Solar gate automation features:
1) The mono-crystalline solar panel charges the battery and the gate kit is battery powered. Mono-crystalline panels are nicknamed moonlight panels and will give charge to the battery even when there is full cloud cover.
2) A fibreglass box is used as it does not condensate in winter keeping all the electrics in a good safe condition. A vent must be fitted to avoid the build up of dangerous gases from the battery
3) Because we live in the UK, and the sun is unpredictable (even with all these top components) we developed a solar charging relay. It works by switching off the safety beams and putting the solar board to standby or sleep mode when not in use. Within a second, and with one press of the remote the control board wakes up, the beams come online and the gate will open. After a predetermined time 3 - 5 minutes the board goes back to sleep, thus saving lots of power. (This part is now integral to the automation pack control panel)
4) Solar charge controller stops the battery from being overcharged. We only supply pulse width charge controllers MPPT, the Rolls Royce of charge controllers.
5) We use a 75Ah for 12V or 2 x 22AH for 24V. that will give a long trouble free service. The battery has an indicator built in to show its charge condition at all times. The size of battery and Ah have been carefully chosen to give maximum storage capacity paired with optimum charging
Our solar control board has been chosen for its low power consumption and reliability. Other features of the gate kits include true 12V motors not 24V , and safety beams that will run down to 8 volts to ensure the gate keeps running. The control board is included in the Solar Gate Automation Kit, not this kit.
Our solar customers include the ECO Centre Cambridge, Schools, Farm Estates including in the North of Scotland, Haulage Yards etc.
Please add the full solar power plant to any of our solar gate kits to give a proven solution that works!
Battery powered gate kit also listed below (less solar panel).
All solar panels should be facing due south to track the winter sun with the least amount of shade for optimum performance. No guarantee is made that intervening charging won’t be necessary for any particular purpose when applied.