How Long Does a Gate Motor Battery Last?

In South Africa, a gate motor battery isn’t optional. With load shedding part of daily life, the battery is what keeps your gate working when the power goes out. If you’ve ever been stuck waiting for a gate to open during load shedding, you’ve probably wondered how long the battery is meant to last.

Average Gate Motor Battery Lifespan in South Africa

In real use, a gate motor battery usually gives you somewhere between a year and about three years before it needs replacing. In areas with frequent load shedding, lifespan usually drops closer to 18 to 24 months due to repeated deep discharging.

• Light load shedding: 24–36 months
• Frequent load shedding: 18–24 months
• Heavy daily cycling: Sometimes under 18 months

What Type of Battery Do Gate Motors Use?

When you look inside a gate motor, the battery setup is fairly familiar. Inside the motor casing there’s a sealed backup battery wired into the system. Depending on the setup it runs at 12V or 24V, and in many cases it’s a gel-filled unit rather than a standard flooded battery. Some systems use AGM sealed batteries instead. Either way, it’s there as backup power, not something that’s meant to be worked constantly.

This is why a battery can seem okay one week and then struggle the next. Too many outages in a row leave it weak, even though it hasn’t failed outright.

Signs Your Gate Motor Battery Is Failing

• Slower gate movement
• Gate stops during outages
• Motor works on power but not on battery
• Battery feels warm or swollen

How Long Should a Battery Last During a Power Outage?

In real use, a gate motor battery in good condition should get you through an outage without the gate feeling sluggish straight away and with a battery that’s still in good shape, the gate keeps working as expected for everyday use during an outage.

How to Make Your Battery Last Longer

• Avoid unnecessary openings during outages
• Replace batteries before total failure
• Keep the motor enclosure cool
• Use quality replacement batteries

When Should You Replace Your Battery?

Batteries that have been in use for a few years often start struggling during load shedding, which is when most people end up replacing them.

Gate Motors Built for South African Conditions

If you’re upgrading or replacing your system, view reliable options in our Gate Motors collection.