Why go solar on a gate
Mains power means a weatherproof outlet close to the motor: the NeoSlider manual asks for 240V 10 amp within 1 metre of the mounting point. On a long driveway or a farm entrance that can mean a long run of cable for a licensed electrician, with a Certificate of Compliance at the end.
A solar electric gate avoids that run. A panel keeps a battery charged, and the battery does the work of moving the gate.
What the makers offer in New Zealand
Dominator sells battery backup and SmartSolar packages for its NeoSlider sliding gate openers, aimed at gates in remote spots. Merlin offers a solar powered rural gate opener alongside its mains openers, and says a local dealer assesses and installs each of its systems.
The models and battery sizes vary, so ask the door specialist what they would use for your gate.
Sizing still comes first
Going solar doesn't change what the motor has to shift. Dominator's NeoSlider 500 is rated for home gates up to 500kg and 6m wide and its 800 for up to 800kg and 8m wide, and the manual wants a gate that moves by hand with 15kg of force or less.
A heavy or stiff gate also drains a battery faster than a well balanced one, so sort the gate out before sizing the solar side.
If you already bought a kit
Some solar gate kits are bought and put up by owners. If you have one and it isn't working as it should, send the job and say what you have. Where any part of the setup uses 240V, such as a mains charger, treat it the way the NeoSlider manual does: that part is for a licensed electrician.
Safety on rural gates
A solar gate is still a heavy moving gate, and on a farm there may be nobody around if something goes wrong. The NeoSlider manual strongly recommends safety beams, and a gate near stock, children or a shared driveway should have them.
Handy details for a solar gate job
- How much direct sun the gate site gets in winter, and any shade from trees or sheds
- Sliding or swing, its width and what it is made of
- Roughly how many times a day the gate runs
- Whether there is mobile or internet coverage: Merlin's myQ needs an internet gateway
- How far the gate is from the nearest mains power
What you can do, and what to leave
You can
- Keep the panel clean and clear of shade
- Keep the track or arc clear
- Check the gate still moves freely by hand
Leave to a door specialist
- Sizing the battery and panel to the gate
- Installing the motor and setting its limits
- Safety beams and cabling
- Anything on 240V, by a licensed electrician
What we would do
Check the gate site for winter sun before you buy anything. A panel that sits in full sun in summer can be in the shadow of a shelterbelt by June, so stand there around midday in winter, or tell the door specialist about any trees to the north.