Explaining Pros & Cons of Solar-Powered Gate Openers to Clients

Solar-powered gate openers are rising in popularity because of innovations in solar technology which have significantly improved their reliability. The cost of solar panels has also come down considerably over the past few years.  That is why many consumers are seriously considering them. However, not everyone might think that they are an ideal solution.

When it comes to explaining solar-powered gate openers to your clients, it’s always good to emphasise the following attributes to help them consider having one installed at their property.

What’s in it for your clients?

• Savings – Clients can now enjoy lower energy bills. Since this type of opener uses energy coming from the sun, it’s virtually free. Aside from the initial product cost and installation fees, they won’t be spending more for the operation. Even in very poor light conditions, testing has shown that the gate will still operate for up to 10 operations per day

• Installation – Solar power allows you to install a gate opener or boom gate in a remote location or one that has limited access to a power source. Of course, this also means that the labour that goes into the installation of the unit is reduced, as there is no need to dig up roadways in order to run high voltage cables to the gate.

• Safety – with solar power, access to a property is never an issue as the gate will not fail during power outages. This means that your client will never have to leave their car unattended while they open the gate and will never be left feeling vulnerable, especially late at night or in areas of high crime.

What do you need to tell your clients?

Each installation of a solar-powered gate operator has to be assessed to ensure that they work correctly for the environment they are in and the type of job they are required to do. As a gate manufacturer, it’s best to know these. Read the following list to be guided:

• The size of the solar panel will depend on the number of operations per day and the amount of accessories (PE beams, intercom) that may be fitted.

• Solar panels need to be mounted in a position where they will get the most sunlight, away from over shadowing trees or buildings.

• The brackets holding the panel should be of high quality stainless steel for durability, especially since they are exposed to the elements.

Equipped with this information, you can now explain to your clients in detail what benefits they can get and what limitations they can expect from the application.

As soon as they’re ready to make use of this technology, we’ll be ready at Rotech to help you. As one of Australia’s leading providers of gate operators, boom gates and turnstiles, it is our priority to supply gate manufacturers and security companies with first-class products. Rotech can also customise products to suit a client’s needs. With our 30-years of experience in the industry, our technical support team will gladly assist you with product information and integration.