Introduction

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While they were invented a long time ago, Automatic Gate Openers are more popular now than ever. And it’s all thanks to the convenience they provide. With one single push of a button, these devices allow you to operate your gate without leaving your vehicle.

An Automatic Gate Opener is a device installed on your gate that will allow you to operate it from a distance. You can use a hand-held remote to open or close the gate from inside your car. The remote sends an electric signal to the gate opener itself, which then executes the command.

You can also operate the gate with a keypad installed outside your property, or sensor device installed inside your property. An Automatic Gate Opener can also secure your property and keep you safe from unwanted intruders.

While a lot of people see them as a luxury, gate openers can change lives. If you or a family member suffers from a health condition that turns easy physical tasks into a nightmare, a gate opener is a great investment.

Some people want to know if they can use a garage door opener as a gate opener and the answer is NO. Both devices are designed and made for different purposes. A garage door opener doesn’t have the proper hardware to support a gate.

An Automatic Gate Opener can also be equipped with various accessories, such as a vehicle sensor, lock, etc. And some high-end openers have various smart features.

These devices justify their stingy price tag not just by having various great features, but by lasting for a long time as well. An average gate opener lasts more than 10 years and doesn’t require much maintenance. A properly maintained one can even be used for more than 20 years.

The Importance Of Gate Openers

Most people that see Automatic Gate Openers as a luxury fail to see the real benefits of these devices. Besides the convenience, another reason why gate openers are so popular is their security capabilities. There’s nothing more important than keeping your family safe.

After installing the device on your gate, it will restrict the access of absolutely any stranger. To get inside your property you will need either a programmed remote or to know the PIN to your keypad. Or you can install a security camera and open the gate from inside your home.

These devices will also get rid of these annoying people that like using your driveway as a turn-around. One would think that everyone would have enough decency in them to not enter your property without your consent. Sadly, there are a lot who don’t.

And if you lose any of the remotes or if someone stole them, you can immediately block their access from the control panel. This way the thief won’t be able to use the remote to enter your property.

If you plan on taking a family vacation, you can activate the Vacation Mode when you leave. This will completely block all remotes until you come back. Then you’ll be able to enjoy your vacation without any worries.

If you have curious little children that love playing around in the street, a gate opener will prevent that. Since the gate can’t be opened without the remotes, sensor, or keypad, your little ones will play safely inside your property.  

Automatic Gate Openers come in various styles and can perfectly blend in with the gate and the house. This will greatly increase your home’s value if you’ll ever plan on selling it.

Best Single Gate Opener – How to choose it

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There are a few important things you have to consider when buying an Automatic Gate Opener. The first one is to know if you need an opener of a sliding gate or a swing gate.

If it’s a sliding gate, you have to measure its length. This is very important in making sure the gate opener has a long-enough chain. And if it’s a swing gate, you have to consider if it swings in one or two pieces.

No matter if you need an opener for a single or dual gate, you have to consider the weight of each leaf. And if your gate weighs a lot, you’ll need a heavy-duty gate opener.

Your next gate opener also depends on how hard-to-open the gate is and how many times it will be operated per day. You’ll need an opener with enough power and torque to always open the gate successfully.

Another thing you should think about is how you plan on powering the opener. There are three different ways, AC/DC power, solar panels, or backup battery. Most high-quality Automatic Gate Openers use all three powering options. This will allow them to work optimally even in case of a power outage.

A Stop and Reverse automatic feature is a must in any gate opener. This way the unit can detect when it hits an obstacle, stop, and immediately reverse. You can count on this feature to keep your kids and pets safe if they run into the gate while it’s operating.

An Auto-Close feature is also ideal for people that might forget to press the button when leaving home.

In this article, we’ll talk about our Top 3 Best Single Gate Openers Under $500.

Best Single Gate Opener – Comparison Table

Product Name	Control Heavy-Duty	Stainless Steel	Mighty Mule
Image
Easy To Install	Yes	Yes	Yes
Supports Solar Panels	Yes	Yes	Yes
Smart Compatibility	Yes	No	No
Rolling Code Tech	Yes	Yes	Yes
Safety Feature	Yes	Yes	Yes
Auto Close	Yes	Yes	Yes
SafeForce	Yes	No	No
Versatile	Yes	Yes	Yes
Durable	Yes	Yes	Yes
Link	Buy!	Buy!	Buy!

1 Control Heavy Duty Single Gate Opener

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Our Best Single Gate Opener is the Control Duty Single Gate Opener. It comes along with a whole DIY Gate Opener Installing Kit. This makes it one of the easiest openers to install on the market.

It requires a 12V backup battery or an AXDP Solar Panel to keep it running in case of a power shortage. The Resettable AC transformer is an ideal charging agent for the backup battery.

Thanks to its versatility, this opener can be used on any swing gate that’s up to 20ft. It can be used on ornamental, tubular, decorative, plantation, or chain-link gates.

With the 3-Button Remote, you can open the gate from up to 1,000ft away. You can also use it to operate two different gates. The system is ETL listed and UL352 certified. And thanks to this opener’s Smart Compatibility, you’ll also be able to add a lot of accessories to it.

The Control Duty Single Gate Opener’s control box houses the opener, battery wires, and accessories. This is where you can also set the auto-close time you want, between 5 seconds to 60 minutes.

With the GhostCode feature that is made out of over 4 Million possible code combinations, the system is safe from hackers. And the SafeForce makes sure that there won’t be any entrapment injuries if kids and pets play around the gate.

This gate opener’s systems are made to function with solar power. This way it can recharge its backup battery as quickly as possible. You can purchase these high-quality nanocrystalline solar panels in 10W or 30W panels.

Everything you need for a quick installation is included in the package. You’ll also have various online install manuals, videos, and tech support experts at your disposal.

Pros

• Easy To Install
• Easy To Use
• Battery-Operated System
• Tube Gate Brackets
• ZombieCode
• SafeForce
• GhostCode
• Smart Compatibility
• ETL And UL352 Certified
• Supports Gates Up To 20ft
• Versatile
• Supports Solar Panels
• Resettable AC Transformer
• Prevents Entrapment Injuries
• Motor And Gear Assembly Lifetime Warranty
• Has A 3-Button Remote Transmitter With 1,000ft Range

Cons

• The remotes installed in older cars can’t be synced to the control panel.

2 Stainless Steel Automatic Gate Opener

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The second one on our list is the Stainless Steel Automatic Gate Opener. It features an easy-to-use system and simple design. And if you love DIY, you’ll install it by yourself in no time.

It can be used on all swing-type of gates to make your life a little bit easier. This unit is a 400MM Stroke Stainless Steel Automatic Gate Opener. This means that the arm’s length is 15.75 inches long.

Thanks to the IR Beam Package, your kids and pets will be safe when playing around the gate. The IR Beam is used to scan the gate’s surroundings when it’s activated. This means that the moment the gate detects an obstacle, it will stop and reverse.

With the Wired Keypad, you’ll be able to activate the gate by inserting the PIN you choose. This is helpful if you forget your remote or if it got stolen. If you think the latter happened, you can immediately lock the remote from the control box. Then the thief won’t be able to ever use it to get into your property.

The Stainless Steel Automatic Gate Opener can support one leaf up to 13ft and 600lbs. And the Screw Driven Type System makes this opener extra reliable. You’ll also receive two manual release keys in the package, for emergencies.

To ensure its performance even during a power outage, you can equip this opener with three different charging options. It can use AC/DC power, solar panels, or a backup battery. Having all three methods offers immunity to power shortages.

The package includes everything you need for installation and a user’s manual. You’ll also benefit from a 1-year warranty.

Pros

• Easy To Install
• Easy To Use
• Solar Panel capable
• Backup Battery Capable
• IR Beam Package
• Wired Keypad
• Affordable
• Comes With 3 Remote Transmitters
• Can Support One Leaf Up To 13ft And 600lbs

Cons

• It can support too many accessories.

3 Mighty Mule Single Gate Opener

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The last place on our Best Single Gate Opener under $500 is taken by the Mighty Mule Single Gate Opener, which features a Dual Sense Technology. It’s UL325 certified for additional safety and offers you an easy installation process.

Its easy-to-follow instructions, DVD, and tech support makes this gate opener perfect for DIY lovers. You can get the whole installation process done in under one hour.

Unlike our first choice, the Mighty Mule is made for light swing gates. It can support gates that are up to 12ft and 300lbs. If your gate is almost 300lbs but you’re using it very often, you should still opt for a stronger opener. Continuously pushing the opener up to its limits countless times a day can cause problems.

Thanks to its versatility, you can use this opener on tube, chain link, vinyl, panel, and wood gates. Its durable and long-lasting design allows you to rely on it for over 10 years. You’ll also benefit from a built-in Safety Sensor.

To work optimally even in case of a power blackout, the Mighty Mule Single Gate Opener needs a 12V Automotive or Marine Type Backup Battery. You’ll have to purchase it separately. The requested battery must produce a minimum of 250 CCA (cold-cranking amps).

If you want to power the gate opener with solar power, you can also separately buy solar panels. Mighty Mule offers a 5W solar panel (Model #FM121) and a 10W one (Model #FM123).

The Mighty Mule Single Gate Opener has an Auto-Close option. This will allow you to set the desired closing time after you open the gate. It can keep the gate open for up to 2 minutes before closing it. This is very helpful if you tend to forget to close the gate sometimes.

Pros

• Easy To Install
• Easy To Use
• Supports Solar Panels
• Backup Battery Capable
• Safety Sensor
• Auto-Close Feature
• Dual Sense Technology
• Compatible With All Single Gate Types

Cons

• It can’t support too many accessories.

Conclusion

Automatic Gate Openers have been around for decades and they’re continuously developed. No matter what your preferences are, we can guarantee that there’s an opener ideal for your needs. Some are simple and easy to use, other high-end openers have countless smart features for extra convenience.

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