The MyGate Q71S Control Board Installation Manual : Printed 11/02/2013 13:16
7
Photocells
The MyGate photocells are essential for safe use of your gate automation system. These are units that are
comprised of a transmitter and receiver. The photocell transmitter projects an Infrared confined beam in a
straight line and is intercepted by the photocell receiver. The receiver is not a mirrored unit as it absorbs the
Infrared beam. The transmitter and receiver unit must be placed directly opposite each other to have a
clear line of sight and be fixed to the inside of your pillar, just beyond your gate. The photocell then acts as
an “invisible trip-wire” across your drive way, permanently watching for any kind of obstruction. As soon as
the Infrared beam is broken, the “trip-wire” is activated and the motors will immediately stop and will
reverse in their motion. Typically the photocells are used for the
closing phase
of the gates automated
cycle. “Closing Phase” means that as gates are closing / returning to their original closed position, if your
car stalls in-between the gates or an object / pedestrian moves through the closing gates
– the gates will
immediately stop and reverse to the full open position at great speed. There is no control over the speed at
which the motors will run. At this stage the control board’s main objective is to get the gates back open as
fast as possible. The gates will continue to be held open until the obstruction has been cleared (the Infrared
beam has been restored) and the control board will continue with its original closing cycle and your gates
will return to their fully closed position.
Photocell positioning
As the transmitter and receiver unit must be directly
opposite each other, typically these units are fixed to
the inside of your pillar, just beyond your gate
(illustrated left). If pillars are not wide enough to
support the fixing of the photocells, do consider
using a Gate Motors photocell column with rain
hood (optional accessory
– pictured below):
The photocell pack comes complete with fixings. Each fixing pack contains (illustrated below right):
4 x Threaded screws
4 x Rawlplugs
1 x Photocell Transmitter
1 x Photocell Receiver
