Power, Outages & Backup

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Start with the broad guide that matches your question, then move into the focused page for the specific gate, symptom, control or product decision. Related guides cross-link where one decision changes another.

Plan For Normal Power And Abnormal Conditions

Power planning is not finished when the operator runs on a normal day. Decide what happens when utility power fails, a battery ages, a surge damages electronics or a remote site cannot economically receive utility service. Battery backup, solar power and manual release solve different parts of that problem.

A backup battery can preserve powered operation for a limited period, while a manual release gives an authorized person a mechanical way to move the gate according to the operator design. Solar can be useful at remote entrances, but it requires an energy budget that includes operator cycles and accessory loads.

Keep Access Controls In The Power Plan

The operator is not the only device that may need power. Receivers, keypads, telephone entry, locks and other controls can affect outage behavior. A useful design documents which components remain available, which fail to a defined state and how authorized or emergency access works when the normal supply is unavailable.