BFT IGEA BT 24V Swing Gate Motor Kit

The IGEA BT’s 125° maximum opening angle is the widest in the BFT surface-mount swing gate motor range — 15° wider than the ATHOS AC A25 and A40 (110°), 5° wider than the ELI 250 N BT underground motor (120°), and 15° wider than the GIUNO ULTRA hydraulic (110°). For Abu Dhabi villas with tight driveways where the gate must open fully flat against the pillar wall to allow wide vehicles to pass, the extra 15° of articulated arm travel can make a critical difference in usable driveway clearance. The 125° arc is achieved within a 15-second cycle time with the built-in slowdown function active, protecting the gate structure at end-of-travel.

The BFT IGEA BT uses an electromechanical limit switch — a physical microswitch triggered by a mechanical cam or lever on the motor arm when the gate reaches its open or closed position. When the cam contacts the microswitch, an electrical signal is sent to the THALIA control board to cut motor power. This differs from magnetic limit switches (Hall-effect sensors detecting a magnet, used on ELI 250 N BT and GIUNO ULTRA), relative encoders (rotation counting, used on ELI BT A40), absolute encoders (continuous position tracking, used on E5 BT A18), and work-time limits (timed motor run, used on ATHOS AC). Electromechanical switches are straightforward, reliable in outdoor IP44 environments, and easily adjusted physically to change the gate’s stop position without reprogramming.

Both are compact BFT 24V operators for smaller gate leaves, but their mechanisms and installation contexts differ. The IGEA BT uses an articulated arm for large or deep pillars, opens to 125°, handles up to 250 kg per leaf, and consumes 40W. The E5 BT A18 uses a linear actuator, installs on pillars as narrow as 80mm, handles up to 100 kg per leaf for smaller 1.8m gates, and uses an absolute encoder with D-Track for precision obstacle detection. The IGEA BT is the right choice for larger, heavier gates on wide pillars; the E5 BT A18 is for compact gates on narrow columns. Both connect to the THALIA control board family and use D-Track, but serve distinctly different installation geometries.

The BFT IGEA BT uses a knob-operated release with a personal key — a different mechanism from the triangle key release (used on ATHOS AC motors) and the top-access release (used on BILL and BOB motors). To disengage the IGEA BT during a power cut, the personal key is inserted to unlock the release knob, which is then turned by hand to disengage the articulated arm from the motor drive. This allows the gate to be pushed open manually. The knob system suits the articulated arm design because the release point on the folded arm mechanism is more accessible from the side than from the top, and the knob provides tactile confirmation of disengagement before attempting to move the gate.

The BFT IGEA BT carries a 24-month manufacturer warranty from purchase covering material and workmanship defects. Its IP44 protection rating (solid objects >1mm and water splashing from any direction) is lower than the ATHOS AC’s IP54, meaning the IGEA BT requires a more sheltered installation position. In Abu Dhabi, the motor should not be installed in a location exposed to direct sandstorm dust accumulation or irrigation water spray. The -15°C to +60°C operating range is well-suited to Abu Dhabi’s heat extremes, but the narrower cold limit (-15°C vs -20°C for most other models) reflects the 24V motor’s battery management sensitivity in cold environments — not a concern in the UAE. POWERgate Abu Dhabi handles all warranty claims locally. Contact us on WhatsApp (+971 50 884 4933) or at sales@powergatead.com.