Sliding or swing on a Perth driveway
Merlin sums up the difference: a slide gate rolls on wheels along a ground-level track and tucks back along the fence line, while a swing gate needs a clear arc of space to open into. It presents slide gates as the space-saving option for wide entries and compact driveways.
Either way, the gate itself should move freely by hand on its wheels or hinges before a motor goes on. A gate that drags makes any motor work harder.
Sliding gate motors in Perth: matching the weight
| Heaviest gate | What else the maker says | |
|---|---|---|
| Merlin Slide 600 | 600 kg, up to 8m long | Runs on mains, solar or low voltage; 3 year warranty |
| CENTSYS D5-Evo | 500kg | Battery backup on 2 x 7Ah batteries, a solar option and a 24-month warranty |
| ATA Neoslider | 800kg | Keypads, cameras and safety beams sold as add-ons |
Swing gate openers
CENTSYS's V-Series SMART swing motors are piston-driven, in-line operators with a 400mm or 500mm stroke, sold as a single kit with one operator or a double kit with two. CENTSYS says they run on a 7.2Ah battery that keeps them going in an outage, can take a solar supply and sense collisions electronically.
Power to the gate in WA
Running mains power down the driveway is electrical work. In WA it is done by a licensed electrical contractor, who must employ licensed electricians, and for installing work the contractor hands over an Electrical Safety Certificate within 28 days.
Solar is the other route. Merlin's Slide 600 and the CENTSYS D5-Evo both list a solar supply, which can suit a gate a long way from the house.
Beams keep people clear
A gate motor shifts a lot of weight by itself. CENTSYS says the D5-Evo detects obstructions, yet its alarm functions need gate safety beams fitted, and Merlin will only run a gate through its myQ app with Safety IR Beams installed. Teach children that a moving gate is never something to race.
Gates around Perth
Long driveways on the fringe
On a bigger block the gate can sit far from the switchboard. Ask whether a solar kit suits your spot before committing to a trench for mains power.
Bushfire prone areas
If you live on bushfire prone land, plan how you would get the car out with the power off. CENTSYS says the D5-Evo's battery backup keeps the gate working in a power cut.
Checking the contractor
Building and Energy's search page links to the WA Online Licence Search, where you can check the electrical contractor's EC number before any wiring starts.
What we would do
Send photos of the gate and a rough length when you tell us the job. Every sliding motor has a weight limit, from 500kg to 800kg in the table above, so the door specialist needs to know what your gate is made of before picking one.