DIY electronic gate opener

[clients]

Hey, Hoping for some help form any electronic hobbiers out there. I am trying to build a small device to release the latch on my gate (so i dont have to get out of the car to open it myself). It is a light swing gate which latches in with a typicall gate latch. I want to great something (idially wireless, but wired would work too) that would simply lift the latch on the gate since once released, the gate swings open on its own.

Ive got some ideas, but curious to hear other peoples ideas on the best way of tackling this.

[mrlarouc]

hmmm interesting project. I have no idea how you would go about doing such a thing because my knowledge of electronics is so abysmal, but it would be great if there were someone out there who knew of some web resources to help out for things like this!

I know that last year I bought an RF controlled power switch, ie you plug a cord into a box which can be turned on or off using a wireless remote. Only cost about $20 and it might work for you here. Problem is that I think that something else in the neighbourhood shares the same frequency, because my I often found my xmas lites off, without me actually turning them off :( .... #$%# garage door openers! :|


My project would be a doggie feeder that metts out a pre-determined amount of doggie food at a specific time of the day... so that my dog can get dinner on time even when I am not! =)

[clients]

What i have in my mind is using something like the mechanism in a doorbell (electromagnet) with a wire attached that would be used to pull back the latch, releasing the gate, which would open by means of a spring. You can drive in, and then close the gate by hand. I probably could find and old doorbell, but it might not have enough movement, and i would rather not have to plug it in, or figure out how to re wire it for a 9 volt or something. Anyone know where i might be able to find something like this (the electromagnet).

The remote part is optional as i could make it a button that you can press as you drive by, but im sure once it works, i could convert it to wireless with a DIY wireless switch

[Cough]

Why dont you just buy a front door lock with a remote control (some of the ones with numeric keypads come with remote control). Then you have the whole thing in one unit and nothing to screw around with.