What cable for 200m run to Electric gates

[SamSmith]

Hi, I’m trying to power a gate motor 200m from our house. We will need power to the gate motors, an intercom and a light.
What size and core cable should I use for that distance?

Any advice appreciated, thanks. 

[LiamJones]

All depends on how many amps over how many meters.

 

Let’s make a guess at 13amp for now

 

plug this into the calculator, for single phase 230v over 200m with a 3% drop (acceptable for lights) we end up with 25mm 3 core 

 

https://armouredcable.net/armoured-cable-calculator/#

[FuerteStu]

Will the intercom need a hardwired connection? 

200m is a long way for wireless. 

 

While you've got a trench open. Makes sense to drop in a multicore cable alongside the 230v one

[LiamJones]

3 minutes ago, FuerteStu said:

Will the intercom need a hardwired connection? 

200m is a long way for wireless. 

 

While you've got a trench open. Makes sense to drop in a multicore cable alongside the 230v one

Good shout, although be careful of separation distances between power and data to avoid interference. 200mm (I think) for unshielded cables.

[Onoff]

Look at the data plate on your gate motor for a start. 

[FuerteStu]

I've put in a gate supply before, we ran a 12 core 2.5mm in the same trench. That gave them options for remote opening, lighting controls and a digital audio 2 way system.. 

[Onoff]

10 minutes ago, FuerteStu said:

I've put in a gate supply before, we ran a 12 core 2.5mm in the same trench. That gave them options for remote opening, lighting controls and a digital audio 2 way system.. 

 

You shouldn't mix voltages and data in the same cable like that. 

[FuerteStu]

3 minutes ago, Onoff said:

 

You shouldn't mix voltages and data in the same cable like that. 

Depends entirely on the voltages... 

 

All signals were <24 volts and had appropriate circuit protection. 

[FuerteStu]

I'd put a cabinet nearby. With a small dB separating the gate controls, lighting and an extra spare socket cause you never know. 

[TonyT]

600 watts. I based that on my faac741 operator at 500 watts and 100 watts of lighting/ anti con heaters/ intercom

200metres

3 core swa

4mm2 gives under 3% volt drop

 

[joth]

23 minutes ago, FuerteStu said:

Depends entirely on the voltages... 

 

All signals were <24 volts and had appropriate circuit protection. 

Doesn't just depend on the voltages, but on whether some signals are for SELV or not. SELV and mains (or anything >50V) must not be combined in a single cable.

Hence why Dali data lines are not considered SELV and must be treated as if they carry mains, despite being 24V, just as one example.

 

[Onoff]

37 minutes ago, FuerteStu said:

Depends entirely on the voltages... 

 

All signals were <24 volts and had appropriate circuit protection. 

 

I stopped listening when you said 25mm2 tbh.

 

Plus you should take it as 5% not 3.

 

[FuerteStu]

12 minutes ago, joth said:

Doesn't just depend on the voltages, but on whether some signals are for SELV or not. SELV and mains (or anything >50V) must not be combined in a single cable.

Hence why Dali data lines are not considered SELV and must be treated as if they carry mains, despite being 24V, just as one example.

 

The data and control cables were all compatible to be in the same cable.. 

 

The contactor arrangement for switching was recommended by the gate manufacturer. 

[FuerteStu]

1 minute ago, Onoff said:

 

I stopped listening when you said 25mm2 tbh.

 

Plus you should take it as 5% not 3.

 

Wasn't me.. 

 

😑

[LiamJones]

2 minutes ago, Onoff said:

 

I stopped listening when you said 25mm2 tbh.

 

Plus you should take it as 5% not 3.

 

That was me, I hoped I’d caveated it enough with 

 

1 hour ago, LiamJones said:

All depends on how many amps over how many meters.

but clearly not

[Onoff]

4 minutes ago, FuerteStu said:

Wasn't me.. 

 

😑

 

My sincere apologies for suggesting you were a:

 

 

 

[Marvin]

I'm pretty sure I've seen cables for household car charging points being advertised with the power and data cores in the same cable....

 

https://www.cef.co.uk/catalogue/products/5243696-3-core-6-0mm-cat5-ev-cable-black-cut-length-sold-by-the-mtr?gclid=CjwKCAjwvfmoBhAwEiwAG2tqzKXgR2l1fhLNZr6BMSCtxQOX5knV9vbL1mAtyUlgWK_NRyrDdYrD_xoCV-YQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

not sure how these work...

[joe90]

I am about to put electric gates in and my motor is fused at 3 amp, not 13 amp. (But only 10m distance).

Edited October 5, 2023 by joe90

[Onoff]

1 hour ago, Marvin said:

I'm pretty sure I've seen cables for household car charging points being advertised with the power and data cores in the same cable....

 

https://www.cef.co.uk/catalogue/products/5243696-3-core-6-0mm-cat5-ev-cable-black-cut-length-sold-by-the-mtr?gclid=CjwKCAjwvfmoBhAwEiwAG2tqzKXgR2l1fhLNZr6BMSCtxQOX5knV9vbL1mAtyUlgWK_NRyrDdYrD_xoCV-YQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

not sure how these work...

 

Specifically designed with extra protection, both mechanical and shielding on the data side.

 

To my gate I've a bit of 2.5mm2 3 core swa in a bfo DNO duct (60mm dia?), then two 20mm flexible conduits inside that for camera, gate release etc. 

[Ferdinand]

14 hours ago, FuerteStu said:

Will the intercom need a hardwired connection? 

200m is a long way for wireless. 

 

While you've got a trench open. Makes sense to drop in a multicore cable alongside the 230v one

 

If you've got a trench open, put in a couple of conduits with drawstrings rather than extra naked cables.

 

The house to the gate is exactly the tope of place you will have need for a new run at least once in the next decade eg if something like a phone cable or an old data cable breaks, or if you need a new one.

 

The prices of bigger rolls of conduit falls so sharply that the extra cost is minimal.

[JohnMo]

Solar powered? options are available fully packaged, battery and solar panels.

[Mr Punter]

A friend who does gates and access often suggests wiring for a socket at the gate end.

 

I think it is so he can plug in his charger and make tea when he comes back to service them!

[SamSmith]

Thank you all.  I’ve ordered 200m of 10mm2 3 core which should do the job.  
I’m dropping a spare 50mm electric duct in just in case. 

[TonyT]

4mm2 would do the job!