Load shedding has become a permanent feature of South African life — and for homeowners with automated gates, it raises an urgent practical question: what happens to my gate when the power goes off?
The short answer: with the right battery backup, your gate continues to work exactly as normal through any load shedding slot. Here's everything you need to know.
Most modern gate motors run on 12V or 24V DC internally, even though they're powered from 220V mains. This means a simple 12V battery can power your gate motor directly when mains power fails.
There are two approaches:
The standard battery used in gate motor backup systems is a 12V sealed lead-acid (SLA) battery, typically 7Ah capacity. These are:
Larger capacity batteries (12Ah, 18Ah) give proportionally more backup cycles but take up more space in the motor housing.
A standard 7Ah battery gives approximately 50–80 open/close cycles per full charge. For a typical family home using the gate 4–6 times per day, that's 8–13 days of operation with no mains power whatsoever.
In practice, mains power is always restored between load shedding slots, allowing the battery to recharge. You'll essentially never run out of gate power — even on Stage 6.
Centurion is by far the most common gate motor brand in Pretoria, and all current models include integrated battery backup:
If your Centurion motor is older and doesn't have a battery port, we can assess whether an upgrade or external kit is the better value.
Every gate motor — regardless of age or make — must have a manual release mechanism for emergency use. This allows you to disengage the motor and push the gate manually in case of a total power failure with a flat battery.
Know where your manual release is before you need it. It's typically a pull cord or release key supplied with the motor. If you've lost yours or don't know how to use it, contact us and we'll show you.
Battery backup is one of the most cost-effective upgrades you can make to your home security. A R300 battery means your gate never fails during load shedding.
Need a battery replaced or a backup system installed? Get a quote from Elektro Door or call 072 079 7084. We service all gate motor brands across Pretoria.
Related reading: Full backup power options for your home | Gate motor brand comparison
We carry stock and can usually replace same-day in Pretoria.
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