Article · 2025-09-02
Power cuts and electric gates: what happens, and what should
In a power cut, a well-specified gate either keeps working on battery backup (24V systems, typically 10–30 cycles of reserve) or opens via a keyed manual release. What should never happen is being trapped either side of your own entrance — if you don't know which protection your gates have, or where the release key is, resolve that this week, not during the outage.
The three protection levels
| Level | What it gives you | The catch |
|---|---|---|
| Battery backup (24V systems) | Gates operate normally for 10–30 cycles | Standard on quality installs; batteries need testing — they fail silently at 2–4 yrs |
| Manual release | Keyed disengage at each motor; move leaves by hand | Universal fallback — but only if you can find the key and the release turns freely |
| UPS on the supply | Mains-class backup for hydraulic/230V systems | The answer where hydraulics rule out native battery; see motor classes |
Fail-safe or fail-secure: a decision you should make deliberately
Some systems can be configured for outage behaviour: hold last position, or release to manual. Households where being locked in is the worse outcome (elderly residents, medical access, single-exit properties) should bias fail-safe and generous battery; security-led properties often prefer fail-secure with disciplined release-key control (a shrouded, keyed release on the inside face — the reasoning is in the security guide). The point is that this is a choice, and it should be made at specification, recorded at handover, and known by everyone in the house.
The five-minute preparedness drill
- Locate every manual release key today; hang a spare inside the house, not in the car that's parked beyond the gates.
- Operate each release once so you know the feel — and so we grease it at service if it's stiff.
- Battery-backed system? Kill the mains and count test cycles; sluggishness means replacement time.
- Brief the household and any staff: where keys live, how the release works, gate behaviour on restoration (most systems require a first full reference cycle).
- Longer outages: release the gates and secure them open or closed manually rather than draining the battery to zero — deep discharge shortens its remaining life.
Free site survey & fixed quotation
Get a precise price for your gates
Tell us the opening width, whether power is nearby and the style you have in mind. We measure on site, confirm a fixed price in writing, and never sell door-to-door.
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Frequently asked questions
How many times will battery backup open my gates?
Typically 10–30 full cycles on a healthy battery, fewer in cold weather and on heavy leaves. Treat it as bridge capacity, not indefinite operation.
Can burglars exploit a power cut to open my gates?
Not readily on a well-specified system: releases are keyed and shrouded, and losing power doesn't unlock a motor's drive. The realistic power-cut risk is inconvenience, not intrusion — see the security guide for the details that matter.