Everything You Need to Know About Solar Gates
Automated gates can be a great addition to your home or business. Not only do they offer convenience and provide an additional level of security, but they also add a sense of sophistication to your property. In many cases, they can also be a value-add.
Some sites make it difficult or costly to run power to the location of an automatic gate. In these situations, we suggest you consider installing a solar gate that can be automated without the need to run mains power to the location of the gate.
At Fencemakers, we specialise in the manufacture and installation of custom-made gates and can also assist with all types of automation, including solar-powered gate automation for Perth homes and businesses.
What is a Solar Gate?
A solar gate is an automatic gate that uses solar power to run. Rather than drawing power from the national electricity grid like other automatic gates, it generates its own sustainable solar electricity through the use of solar panels.
Types of Solar Powered Gates
Solar automation is suitable for all kinds of gates, including:
Solar gates are also appropriate for a range of applications including:
- Residential properties
- Commercial properties
- Industrial properties
- Rural properties
How do Solar Powered Gate Openers Work?
Solar automatic gates work by using sustainable solar electricity.
A small solar panel is installed on or near the gates (up to 50 meters away as a general rule) and connected to the gates’ control box via cabling.
The solar panel consists of a gridwork of PV (photovoltaic) cells. When the sun shines onto the solar panel, the PV cells convert sunlight into energy by allowing photons, or particles of light, to knock electrons free from their atoms.
The solar panel sends electricity to the control box so it can power the gate. Excess electricity gets stored in a solar battery, ready for later use. The solar battery power is used when the solar panel is unable to generate sufficient electricity to operate the gates, such as during the night.
Solar gate openers operate via a remote control, keypad, or sensor to trigger an opening and closing motion – in the same way as other automatic gates.
Solar Powered Gates: An Environmentally Friendly Option
For the environmentally conscious, the additional carbon footprint caused by the installation of an electronic gate may be a deterrent in opting for one. Solar-powered electric gates are the ideal solution. They are becoming increasingly popular, not only in sunny climates such as Perth, but the world over.
Traditional electricity is generated from nuclear power or burning coal which has a negative impact on our environment. Solar energy, on the other hand, is clean, renewable energy. As the energy is made from sunlight rather than burning fossil fuels, there are no direct greenhouse gas emissions. This means less environmental impact.
All around the world, individuals, businesses and governments are searching for better ways of harnessing renewable sources of power. Installing solar operated gates as opposed to conventional automation can be your way of making a positive contribution to this world-wide effort.
Solar power is a mature technology which has a proven track record. The past 5-10 years has seen significant advancements in solar panel technology, as well as battery technology. Today, solar is now a reliable and cost-effective option for power.
What are the Benefits of a Solar Gate Opener?
There are some obvious benefits to solar-powered gate openers. Major benefits include:
- Environmentally friendly: Solar power is a clean, renewable energy source. This means your carbon footprint is reduced and emissions are cut.
- Reduced electricity consumption: While other gate openers rely on mains power to operate, solar gate openers harness the sun’s power, allowing you to reduce your electricity usage.
- Lower power bills: Solar gates don’t draw on your national grid electricity supply. Less electricity usage means lower power bills – and this ultimately means more money in your pocket.
- Suitable for remote areas: Some locations have limited access to a power source. If your home or business sits on a large property or is in a remote area (i.e. rural, semi-rural, or lifestyle properties), the mains power source is likely to be a long distance from the location of your gates. Feeding mains power all the way to the gates can be an expensive and inconvenient undertaking, especially if the area is already landscaped with grass, paving and/or poured aggregate. With solar panels, this is a non-issue as access to the mains power is not required.
- Increased security: power outages can cause automated gates to malfunction, however with solar power you are not reliant on the national grid.
Fencemakers’ Solar Gate Opener Kits
Solar power kits that meet the energy requirement of gate automation are already available and have been around for a considerable time.
At Fencemakers, all our gates are made-to-measure which means they can be manufactured and installed to suit automation.
If you have an existing set of electric gates and want to switch these to solar power, we can use the same gate motor. We simply install a solar kit which includes a small solar panel (which can often be attached to a gate post) and battery pack. This solar kit allows the sun’s energy to be easily captured and stored.
At Fencemakers, our solar gate opening systems are designed and manufactured with quality and longevity in mind. All gates are manufactured at our local workshop, following a strict quality control programme. We are so confident in the quality of our products that we offer a 15-year workmanship warranty.
How Reliable are Solar Electric Gate Openers?
Reliability is often a concern for property owners, however, thanks to advancements in solar and battery technology, nowadays solar panels are extremely dependable.
Australia is a sun-blessed country and Perth is the nation’s sunniest city. In Perth, your solar gate system will get ample sun and there will be no risk of running out of power. These stand-alone systems are also self-sufficient and require minimal maintenance.
A solar-powered gate system uses very little energy in its normal operation. In many cases, automatic driveway gates in a residential setting only operate a handful of times a day. Consequently, wear and tear is minimal.
At Fencemakers, we use the highest-grade materials and components which are manufactured in either Australia or in Europe. With the quality motors and gate components we use, you can rest assured that your solar gates will stand the test of time.
Are Solar Gate Openers Safe?
A solar gate is an effective way to protect your property, family, pets, and possessions.
Fencemakers’ range of solar gate openers are guaranteed to work – they are reliable and secure. We ensure that our solar gate kits include adequate battery storage to ensure you will not run out of power on a cloudy day or during the night.
Looking for Solar Gates in Perth?
We can help design a solar gate solution to meet your individual requirements. You’ll love our expert team of professionals who have been servicing the WA gate market for more than 20 years.
At Fencemakers, we only supply the highest quality products, and pride ourselves on our first-rate installations and customer service. We’d be happy to talk to you about your specific requirements and advise you whether a solar-powered gate opener is the right choice for you
If you would like more information on solar gates, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are more than happy to come out to site, discuss different options and provide you with a free no-obligation quote.
