Query on strange behaviour of CAME controlled electric gates. Operate after three requests :-0

fortyplus

Our domestic gates are controlled by a CAME system, ZA4 board & Frog A motors, installed 15 years ago when renovating.

It has been reliable, one motor replaced and a few suicidal slugs got on the control board and fried the board.. and themselves, but I managed to repair that. So basically one motor in 15 years, no complaints there.

The past few days we have strange behaviour. About 50% of the time it works perfectly. The other times it fails to open on command, and when it does open, it may stay open and not close as programmed. This is the same behaviour from remote fob(s), gate keypad, or house hardwired remote.

The weird thing is, it appears to respond the third time the instruction is sent, so it has always been possible to open (or close) the gates.

So while still functioning, it clearly has a problem. It has been suggested that the capacitors may be the issue?

I am inclined to replace the ZA4 board and the capacitors. Who is the supplier in Ireland: CAME in Ballymount. Do they sell to the end user?

Many thanks for any answers 🤞

KoolKid

I would start by eliminating all the safety's one by one to see if any of those are preventing opening/closing.

After that check if direct input to the board triggers the gate everytime. From there will give you a good indication of where the problem lies.

fortyplus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118105395#Comment_118105395

Yes, I have checked the safety sensors, appear OK as there are only one set of obstruction sensors. Also, I can hear the relays tripping on the board at the right time, but (without getting my multimixer out) it appears the problem is getting the motors to move... but when they do move, they both work in the correct sequence ( so probably not a motor problem). FWIW, the light sequence on the keypad works correctly, and I can hear the relays on the ZA4 click as expected. I think job #1 is replace capacitors🤞

KoolKid

Have you metered that power is getting to the motors every time.

fortyplus

Just to close this off, I first replaced the capacitors, no difference, then the control board, solved the problem. Local invoice for board & 2 x capacitors, €93, so can't complain about that.

KoolKid

Thanks for the update. Glad you got all sorted.