Summer in Oklahoma does not ease in. It arrives, and it stays. For automated gate systems, that means heat, dust and fast-growing vegetation are all working against you at the same time.
The most common complaint we see this time of year is a gate that moves slowly or stops working altogether. Often, the cause is not a failed operator. It is a power problem.
Most automated gate systems run on batteries. Those batteries are continuously recharged by either an electrical source or a solar panel. When that charging cycle is interrupted, the batteries drain. When the batteries drain, the gate slows down. Eventually, it stops.
Here is what you can check yourself.
If your system uses solar power, walk out and look at the panel. Oklahoma vegetation grows fast by July. A panel that had full sun in March may now be shaded by a tree branch or shrub that filled in during the spring. A dirty panel is just as much of a problem as a shaded one. Dust and debris reduce the charge it can deliver. If the panel is shaded or dirty, that is the first place to start.
If your system uses electric, check the breaker in your electrical panel and any GFCI outlets connected to the system. Either one can trip without an obvious cause and cut off the charge to your batteries without any other warning sign.
If you want to go further, you can check the battery voltage with a basic voltmeter. Most residential gate operators run on either a 12-volt or 24-volt system. Check your operator’s manual before testing to confirm which applies to yours.
Know your power source before you open anything. Electric-charged systems carry 110 or 220 volts at the charger. Solar systems are lower voltage. Remember, any system with a charged battery has moving parts that can activate without warning. Stay clear of the gate’s path while you are working near it.
One more thing worth knowing: Gate operator manufacturers recommend replacing the batteries in your system every two years. If you do not know when yours were last replaced, that is a reasonable place to start your troubleshooting.
A slow gate in July is usually trying to tell you something.
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