and open the gate for you. Then its auto-close feature will close the gate without you doing anything.

The only time you have to press a button is when you come home. Then the auto-close will close the gate for you. This is extremely helpful for people that are always in a hurry and always forget to close things.

There are also insurance companies that offer discounts for such security installations.

What to Consider When Looking For a Gate Opener?

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The first thing you need to think about when shopping for  a gate opener is whether your gate swings or slides. You can’t mount a sliding gate opener on a swing gate and the other way around.

If your gate slides, you have to determine how long it is. And if it swings, you have to take into consideration if it swings in one or two pieces. You will also need to know how long each leaf is.

Since gate openers are designed to work up to a certain weight, you should also determine how heavy your gate is. This will greatly influence the price of the needed opener. This is because light-duty openers are usually more affordable, and heavy-duty openers are more expensive.

Another thing that can determine if you need a light-duty or heavy-duty opener is how often you’ll use it. This will ensure that the opener will last for a very long time, without any performance problems.

To ensure that the gate will keep working even during a power shortage, you might want to consider investing in an opener with a backup battery. This will prevent you from getting stuck inside or outside your property and having to override the system.

Now let’s talk about some of the most looked-for features a gate opener should have. Since kids and pets might run out while the gate is opening or closing, they might get hurt by the gate. This is why it’s very important to buy an opener with a stop and reverse feature.

You might also want to consider rolling codes technology for increased security. Other important features include vacation mode, auto-close timer, exit loops, safety loops, shadow loops, entry loops, etc.

The Difference Between DC and AC Powered Gate Openers

Generally, gate openers use DC (Direct Current) or/and AC (Alternating Current) powering options. The difference between these two options is that in DC, the current only flows in one direction, and in AC, it changes direction. This means that the DC powered openers use batteries, and the AC powered ones are hard-wired.

DC powered gate openers are capable of supporting most residential, light-duty gates. They can handle gates with various heights, widths, weights, and a lot of daily cycles. They’re also not considered to be ideal for continuous duty. However, they can still handle between 60 to 190 cycles a day.

You will also benefit from a battery backup built-in. This will help the opener work even during a power outage. Usually, they can last between 1 and 3 days, depending on how heavy the gate is and how often you use it.

If you’re a DIY lover, or you simply want to save money, you can install the opener all by yourself. But if you need a professional, it costs less to have a DC powered opener installed than an AC powered one.

AC powered openers are more reliable for continuous duty. In fact, some models can be cycles nonstop. This makes them ideal for high-end residential, parking lots, and heavy industrial use. They can also handle any gave, no matter the height, width, or weight.

Compared to DC powered openers, the AC powered units have more durable cases, stronger and more reliable components, and heavier wire connections. This makes them more durable and reliable than DC powered openers.

You can also count on an AC powered opener to work flawlessly even in the middle of an extremely cold winter.

In this article, we’ll talk about our Top 3 Dual Gate Openers.

Best Dual Gate Opener – Comparison Table

Product Name	Liftmaster LA400PKGU	GTO Linear Pro SW3002XLS	USAutomatic Sentry 300 D
Image
Easy to Install	Yes	Yes	Yes
High-Quality	Yes	Yes	No
Fast Operation	Yes	Yes	Yes
Reliable	Yes	Yes	Yes
Heavy-Duty	Yes	Yes	No
Safety Sensor	Yes	Yes	Yes
Quiet	Yes	Yes	Yes
Wi-Fi	Yes	No	No
Bi-Part Delay	Yes	No	No
Link	Buy!	Buy!	Buy!

1 Liftmaster LA400PKGU Dual Swing Automatic Gate Opener Kit

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Description

The first one, on our Best Dual Gate Opener – Top 3, is the Liftmaster LA400PKGU Dual Swing Automatic Gate Opener Kit. It’s one of the best dual gate openers on the market and can offer you a more convenient way to operate your gate. This kit includes everything you need to successfully install the gate opener all by yourself.

Liftmaster is one of the many brands under the Chamberlain Group. This includes Chamberlain, Merlin, and Grifco. They research, design, and develop residential garage door openers, commercial door operators, and gate entry systems. They’re widely known, not just in the U.S. but worldwide as well, for their high-quality and reliable products.

Thanks to the included back up battery, the system will be fully functional even during a complete power outage. The battery is good enough to offer you up to 400 cycles, or 97 days of standby power.

With the included photocells, the gate won’t hurt anyone or damage anything while it’s operating. Photocells come in pairs and they work by sending an infrared beam from one to the other. The moment this beam is broken, the gate opener receives a signal from them to immediately stop the action and reverse.

If you want to use this kit for outswing applications, you will also need the Lifmaster Push to Open Bracket Kit Model 50-19503, which is not included. This kit, however, includes a three-piece bracket set and hardware bag.

You will also benefit from a 24-month authentic Liftmaster Manufacturer’s warranty. Within this period, the company will repair or replace any defective parts.

Features

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The Liftmaster LA400PKGU Dual Swing Automatic Gate Opener Kit is also equipped with a LED diagnostic display. It can make the installation and troubleshooting much easier and faster. This means you’ll be able to get the job done by yourself and save the money you would’ve spent on a professional installation.

This system is considered to be ultra-reliable and it’s also solar-ready. It features a simple solar conversion capability and it can provide power during power shortages. It’s also constantly highly efficient to maximize solar performance. You can use solar power as your main power source or you can use it as a backup option.

Thanks to the Bi-Part Delay, the unit monitors and adjusts the speed and position of each wing to make sure the primary gate is the last to close. This will ensure that the gate with the solenoid lock will close first and that the security won’t be compromised.

With the Synchronized Close feature, you can set the opener to close both gates simultaneously. This will allow the unit to close the gate the moment your vehicle leaves the interrupt loop. You won’t have to worry about the gate staying open for longer than it needs to.

This automatic gate opener is also HOMELINK compatible with version 4. It also provides higher security than its predecessors and a 2.0 on-board radio receiver. Since this is a high-quality heavy-duty gate opener, you can benefit from up to 50 remote controls.

This is great if you want to use this opener as a business parking lot gate. If you want access to unlimited remote controls, you’ll have to opt for the 811LM or the 813LM gate opener.

Pros

• Easy to Install
• Easy to Use
• Very Durable
• Long-Lasting
• Strong
• Heavy-Duty
• Highly Reliable
• Safety Sensor
• Very Quiet
• Pretty Fast
• Has Wi-Fi
• Simple to Program
• Solar-Ready
• Has Bi-Part Delay Function
• Synchronized Close
• HOMELINK Compatible

Cons

• It can be extremely expensive to install it professionally.

2 GTO Linear Pro SW3002XLS Dual Automatic Gate Operator

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Description

The second one, on our Best Dual Gate Opener – Top 3, is the GTO Linear Pro SW3002XLS Dual Automatic Gate Operator. It’s compatible with almost any type of gate, including aluminum, wood, vinyl, and chain link. Regardless of your gate, this opener will allow you to open and close it without leaving your vehicle.

Thanks to its high-quality materials and reliable performance, this opener can operate a dual gate that’s up to 16 feet and has 650 pounds per leaf. This is enough to handle most residential dual gates and make operating them much easier and secure.

With the low voltage unit, anyone can install it without wasting money on a professional. The package includes a receiver, a transmitter, a 12V 7Ah backup battery, an AC transformer, a control board, and a control box. You will also receive all the mounting hardware you need for proper installation.

This gate opener belongs to the XLS line and features a lot of improvements over its predecessors. It also works 10% faster. All products from the XLS series have a new rev-counter board with reed switch technology. This allows the opener to determine its position.

You will receive various accessories as well. This includes transmitters, keypads, gate locks, exit wands, solar panels, and more.

Thanks to being one of the XLS models, this gate opener is also equipped with an improved front mount and scraper seal design. However, the new XLS series control boards and arms are not compatible with the XL series. So avoid mixing up at all costs.

This opener is backed up by a 2-year warranty, and a lifetime of customer service. Within this period of time, you will be able to have any parts repaired or replaced by the company, free-of-charge.

Pros

• Easy to Install
• Easy to Use
• High-Quality
• Durable
• Long-Lasting
• Reliable
• Fast Operation
• Dual Opener
• Wide Applications
• Low Voltage
• Reed Switch Technology
• Can Handle Two 16ft and 650lbs Leafs

Cons

• Slightly Pricey

3 USAutomatic Sentry 300 D Automatic Gate Opener for Dual Solar Swing Gates

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Description

The last one on our list is the USAutomatic Sentry 300 D Automatic Gate Opener for Dual Solar Swing Gates. It’s one of the most affordable gate openers on the market and is made entirely in the U.S.A. This ensures the gate’s decent quality, even though it doesn’t have that many features as our first two picks.

Thanks to the included mounting hardware, you’ll be able to install the unit by yourself. You will also benefit from a 50’ cable and watertight junction box and wire nuts. This will ensure that the unit can withstand any type of weather. You won’t have to worry about the gate not operating properly if it’s raining too hard.

If your entry has dual gates across the driveway, you will also need the 300 D dual-gate actuator kit. Otherwise, you won’t be able to operate the second gate.

This gate opener kit includes a linear actuator, mounting hardware, 50 cable, watertight junction box, and wire nuts for connections.

You will also benefit from a 3-year warranty and lifetime of customer support. Within this time you will be able to repair or replace various defective products for free. You can also opt for an extended 7-year limited warranty that has minimal charges for the damaged components.

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Pros

• Easy to Install
• Easy to Use
• Made in the U.S.A.
• Decent Quality
• Convenient
• Good Warranty
• Affordable

Cons

• The quality could be better, but it gets the job done.

Conclusion

Gate openers have been around for a very long time and are slowly becoming more of a necessity than a luxury. Liftmaster is one of the leading manufacturers of garage and gate openers on the market. However, it can also be very pricey. This is why we decided to make a list of our favorite openers and help you choose the ideal one for your needs.

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