Wednesday 1 May 2013

Auto Gate

Nowadays, more and more house’s owner installed auto gate system for convenience at their house main entrance.

There are various benefits from having automatic gates. One of the most obvious is intended to provide easy access to gated home; nobody really likes to get out of their car to open the gates, drive through and then close them afterwards especially during rush hour, rainy days, hot-sun or others conditions. An elegant gate with an automatic gate system also can add up value of a home.

The modern technology make life more convenient that will enable us enjoy quick, safe, fast and easy access to our home. In the past driveway gates or any type of auto gates were only meant for the rich and famous, now they are more affordable within reach for all budgets.

Before you can think about asking someone to install your auto gate, you need wiring to power the automatic gate.

Normally before you move into your new home, you plan ahead by hiring a electrical contractor or a wireman to lay the main power cable of auto gate, usually auto Gate point using 7 core x 2.5mm PVC/SWA/PVC cable buried underground will cost about RM500- but need to pay extra if you have a longer car porch.
Sometimes the auto gate installers also provide the wiring services for laying armour cable for autogate.

Why do we need to do the auto gate cable first?

This is to save you the trouble of needing to hack the cement for the hiding the cable of the auto gate before concrete casting at your car porch. Errr.. if you live in an old house chances are
you need to hack the floor unless you don't mind looking like this.

This is what happens if without proper planning

Of course, if you're rich you can do renovation and plan to install an auto gate at the same time.

Why is armoured cable for autogate?

Armoured Cable is a robust and hard-wearing power cable protected by a layer of aluminium wire armour or steel wire armour designed for the supply of mains electricity.

 Armoured cable can withstand a strong pull power  stress, it has good water resistance  and  can  be directly buried.


A few things you need to know before you figure out how to make a budget for your autogate.

1. Did your house come with a autogate cable wiring?
2. The type of gate material you want to replace or if you short of budget you can even fix up your old gate and reuse.
3. The complexity of gate design pattern.
4. Size of your gate.
5. The type of auto gate system you want to invest in.
6. Mechanical unit piston type (motor gears or hydraulic)

Whether the gate are for residential or commercial use, you will try to get the best from your budget. Most common material choose is wooden, steel, wrought iron, stainless steel or from other materials. It may cost a considerable investment but in a long run when you think when it comes with your comfort security and convenience it is worth it.

All sorts of automatic gate systems on the market such as sliding type, screw drive piston, folding gate and swing cubic underground to meet all preferences, styles and requirements.

There are two types of swing gates and sliding gates available.

SWING GATES (Underground)
CUBIC is an underground automation for swing gates, after installation are usually concealed.There is no external actuators visible onto the gate or post.
This solution allows the movement of gates and maintains aesthetic without sacrificing its functionality.


SWING GATES (above ground)

The swing type autogate is the most common type. Today the most common autogate for this type of gate is arm gate, where your gate is open and closed by a mechanical screw driver piston type, actuator for swing gates.

This type of system does not need a motor to be buried hidden in the ground. It is much easier and cheaper to install. This design overcomes a common obstacle of water seepage to electrical system which will damage the motor caused by short circuit.

Many of the underground systems are being replaced with swing arm systems to prevent this problems from recurring.

Heck!  Lest we all forget about  aesthetically beautiful, what we want to ensure is durability!

Sliding Type Autogate

As the name implies, the fence gate basically slides, it utilizes a motor that operate on gear teeth at the bottom of a gate. One thing to note though is as time goes by, the sliding system gear can become worn and damaged over time. This will result the wheel to come off the track and disrupt the gate's ability to slide properly.

This design is used when you have a very wide gate or if you prefer a gate that takes up less space when it is opened. This design is ideal for residential and factory gate.

A word of warning. Since the motor required for the sliding gate needed power to drive the heavy gate, it tends to be more powerful, there is in grave danger of crushing into pets, children and  adults.





Recently I have decided to install autogate not only to protect myself from the hot sun and rain but also as a safety measure purpose. Getting down to shut/open the gate manually can be quite vulnerable situation, compared by staying in the car which psychology will make me feel safer.

However, you still need to do your part to stay alert, you can never let your guard down. You get out of your car only after you're sure it is safe after you look around as you never knew what was gonna happen next like the robbers might be hiding. They have been watching you and wait for the right opportunity to ambush you.

The auto gate installer was an ex-colleague, whom I known as a good friend of mine. I feel safer as he can provide me with further valuable and truthful information needed before I install the auto gate. He now runs his own engineering company engaged in all sort of general engineering works which include auto gate.

I'm quite apprehensive when it comes to which gate material should I choose, after elimating stainless steel material which is way too bright and might annoy opposite neighbors.
Nah, actually it is way too expensive for my budget.

My selection of auto gate material end up for Duplex System when make our gates: Galvanized Steel and Powder Coated Paint.


What is Galvanized Steel?
Galvanized Steel is iron that has been coated through a chemical process dipping it into a hot melted bath of zinc that protects the steel from harmful rust and corrosion. Typically, galvanized dipping should from the inside or outside surface.

This process known as galvanizing, permanently bonds the zinc to the steel.The zinc is now a shield for the iron to help the metal resist corrosion. Even with galvanization, corrosion will eventually start to occur, especially if conditions are acidic but takes a long time. Therefore why we need to apply the next layer.

Why Powder Coated Paint?
Powder coating is the technique of applying dry paint to an item. The item(s) are then placed in an oven and heated.
When powder coated items are applied correctly and maintained, they should be permanent. Unlike conventional paints, powder coated paints will not peel, chip or crack.

What is Duplex System?
When powder paint is applied to galvanized steel, this is referred to as the Duplex System.
The Duplex System is the best process used today to protect against any weathering affects of our environment on steel.
The powder coating actually increases the life of the galvanized steel. The paint slows the rate of the process of at which the zinc is being consumed. This will save you from going through the troublesome of yearly painting the gate.

Other Material use on Gate

I particularly like the idea of wood fencing but need to to use the subsitution material- Aluminium  Fencing. It looks like real timber and have many advantages:

- Aluminum is lighter thus will not burden motor driver
- Wood rots and aluminum doesn't rot
- Aluminum is stronger than wood

My friend recommended this product to me, DC Moto autogate he can say with certainty that this is the most reliable. It's no point to install a cheap hydraulic actuator which can give you a lot of headaches later on. Hydraulic actuators are prone to damage to internal seals caused by high pressure from vehicular collision.

DC Moto is supported by many local installers and that spare parts are readily available as local manufactured in Penang which comes with a year warranty.

Advantages of using DC Moto autogate system:


DC Moto emphasis on green technology by using Hybrid Power. This will reduces 95% of CO2 emission. A normal automatic gate consumes about 5 to 10W of electricity during standby 24/7. By using the hybrid design, it consumes only 0.2W during standby.

The main power switch on only to run the motor or charging the battery. The Backup battery for standby uses only 0.2 Watt. The system will switch to normal power mode and thus function normally in case the backup battery fails.

DC Moto have anti spy function is encrypted so nobody can scan and clone another remote to open your gate.

Mom is apprehensive of being locked out, should there is no current and she asked my friend, "What would happen if there was no electricity...Can we still open/close the gate?"

Yes, you can still open the gate manually with keys supplied. Just remember to attached to each remote control given and please don't call and tell me you have lost it. Something you may actually only used it once in your life but when in emergency you couldn't find it.

The indoor keypad for autogate is a wireless Keypad remote control unit. This allows you to place wherever you like.

You have option to choose opening only left gate or right gate as well as both gates.

A gate operator is a mechanical device used for either open or close a gate, one at the end of each gate.
DC Moto is using rotary driver extra strong gearbox with a lever to push the gate.

Automatic gate DC Moto can also be fitted with solar panel to charge a battery.

When you push a button on a remote control to transmit signal, over a period of time or roughly 2 years from now, you have to get closer to be able to received signal.. it means battery is weak. It's a sign, you know it's a time to get a new battery.

Saying Goodbye To Old Gate


Our house existing gate hinges was replaced to fit new gate


What a hot day. Wonder why he didn't use shade umbrella stand for shelther?

Gate replaced sits on a new hinges

Punching of hole is the evidence of Galvanised Steel chemical process
 dipping, the process of bath must be on both sides




Gate covered with protective film, to be removed when arrived



Auto gate driver, in the event of no current. Just flip the green cover  and insert your key. A single
key stroke will the lock, freeing the gate to move freely 

Control Box : Panel , Receiver , Battery , Transformer


New auto gate ready to serve!


My friend Ah Ming, showed me many front gate design readily available but it fails to grabbed my attention.

I designed my own gate pattern, with aluminium wood fencing as main feature which provide the gate strong but light. Middle of gate part comes with flower pattern and side gate ornamental wrought iron leaves. The side gate gap is to allow you manually open the gate using a key in times of emergency power failure, while there is pad lock to open or close when there is a need.

Now, no more standing in the hot sun or getting soaked wet just to open/close the gate, all done with just a press of remote button will do the trick. Mmm.. I'm getting greedy, I think I will call my friend whether the option feature also can add melody when opening/closing. Err.. James Bond theme prefered.



Anger management

What is anger?Anger is a natural human reaction towards injustice or our body's natural response to threats and dangers. It usually emerge when someone offends us and we feel wronged or when a situation seems unfair and unjustified.

Our anger is normally controllable with a range mild irritation but may lead to frustration and violent rage destructive. People should always rationally think through their decision to act positively and not making decisions based on "Act First, Think Later".

When you are angry, your thoughts can be fill with narrow minded negative thoughts that preventing you from thinking straight. Remember to make wise decision only when you have a clear cut directions. If you did not keep your temper in check it becomes uncontrollable full-fledged rage.

I think that the downfall of Napolean was due to making bad decisions because of his anger mind which caused him to unable to think more analytically when he decided to invade Russia in the winter. Obviously one would think that Hitler would learn the lessons of history, but Hitler's failure to remember Napolean's folly was Hitler's fatal mistake.

Napoleon was a short man with a short fuse temper, it would take only one wrong move
 eventually lead to his downfall  

I guess it's true when people says, "Angry people who always make bad choices"

What are the physiological changes that occur during anger?


The anger cause your heart rate shoot up, the face and hands may feel hot, and the body may feel tense or rigid. The expression "your blood is boiling" is because when you turn angry, your body will produces adrenaline and that can cause your body temperature to rise.

Sir Alex Ferguson success is due to his using anger as motivation and
 his famous "hairdryer treatment" technique at half time pep talks. 
Our voice becomes louder and louder and commanding, and sometimes people may lose control of themselves.

When someone is angry, in the heat of the moment they say things that aren't in their minds, they didn't mean it to say hurtful things to you.It was in split-second of madness like blind anger, too many thoughts clouding our mind and we can't think straight.

Don't get into a heated discussion with someone. The first thing you do before escalate into argument is to just leave and let him or her cool down and says, Can we talk about it some other time?

Be careful! When you say things in anger, they leave a scar. You can't take back the words of hurts others unintentionally..The damaging words are out they can never be recalled. You've already said something hurtful, the damage is done and cannot be reversed. 

When a baby gets irritated they will let a sharp cry, little babies can't tell you anything about how they feel inside so this is the way babies express their emotions. Lucky you only have to look for three things when a babies cries is that either babies hungry, tired or babies wet.


Baby cry is due to basic needs not not being fulfilled 

Anger for an adult is more complicated emotion and will express anger and frustrations feelings in many ways. Usually an anger adult comes up when your self-esteem are threatened. Eg. If someone hurt you by calling you names or nicknames you have a tendency to react through retaliation. It can also happen when you been physically bump into, either unintentionally or intentionally planned.

Some people may also feel anger easily or have a 'short fuse' and get angry easily. This reminds me of Donald Duck who had a bad temper when frustrated.

Another kind of people may also feel anger when there is no practical reason why, they could easily have been frightening with a loud noise such as scream or high tone voice.

My friend, Yeo once spoken with a foreign worker in a normal loud noise caused him to cry but my friend says he did not scold him in any way. May be the size of my friend being physically imposing by comparison with the little foreigner caused him to feel threatened?



Do your face turn red when you angry? Not Hulk.
Arrrrgh!! Don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry

We have all experienced anger at one time or another when something obstructing your plans from fulfilling your goals.

One example is when you walking towards your car in a car park and you found someone blocking your path, naturally your instinct reaction is you experience anger which increases blood flow to a part of the brain. Next thing you know the stress and negative thoughts will overtake your depressed mind like wanting to hurt the one who obstructing your way.


Do Not Let Anger Control You 

You have to control your anger. Well, that's easy for me to say but it's always easier said than done.

You can imagine it's like the Yin and Yang represent the two opposite principles in nature or we see it as the struggle between good and evil.

One angel will always tell the truth ..Control, control, you must learn control! but then the other will always lie, the devil will try to convince you to rebel with aggressive behaviour.

Angel vs Devil, comes the tug-of-war with words, trying to convince 


Anger is bad for your health

When we are angry, normally our blood pressure raises, heart beat faster and blood rush to our vein causing our face turn red. Too much anger can be the cause of hypertension.

What is hypertension? A condition in which abnormal blood pressure which one's heart is pumping blood at very fast rate, causing high blood pressure. The higher the pressure the heart has to work extra hard to make up for the increased pressure.

The strain exerted on your arteries and your heart, which makes it more likely a potentially candidate for heart attack, a stroke or high blood pressure.

Anger is bad for your health, it will take toll on the heart, brain, mind, and internal organ.

If you want to live a longer life, you need to learn to control your anger management on how to defuse your anger.


Anger Management

DeFuse 1- Try relaxation techniques, such as yoga, meditation and stress management to reduce stress and anxiety by relaxed breathing and deep muscle relaxation.

Defuse 2 - Take a timeout - when your overwhelmed, your mind overloads the brain with information that making it hard for you to focus. Then you will know its time to relieve your stress by taking a short break by indulge in a coffee break or take a brisk walks outside...but mind you don't practice by go out and engage in an unhealthy habit of smoke break.

You rather want to adopt a healthier habits like the commercial says, Take a break, take a kit-kat.

Defuse 3 - Get some physical activities to destressing your life by release some of the tension you've been feeling.

Defuse 4 - Don't jump on the first conclusion the issue that you see or always think before you speak as we did not go through thinking pocess, usually without realizing it we bypass, to get from a fact to a decision or action.  The Chinese likes to emphasize in the phrase, The black dog gets the food; the white dog gets the blame.

Defuse 5- When people waste time arguing, everyone loses. Its better to take the time to find solutions. Always remind yourself that anger will not solve anything, instead it may lead to further aggravation.


Defuse 5 - Don't hold a grudge...but it's hard to let go of it because it keeps coming back to haunt, it seems like just happened yesterday. There's an old saying on forgiveness: "To err is human, to forgive divine."

I still haven't learned the lesson well cause I'm the Unforgiven kind as I believe more on the lesson of the fable scorpion and the frog. The scorpion will never change its nature, ...so there's just no point in being friends with scorpion.

Defuse 6 - Lightening a tense moment can help diffuse tension but you need to apply it delicately to soften the tension but one word of warning... if you say it in a sarcasm way it can  make matters worse just like Putting Out a Fire with Kerosene!

Defuse 7 - Don't stress yourself too much. You can't possibly handle all of the work by  taking over the work yourself. Those less important tasks and responsibilities you delegated to a subordinate. As my Boss like to put in a humour way,

Don't try to be Superman by overlooking all the task.Try to delegate your work by giving to your subordinate.

Defuse 8 - Have you ever been fake for the sake of saving face? Know when to seek help, its no shame
 in seeking help. At one time or another (probably more than one time), we will need the assistance of some person help. What goes around comes around... one day we will repay the kind gesture. 


Defuse 9- It's no joke with a statement on laughter is the best medicine. Laughter is miracle medicine that doesn't cost a thing which release enzymes, a powerful antidote that influence our body immune system.

Defuse 10- When you're angry, pausing to take a deep breath when you're upset really does help you feel better. If that won't work, count to ten before you speak . If very angry, count to one hundred. - by Jefferson, Thomas.

Every time we get angry, we don’t realize the powerful effect of anger. Everytime we losing control by releasing the anger by yelling or screaming, we will degrade our integrity.

Defuse 11- Why don't we try to change to smile more often everyday cause smile is infectious and healthful.

It would only takes 17 muscles to smile and 43 muscles to frown, so why choose the latter?


They learn too late that you don't mess with God's instructions.


In other words, don't be angry be happy, always smile but then... even Gods sometimes get angry like us but when God unleashed his hot anger, he did in a terrible devastation way.

The wrath of GOD which bring a great flood upon the earth, to destroy everything he created except for Noah's family and God's selection of animals transported into the ark in pairs.

So often we hear Chinese people use the word, "Buddha also has anger" merely to reinforced why they shouldn't be angry with that..whatever's upsetting you ?
佛也有火

So maybe if GOD is not immune to anger maybe then we also entitled to get angry but try using sparingly..okay