Pick the motor by the gate
Weight comes first. A gate in solid steel sheet, the kind that gives privacy from the street, can be far heavier than an open aluminium one of the same width. ATA's Neoslider sliding gate opener handles gates as heavy as 800kg, CENTSYS's D5-Evo up to 500kg, and Merlin's Slide 600 up to 600 kg and 8m long.
For a pair of swing gates, CENTSYS sells its V-Series SMART as a double kit with an operator for each leaf. Merlin says its gate openers are designed for more than 150,000 cycles over their life, which is worth weighing against how often your gate opens.
Power, batteries and the sun
A gate motor that keeps working in a power cut needs a battery. CENTSYS says the D5-Evo carries two 7Ah batteries and the V-Series SMART a 7.2Ah battery, and both can run from a solar supply instead of mains.
Mains power to the gate is electrical work. Under NT law a person must hold an electrical work licence to do it, and the licensed electrician gives you a certificate of compliance within 20 business days of finishing.
Safety beams on every motorised gate
Gates are heavy, and a motor keeps pushing until something tells it to stop. CENTSYS says the D5-Evo senses obstructions and needs safety beams for its alarm functions, and Merlin's myQ app will not run a gate without Safety IR Beams. Keep remotes away from small hands.
Gates around Darwin
Posts and fencing
The NT Government's inspection guide lists corrosion of fencing supports among the things to check each year. A gate is only as good as the posts it hangs on or rolls past.
Timber gates
The Territory is a high termite risk area, the same guide says. A timber gate or post needs the right timber and treatment.
Humidity
The guide says humidity, heavy rain and long dry spells loosen fixings over time, so check the motor's mounting bolts and the gear rack too.
What you can do, and what to leave
You can
- Keep the track clear of leaves, seeds and stones
- Hose salt and dust off the track and rack
- Check the manual release key is where everyone can find it
Leave to a door specialist
- Sizing the motor for the gate's weight
- Setting limits, speed and obstruction sensing
- New power to the gate, by a licensed electrician
What we would do
Before cyclone season, run the gate on battery alone by switching off its mains supply for a few cycles. If it stalls or slows, the battery is due, and it is far better to find that out on a calm day in October.