How to Test the Electric Gate Lock

How to Test the Electric Gate Lock

Overview

In this article you will learn how to apply power directly to the electric gate lock for testing purposes. This can be used to determine if the lock is functioning correctly. Example, it does not unlatch during open command.

Applies to Part Number(s)

  1. 070510

What You Need

  1. Small flat-head screwdriver

Procedure

Verify a Few Items First

  1. Verify the battery is good.
    How to Measure Battery Voltage
  2. Verify the lock is clean and greased.
    1. Remove as much dust and debris from the pin as possible.
      !!! DO NOT DISASSEMBLE LOCK TO CLEAN !!!
    2. Lubricate the lock with white lithium spray grease and physically push the pin back and forth.
  3. Retest to confirm the problem still exists.

Disconnect Lock

Identify the two lock wires that are connected to the control board. The location of these wires will be different depending on the model of your gate opener and also the color of your control board (specified below). The positive wire will always be connected to the control board while the negative wire may be connected to the negative post of the battery or the control board. If you are not sure which wire is the negative wire from the lock, identify the positive wire first and then follow the wire back until it converges with a second wire; this second wire should be the negative wire from the lock. Once identified, use the screwdriver to disconnect the wire(s) from the control board. Leave the negative wire connected if it is on the negative post of the battery.

Patriot Gate Openers

Green, Blue or Red Control Board
  1. Positive wire: J1 terminal labelled "Solenoid lock" or "Sol/Mag lock" located in the bottom right area of the control board.
  2. Negative wire: J1 terminal labelled "Common GND" or the negative post of the battery.

Ranger Gate Openers

Red Control Board
  1. Positive wire: J8 terminal labelled "Sol" located in the bottom left corner of the control board.
  2. Negative wire: J8 terminal labelled "Gnd" or the negative post of the battery.
Green Control Board
  1. Positive wire: J2 terminal #4 located at the bottom center of the control board.
  2. Negative wire: J2 terminal #2, J2 terminal #7, or the negative post of the battery.

Sentry Gate Openers

Blue Control Board
  1. Positive wire: J2 terminal #5 located at the bottom center of the control board.
  2. Negative wire: J2 terminal #2, J2 terminal #7, or the negative post of the battery.
Green Control Board
  1. Positive wire: J2 terminal #7 located at the bottom center of the control board.
  2. Negative wire: J2 terminal #2 or the negative post of the battery.

Test Lock

This test involves connecting wires directly to the battery. There may be a small spark while making this connection. This is normal.
If there is substantial sparking or the wires begin to heat up, immediately remove the lock wires from the battery and call USAutomatic at (972) 221-7000.
  1. Touch the positive wire to the positive post of the battery for 1 second and release.
  2. Touch the positive wire to the positive post of the battery.
  3. Repeat if necessary.
The lock should pull in as soon as both wires are connected to the battery.

If the lock makes a noise but does not retract the lock pin, the wires connecting to the battery may be backwards. Applying reverse polarity power to the lock will energize the lock (noise), but will not retract the lock pin. Reversing the wires should resolve this (also ensuring power is being applied to the lock correctly).

If the lock does not make any noise, first check that the wire is good.  This can be done by either testing the existing wire with an OHM meter or by running a temporary surface wire in place of the existing wire. Repeat the test. If the problem still exists following these tests, call USAutomatic at (972) 221-7000.