Photo Eyes and Safety Sensors on Automatic Gates

Photo eyes and contact edges are the parts of an automatic gate that protect people, pets and vehicles, and every powered gate in a Leander driveway should have them working. The safety notes at automatic gates leander e wolontariat for automatic gates in Leander, TX begin with these devices.

What a Photo Eye Does

A photo eye is a pair of small units set on either side of the opening. One sends an invisible beam and the other receives it. If something breaks the beam while the gate is closing, the board stops the gate or reverses it. They are usually mounted low enough to catch a child or a pet, and high enough to avoid being triggered by weeds.

What a Contact Edge Does

A contact edge is a flexible strip along the leading edge of the gate. If it touches something, it signals the board to stop or reverse. It is the safeguard that works even if a beam is missed or knocked out of alignment. Larger gates, especially slide gates with exposed edges, benefit from them.

Motor Force Sensing

Most boards also measure motor effort. When the gate meets resistance, the board stops it. This setting is adjustable, and it needs to be set low enough to reverse on contact but high enough that normal wind or a small slope does not trip it. The balance matters on exposed lots toward Cedar Park and Liberty Hill, where wind gusts can push on a solid panel.

Alignment and Keeping Eyes Clear

Photo eyes lose alignment when a post is bumped or the ground shifts. Limestone soil is steady once set, but a vehicle brushing a post can still throw the units out. Wipe the lenses, check for spider webs and cobwebs, and keep tall grass trimmed so the beam stays clear.

A Simple Test You Can Do

With the gate closing, pass a cardboard box or a broom handle through the beam. The gate should stop or reverse right away. Then, with the gate closing, place a light object in its path. It should reverse on contact. Do these tests every few months and after any repair.

Never Disable a Sensor

If a sensor keeps tripping, find out why rather than bypassing it. A bypassed photo eye leaves a heavy gate with no warning for the next person who walks through.