The 'Electric gate' scam

[meditek]

Is the whole electric gate installation business a subtle scam. Had gate installed with Thalia P controller and BFT electrics. Got my head around wireless remotes fairly quickly and sorted those out. However, the damn thing screws up every time there is a power cut. The Thalia user manual is deliberately vague and uses it's own codes which need an Einstein to work through so DIY is a nono and every power cut costs me a £100 visit from the installer with his decryption gizmo which is much like the car servicing scam where you have to take your car to a main agent with the electronics to diagnose your problem with massive fees to update your software when they feel like it. When I buy something I expect to be given the means to maintain it. Gates people ensure you don't and the whole blasted industry is in league with them. Is this protectionism actually legal?

 

[buzzlightyear]

the whole electric gate installation business a subtle scam

are their any other company near to you to sort it out when the power cut .

 

[DPG]

If it screws up every time power is switched off then there is something wrong and I would be getting them to fix it properly. Completely unsatisfactory.

 

[James]

I am wondering if you have a case for complaint against the installer.

They have provided a system that is not suitable for the environment it is installed in.
Keep a good record of all service call outs and what they say they have fixed.
if you have several "reset controller after power cut " then i would be pushing for it not being suitable for future use as it is unable to deal with something that is likely to happen regularly.

 

[Yozza19]

We’re are u located ? ……..

 

[James]

coventry (midlands, uk)

and some more words to help me post it.

 

[James]

are you able to replicate the fault at will?
i.e. if you turn off the main breaker to the building, leave it for 30 seconds and turn it back on does the problem appear again?

 

[SparkyChick]

@meditek ,

What codes are you getting from the control board?

 

[meditek]

If it screws up every time power is switched off then there is something wrong and I would be getting them to fix it properly. Completely unsatisfactory.

Seems power cuts are a universal cause of gate problems. Wouldn't show me how to do it myself as it was 'too dangerous'. It's a 24v system with buttons designed to be pressed.

 

[DPG]

Seems power cuts are a universal cause of gate problems. Wouldn't show me how to do it myself as it was 'too dangerous'. It's a 24v system with buttons designed to be pressed.

It's not fit for purpose. No way would I be booking an engineer and having to be at home every time. And then getting charged £100 for the privilege!

 

[meditek]

@meditek ,

What codes are you getting from the control board?

Good point. I'll check.

are you able to replicate the fault at will?
i.e. if you turn off the main breaker to the building, leave it for 30 seconds and turn it back on does the problem appear again?

After a power cut we have to 'unlock' it and manually open it and when the power returns it stops closing about a centimeter before the lock engages so I have adjusted the striker plate accordingly but have now run out of adjustment so need the electronics adjusted. Haven't tried the DIY power cut as it could end up costing me again.

 

[buzzlightyear]

After a power cut we have to 'unlock' it and manually open it and when the power returns it stops closing about a centimeter before the lock engages so I have adjusted the striker plate accordingly but have now run out of adjustment so need the electronics adjusted. Haven't tried the DIY power cut as it could end up costing me again.

The reason for that is a safety factor.
Over the recent times where peaple have been injured or killed on electric gates closing on peaple.

 

[DPG]

The reason for that is a safety factor.
Over the recent times where peaple have been injured or killed on electric gates closing on peaple.

Yes I get the fact that it shouldn't automatically close when power comes back on. But it shouldn't need an engineer to come and visit.

 

[snowhead]

How often and how long are the power cuts?

It may be worth investing in a small U.P.S to hold power to the gate controls

If this is the correct manual below, I can't see any settings that shouldn't normally be held in memory and no reference to loss of power.

The "decription gizmo" will only be a program presenting the settings in a slightly more user friendly view, and I supsect will hold a copy of your settings which can easilly be downloaded to your controller, saves scrolling through the menu with a button.

https://www.bftautomationuk.com/files/50/Control-Panels/119/Thalia-P---Instruction-manual.pdf

 

[DPG]

Could it be something simple like the backup battery is faulty and so the settings are being lost?