Alpha Gate Automation

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Post Archives: Automatic Gates Technical Help

Need technical help with your automatic gate? Welcome to our tech help posts archive! If you don't see your problem answered - make sure to contact us and let us know, we'd love to help!

5 Problems with Automatic Gates and How to Fix Them

handwritten sign on a broken gate

Don’t Break The Gate!

Often the largest number of calls we get are for issues with non-working gates. Happily, most of them are simple fixes – here’s our top 5.

Vermin / Insects

Geckos and ants seem to be a common issue which prevents an automatic gate from opening/ closing.

They like to hide in warm places such as the photo safety sensors and/ or control boxes, so make sure you check these areas from time to time. Simply use a soft dry cloth to gently clean them away.

Automatic Gate Tracks

Sliding gates are the most common gates used for domestic and/ or commercial use. Sticks, leaves, stones and other obstructions could cause the gate to stick, and keep the motor from working smoothly.

Sliding gates tend to get these obstructions in or around the gate track, but a simple garden broom will do the trick in removing them.

Manual Mode

From time to time you may require to put your automatic gate in manual mode. There are many factors for this and to name a couple: you may have a loss of power due to a blackout or you may be due for your annual service which is why your gate will not open / close automatically.

Until your power is back on, or a technician arrives the Manual Release Mode is essential in opening / closing your gate so you are not putting any strain on the motor.

We recommend that you ensure you have a manual release key and test that your manual mode does work from time to time, preventing a few grey hairs when your automatic gate is not able to work automatically! Take a look at our Manual Release page for help on how to do this for the most common types of motors.

Power Outage

We often get call outs where an automatic gate is not opening / closing at all. As much as we enjoy visiting our customers, we also believe that the biggest hidden secret for this is that the power at the gate position has been ‘switched off’. Do yourself the favour and ensure that the power is ‘switched on’ first!

If however, the power is ‘switched on’ and the gate motor is still not opening/closing the gate, try another appliance in the power point to ensure that you do have power from the socket. If that appliance works, it’s time to put your gate motor into ‘Manual Mode’ (see above) and call a technician.

Remote Controls

The “buzzer”, “presser thing” or “the controller” are just a few of the names it’s known by, but when it’s not working properly, you might call it something else entirely!

As you may know these little devices are battery operated. Most have a little (red) light on the top left or top right which flashes and indicates that you have asked it to open / close your automatic gate. When your remote control’s light is no longer flashing, this generally is letting you know that you will need to replace your battery. Replacement batteries can be purchased from any supermarket.

If the light is still not flashing once the battery has been replaced, in most cases this is letting you know that your remote control has passed its ‘use by date’ and needs replacing. Contact your technician who will be able to supply and program a new one to your existing gate motor.

Main Image Credit: A.Dombrowski

Your automatic gate isn’t working. What should you do?

Firstly, don’t panic! We’re going to show you how you can still get in and out of your property by switching the motor to its manual release mode – while you wait for your gate repair technician to pay a visit.

Why ‘Manual Release’?

Putting your gate into manual release is important, as leaving it in automatic may cause additional damage to the motor, or burn it out altogether – and that’s when a relatively easy fix becomes a lot more expensive!

Even though different motors have different ways of manual movement and release, they are all simple to operate. We’ve included a few of the more common ones below.

NOTE: Please ensure your gate is POWERED OFF and stationary before attempting any of the following procedures:

Sliding Gate Motors

BFT Deimos Automatic Gate MotorBFT Icaro & Deimos

  1. Insert and turn the key in the lower front of motor casing
  2. Rotate coloured knob anti-clockwise to release gate.

Nice RB400 Automatic Gate MotorNice RB400, RB500, RB600 & RB1000

  1. Slide the lock cover disc
  2. Insert and turn the key clockwise
  3. Pull the release handle

Came BX Series Automatic Gate MotorCame BX Series

  1. Insert and turn the key anti-clockwise
  2. Open the trap door and pull on the release lever

Swing Gate Motors

BFT Phobos Automatic Gate MotorBFT Phobos Mechanical Arm

  1. Key release is on top of the motor at the gate post end
  2. Insert and rotate the key clockwise to release

BFT Virgo Automatic Gate OpenerBFT Virgo Articulated Arm

  1. Key release is within black pull handle at front of motor
  2. Insert and rotate the key clockwise to unlock
  3. Pull black handle

Nice Wingo Automatic Gate OpenerNice Wingo

  1. Slide the protection membrane on top of the motor at the gate post end
  2. Insert and turn the key clockwise
  3. Pull the handle upwards

Came Amico Automatic Gate OpenerCame Amico Series

  1. Slide and open the small door on top of the motor at the gate post end
  2. Insert and turn the tri-lobed key clockwise

Of course, we can’t list every gate motor, so if you don’t see yours here, or you’re just not sure, simply note down the make and model number, call us at (07) 5572 8271 and we’ll help you out over the phone when we book you in.