What are the most useful spare parts to have on hand?

Automating your gates with an electric gate kit can make life easier in a whole lot of ways, and when the occasional problem does pop up, most of the time it can be fixed surprisingly quickly. A set of gates that refuse to open for apparently no reason, for example, might be because the photocells are being blocked by leaves or other debris. It’s the type of scenario that perfectly demonstrates that as long you know what you’re looking for, most issues can be solved without the need for any engineer callouts.

And of course, having spare parts and gate essentials on hand makes it even easier to solve these sorts of situations yourself. Now, if you don’t have a lot of technical experience (like most of our customers here at Gate Auto), it might not necessarily be easy to tell what type of spare parts can make life easier. So if you’re looking for a couple of suggestions, here’s what we’d recommend!

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Gate remotes

One of the most frequently used components in any automated gate system is of course the remote control. Your gate remote enables you to open and close gates from the comfort of your car, providing ease of access and enhancing security. However, as you may know from bitter experience, remotes can be easily damaged or misplaced, especially in busy family homes or fast-paced commercial environments.

For that reason alone, it’s always handy to have a couple of spare gate remotes on hand. They are relatively inexpensive, and it can save you a lot of waiting and hassle in the meantime, especially if you’ve got no other immediate way to open your gates. In fact, speaking of which…

Manual release keys

If your gates are stuck in an open or closed position, remotes aren’t the only way to get them moving again. That’s where manual release keys come in. In a nutshell, they give you the ability to disengage the automatic mechanism, so that the gate can be manually moved. That’s especially handy in the event of a power failure or system malfunction, or something else that’s equally hard to predict.

Keeping a few manual release keys on hand is particularly important for larger properties, or commercial settings where access may be required at all hours. What’s more, they’ll need to be easily accessible by other people who might need access to the property (such as family members, or employees if the gates are installed on company property) It can all go a long way to helping prevent frustrating delays, and ensure that access is maintained even in unforeseen circumstances.

Batteries for wireless components

Many automated gate systems incorporate wireless components such as photo cells and safety beams to ensure smooth operation and enhance security. (If you need a quick refresher, we’ve talked about photo cells in depth here on the blog before.)

These devices aren’t powered by the mains, but instead rely on batteries. And just like any other battery-powered device, it’s always crucial to have spare ones on hand if you want peace of mind in its continued function. It’s worth noting that all battery-powered devices and accessories we supply here at Gate Auto are designed to optimise their power usage, so you can expect your batteries to have a reasonably long life – depending on how often they’re used, of course, and how many daily cycles they go through.

Hydraulic oil for hydraulic arms / rams

If your automated gate uses hydraulic arms or rams, you may find it helpful to keep a spare supply of hydraulic oil on hand. We won’t go too deeply into the technical explanations, but basically, hydraulic oil is what allows the gate’s moving parts to operate smoothly. Very occasionally, you may find it useful (for whatever reason) to top up the supply of hydraulic oil in your gates to ensure that it continues working smoothly and efficiently.

And of course, by the same token, it’s important to make sure you’re using the correct type of oil for your specific gate model, so don’t hesitate to check your gate’s manual or ask your gate installer for advice.

If you think you could benefit from any of the spare parts we’ve listed above, you can find a lot of them for the very best prices right here on our website.  With over 30 years in supplying and fitting high-quality gate automation here at Gate Auto, we provide a wide range of electric gate kits and garage door openers, alongside an array of accessories to ensure you get the most out of your gates. Feel free to browse them right here on our site, or if you’ve ever got any questions about our gate kits or spare parts, you can give us a call on 01282 677300 – we’re always happy to help!