Electric gates for Sydney driveways
A swing gate needs clear space for its arc, Merlin points out, while a slide gate rolls on a ground track back along the fence line or a wall. On a short drive or a wide entry, Merlin presents the sliding gate as the one that saves space.
The motor is chosen to suit the gate. CENTSYS rates its D5-Evo sliding motor for gates up to 500kg and ATA's Neoslider takes gates as heavy as 800kg. For swing gates, CENTSYS's V-Series SMART operators come as a single kit with one arm or a double kit with two, with a 400mm or 500mm stroke.
Power, solar and blackouts
Plan for the power going out. Endeavour Energy said the gale of 5 September 2026 affected 62,256 of its customers at peak. CENTSYS says the D5-Evo carries two 7Ah batteries that keep it going in a power cut, and its V-Series runs on a 7.2Ah battery, with a solar supply an option on both.
Running mains power out to a gate is electrical wiring work under NSW law, whatever the size of the job. A licensed electrician does it and submits a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work when it is finished.
Safety beams on an electric gate
AS/NZS 60335.2.103:2024 sets the safety requirements for electric drives on household gates. Merlin says running a gate from its myQ app requires Safety IR Beams, and CENTSYS says the D5-Evo's alarm functions need gate safety beams installed. With children or pets about, count the beams as part of the job.
Have these ready when they ring
- Sliding or swinging, and steel, aluminium or timber
- Roughly how long and how heavy it is, if you know
- Whether there is power near the gate post, or a sunny spot for a panel
- Keypad, phone app or remotes, and how many people need one
Gates around Sydney
Big blocks in the Hills
The NSW RFS says suburbs such as Kenthurst, Dural and Annangrove often have blocks over 1 hectare that back onto bushland. On a long driveway, ask whether a solar motor makes more sense than running mains.
Steep streets
The RFS describes the Northern Beaches as headlands, sea cliffs and steep slopes. Mention any slope or step in the drive when you tell us the job.
Apartment gates
In a strata building, a gate on common property is for the owners corporation to repair and maintain, so start with the strata manager.
What we would do
On the day the motor goes in, have the door specialist show everyone at home how the manual release works. In a long blackout the battery can run flat, and someone needs to know how to free the gate.