andy™

it is specialist (well, straight forward when you know what you are doing), its also one of the main things i do. the amount of dodgy installs i go is excessive. a large amount of gates i go to that are broken are also dangerous and its a good thing they have broken. find plenty photocells that have been bypassed, occasionally none at all. there is also far too many gates fitted with no edges. especially larger ones which would be way in excess of the max forces allowed. plenty where control panel is set wrong, motor force to 100% etc. no-one seems to care (or know in many cases) that they are classed as machinery and are covered by statute law and not guidelines like alarm & wiring regs etc

sussex is a bit far from me, post any questions and ill help with what i can (its mostly the wiring side i do and fabrication for modifications. for new installs i usually work with a few fabrication companies who do the mechanical side) also, im sure youre aware they have their own regs (12635, 12445, 12453 & various others), and if you leave a gate in a dangerous condition and something was to happen...

i would have started telling him to go to wickes or B&Q for his kitchen

which is why i recommend monitored and explain the differences between the various options to the customer and let them make a decision on what they want fitted (after all, its their property). all the extras are nice to have but cost more which is sometimes above what the customer is willing to spend

admittedly i dont install / maintain that many compared to some of you, but of all those i have installed ive never had any problems or been called back to any faults with them. maybe im just lucky, which is rare for me. as much as id rather install a monitored alarm for someone, not everyone wants one and sometimes its a basic dialler that gets fitted. or bells only customers may not always have an idea what they want but id rather give them choices rather than telling what they are having

i install what the customer wants, monitored, 'tat' or bells only

i wouldnt bother scrounging around trying to get parts etc on something old. if its not a simple fix them its probably going to be more cost effective to replace it

I would do your gates, but my travel charges to manchester would be quite high

Ive used GJD GSM dialler a few times. pricey but it works well

seen cables cut before by carpet fitters. one was a clean cut through 1 core so alarm kept coming up with tamper (RKP cable) but otherwise worked. took a while to find it

some have oil but i dont think they all do. iirc the older oil is also very carcinogenic. but not something i have anything to do with, i just get to have a look on the odd occasion

depends on the age i guess. newer ones are probably more enclosed, older stuff is fairly open. rarely ever get to see the inside of them, but this was from a recent trip inside one. plenty bits you dont want to touch and then there are private, fully enclosed ones like this. 11kv transformer is on the other side of the wall with 230/400v tails going straight into this

there is a lot more than just a grey humming box. usually lots of exposed live busbars on the side of it that you dont want to be touching

make sure you get the 230/400v end of the transformer for its supply, the 11kv side lets the smoke out

another vote for webway. i usually fit go, not nano, but i think the remote access is the same between them. wintex software is designed to connect directly to the webway program for access