Troubleshooting gate openers

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starsandstripes

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SE Michigan
Gate movement warning beepers failed only a few months after gate openers were installed. We found a voltage reading of 18 to 20 volts ac from ground to receiver antenna on both openers. Voltage readings at both openers; L1 to L2 247 volts, L1 to ground 123 volts, L2 to ground 124 volts. The manufacturer said to drive a ground rod, which didn't do anything. They claim we have a bad ground causing stray voltage on the antenna. Wiring to the openers is three #10 in pvc underground from a 30 amp two pole breaker about 300 ft away. Meggered L1 and L2 about 75 M ohms to ground. If the ground is bad, shouldn't the voltage reading to ground be a lot less than 123 or 124 volts? Other than the beepers, the gate openers are functioning fine. Any comments would be helpful.
 
161220-2202 EST

For me your description is incomplete.

What is a "gate movement beeper"? Is this an acoustic horn at the gate, or a radio transmitted signal to a sounder inside the home?

Are there two hots, a neutral, and an EGC run from the home to the gate?

At the gate what do you mean by the word "ground"? Is it earth, neutral, or EGC?

Assuming there is a metal box at the gate or metal parts on the gate opener, then do any of these read more than possibly 1/4 V to earth at the gate?

Why are you measuring the voltage from the antenna to ground, whatever ground means?

.
 
The gate movement beeper is a small acoustic horn at the opener enclosure that sounds intermittently when the gate starts to move to alert anyone in the vicinity of the gate. This is a commercial operation with two gates and two gate openers. The three #10 are two hots and a EGC, no neutral. At the gate, the ground is the EGC bonded to the metal enclosure, which is also bonded to a ground rod I just installed as suggested by the manufacturer. I took a voltage measurement from metal enclosure to the antenna (18-20V) in an attempt to find the cause for the movement beepers failing. Zero volts from metal enclosure to earth.
 
Have you tried powering the horn from an alternate source?
Is there a DC power supply to power the horn?
Might just be a dead horn.
 
starsandstripes said:
They claim we have a bad ground causing stray voltage on the antenna.
Click to expand...

gar said:
161220-2202 EST

For me your description is incomplete.
Why are you measuring the voltage from the antenna to ground, whatever ground means?
.
Click to expand...

I have never tried it but I would assume you would measure some sort of signal from an antenna to ground (earth). Did they suggest that you take such a measurement?

I think I would call the manufacturer's tech back and ask to talk to someone that may know a little more.
 
mgookin said:
Have you tried powering the horn from an alternate source?
Is there a DC power supply to power the horn?
Might just be a dead horn.
Click to expand...

If it's just the horn that not working it could be just a dead horn. Bad transmitter or receiver, power supply or component of a control board.
 
If the entire thing is working, other than the horn, why would the ground reading on the antenna have anything to do with the horn? Makes no sense to me. Sounds to me like the gate control mfr is just trying to dodge having to pay for you to replace the freaking cheap junk horn he used.
 
I will try powering the horns from an alternate source. But I have two openers and two dead horns. The alarm co that installed the openers took the voltage measurement from antenna to ground. Thanks.
 
starsandstripes said:
I will try powering the horns from an alternate source. But I have two openers and two dead horns. The alarm co that installed the openers took the voltage measurement from antenna to ground. Thanks.
Click to expand...

How was the voltage measured?

If both sides of the gate failed at the same time, I would be more suspect of a failed transmitter.

Nonetheless, making sure the horns actually work is a step in the right direction.

It would help more if we knew the manufacturer and model of your system.
 
Jraef said:
If the entire thing is working, other than the horn, why would the ground reading on the antenna have anything to do with the horn? Makes no sense to me. Sounds to me like the gate control mfr is just trying to dodge having to pay for you to replace the freaking cheap junk horn he used.
Click to expand...

X2

Sounds like Jack in India is reading from a script on his computer. The obvious thing to do here is to measure the voltage going to the horns when they should be operating. Is there voltage and is it correct? If yes then the horns are bad. If no then look elsewhere. Simple eh.

-Hal
 
161222-0954 EST

starsandstripes:

How are the horns connected to the system? With wires or something to do with the transmitter?

What is the purpose of the transmitter? Why would you even be checking its voltage to "ground"?

When you are describing a problem sufficient detail needs to be provided to make it clear what you are talking about.

.
 
starsandstripes said:
warning beepers failed only a few months after gate openers were installed. We found a voltage reading of 18 to 20 volts ac from ground to receiver antenna on both openers.
Click to expand...

starsandstripes said:
The alarm co that installed the openers took the voltage measurement from antenna to ground.
Click to expand...

K8MHZ said:
How long is the warranty good for?

If the unit is only a couple months old, the vendor should be on the hook to make it work, shouldn't they?
Click to expand...

Sounds like the people that installed the opener came and checked things out and said it was a bad ground to get themselves off the hook.

If it is a bad ground then what were they useing as a ground reference.
 
growler said:
Sounds like the people that installed the opener came and checked things out and said it was a bad ground to get themselves off the hook.

If it is a bad ground then what were they useing as a ground reference.
Click to expand...

How is a moving gate supposed to be grounded if there are no wires? The entire point of having antennas is so there are no moving wires to have to worry about.

A radio antenna does not have to be connected to the earth, think cell phones and walkie talkies.

I, too, think the vendor is trying to get out of their responsibility.
 
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