Electric gates are made for ease of use. They slide open at the touch of a button. But when the lights go out, life for a homeowner can get scary. Does the gate lock shut? Will you be stuck inside? Or worse, stuck out?
The truth is much less dramatic – as long as your gate has been installed correctly. Let’s get to the bottom of what really takes place during a loss of power and what should be in store for you.
The First Thing That Happens: The Electricity Goes Out
In the event of a power failure, your electric gate motor instantly does not receive any electrical current. That means automatic operation pauses. This is not a gate that just quickly opens or shuts behind you.
On most home setups the gate just remains in the last position:
- Open if it was open
- Closed if it was closed
This pause is intentional. Safety stop prevents free falling in case of power loss.
Manual Release Takes Over
Every automatic gate system that has been put together as a legal installation will have such a manual release. And this is where good installs count.
Manual release that you have to unlock motor and push the gate manually. That may include, depending on the implementation:
- A key-operated release
- Inside the motor housing is a lever
- A lockable access point
If you selected a quality gate installation near me, this would have been covered during handover.
Battery Back-up: Not All Gates Come Off-line
Most newer gates will not completely turn off in a power outage. They switch to battery backup.
Battery systems usually:
- Give it a few open and closes
- Maintain safety sensors
- Avoid the gate from locking users in or out
However, batteries don’t last forever. When they’re empty, the system goes back to manual mode. This is why the professional gate installers will always advise on a battery check from time to time.
What Does Not Happen (Despite the Myths)?
There’s a lot of misinformation flying around about electric gates and outages. Let’s differentiate what does not occur.
During a normal power cut:
- The gate is not of a permanent nature for vehicles
- It is not open and closing freely uncontrollably
- There’s no hurt to the engine by simply losing power
Issues tend to occur only with haphazardly installed systems or when regular maintenance is forgone.
They Still Work as Safety Systems − Without Power
Safety doesn’t out with the outage. Its mechanical protectives are still there.
This may comprise, depending on the configuration:
- Gate stops that limit movement
- Locking mechanisms that prevent roll-back
- Physical barriers that hold the gate in position
An electrified gate system fitted by professional gate installers works in harmony between automation and mechanical dependability.
How You Should Act During a Power Outage?
If your gate stops listening to you, do not push it. Which can be damaging and void your warranty.
Instead:
- Locate the manual release
- Use the provided key or tool
- Open the gate gently and evenly
If you don’t know where the release is, that’s a good indication your installer didn’t take you through an orientation of the system. Anyone who looks for gate installation near me should put an emphasis on contractors which provide a good handover and after care support.
Why It’s All About the Installation Quality?
Good gates are not destroyed by power cuts. Bad installations do.
Outages, user access and safety are all taken care of with a professionally installed system. That’s why optioning experienced gate installers isn’t just a ‘nice to have’ but rather is mission critical.
Quality installation ensures:
- Easy manual operation
- Reliable battery backup
- No stress during unexpected outages
The Bottom Line
An electric gate isn’t just a liability in the event of power failure (and it doesn’t help to have had one poorly sited and installed). Done right, you remain dominant, power or no.
If the gate misbehaving during a power cut is a frightening proposition to you, it’s not your power that is at fault. It’s the system behind it.
