Technician fitting a sliding gate motor at a paved driveway, mountains behind

Gate Motor Installation & Gate Automation

Sliding, swing and garage motors fitted with battery backup, anti-theft brackets and surge protection.

38 Google reviews Mon to Sat, 07:00 to 17:00. Emergency callouts 24/7

  • 38 Google reviews from customers
  • 3+ years Installing across the Western Cape
  • One teamDSTV, CCTV, gates, aircon and electrical
  • From R450 Call or WhatsApp for your price

About our Gate motor installation service

  • Sliding, swing and garage motors
  • Battery backup for load shedding
  • Anti-theft bracket included
  • Remotes and intercoms fitted

We supply and fit gate motors for houses, townhouse complexes, farms and businesses in Cape Town, the Winelands, the Overberg and the West Coast. A standard sliding gate kit comes with the motor, battery, two remotes, rack and an anti-theft bracket, installed and tested.

The right motor depends on the weight of your gate, how often it opens and whether the driveway slopes. A motor that is too light for the gate burns out its board early. We check the gate first, then recommend a motor, and we tell you if the gate itself needs work before a motor goes on.

Gate motors run on a battery, which makes them far better suited to load shedding than most electrical equipment. We set up the charger, battery and surge protection so the gate keeps working when the power goes off and survives the storm that follows.

Gate motors and extras we fit

remote intercom safety beams
  • Sliding gate motors

    Centurion D5-Evo and D10, plus ET and Gemini motors. The most common choice for driveways and complexes.

  • Swing gate motors

    Centurion Vantage and Nice motors for single and double swing gates, with an electric lock on longer leaves.

  • Garage door motors

    Motors for sectional, tip-up and roller doors, fitted with remotes and a backup battery.

  • Intercoms

    Audio, video and GSM intercoms so you can answer the gate from inside the house or from your phone.

  • Remotes and receivers

    Extra remotes, keypads and receivers for family, staff and visitors. Each remote is programmed to the motor on site.

  • Battery backup

    A sealed battery and charger keep the gate working during load shedding. See the section below.

  • Anti-theft brackets

    A bracket that locks the motor to its base so it cannot be unbolted and carried off. Included on our sliding kits.

  • Lightning and surge protection

    Protection for the control board against power surges and nearby lightning strikes. Gate boards are a common casualty in storms.

  • Safety beams

    Infrared beams that stop and reopen the gate if a child, pet or car is in the way. Strongly recommended on any automated gate.

Which gate motor?

Gate weight is the first thing we check. These figures come from the manufacturer's published ratings.

sliding swing
MotorGate typeGate weightSuits
Centurion D5-EvoSlidingUp to 500kgMost house and complex gates with normal daily use
Centurion D10SlidingUp to 1,000kgHeavy gates and busy entrances such as business parks and large complexes
Centurion VantageSwingSet by leaf length: about 150 to 230kg on a leaf under 4m, depending on the modelSingle and double swing gates, with an electric lock on longer leaves
Garage door motorSectional, tip-up or roller doorSet by door size and typeSingle and double garage doors

We also fit ET and Gemini sliding motors and Nice swing motors. Ratings differ by model, so we check the maker's data against your gate before we quote.

Before the motor goes on: the gate itself

guide rollers wheels on the rail

A gate that is hard to push by hand will wear out any motor. Before we quote, we check that the gate runs freely on its wheels or hinges, that the rail or track is level and that the posts are solid. A sliding gate needs a firm base for the motor and enough room beside the gate for the rack.

If wheels are worn or the gate has dropped, we fix that first or tell you what it needs. On a sloping driveway we choose a motor with enough pushing force to hold the gate against the slope, and we may recommend a heavier-duty motor than the weight alone suggests.

Battery backup and load shedding

charging grid off gate opens

Every motor we fit runs on a battery that the charger tops up whenever the power is on. When the grid goes off, the gate keeps working from the battery. A fully charged battery typically handles many open and close cycles, though the number depends on the gate weight and the battery size.

Batteries do not last forever. Expect to replace one every two to three years, sooner on a heavy gate or in repeated long outages. Our gate motor repairs page covers battery replacement and what a dying battery looks like. For a gate that is used constantly, we can fit a larger battery.

If the power is out for a long stretch, you can always open the gate by hand using the release key. Keep the key where the whole household can reach it.

Anti-theft brackets, lightning and surges

surge arrester protected

Gate motors and batteries get stolen, especially on gates facing the road. An anti-theft bracket locks the motor to its base plate, and a lockable battery cover protects the battery. They add little to the price and they are the reason many thefts fail.

Power surges and lightning damage control boards more often than anything else on a gate. We earth the motor properly and fit surge protection at the board. For homes in storm-prone or high-lightning areas, we also recommend surge protection at the DB board, which our electrical team can fit on the same visit. A gate motor should also have its own circuit, not share one with the geyser or stove.

What customers say

Read all 38 Google reviews

  • Nice and professional very helpful and client friendly communication skills. Would call them certainly again when needed. Thank you.
    Irene WijmerGoogle review, a year ago
  • They arrived as arranged. friendly very helpful texhnician. Professional service with a smile. Very happy
    Susan RoosGoogle review, a year ago
  • highly skilled and affordable,would recommend the anytme
    Warren MuzondoGoogle review, 2 months ago

How a gate motor install works

  1. Tell us about the gate

    Send a photo of the gate on WhatsApp with its type, approximate size and whether it is steel, wood or aluminium.

  2. Check and quote

    We check the gate, the posts and the power point, recommend a motor and give you a written quote.

  3. Fit the motor

    We mount the motor on a firm base, fit the rack or arms, run the cables and install the battery, charger and anti-theft bracket.

  4. Set the limits and safety

    We set the travel limits and force, fit safety beams if included and program the remotes.

  5. Hand over

    We show you the manual release, how to add remotes and who to call if anything beeps.

What it costs

No surprises: you get the price before we book, and before any work starts.

Jobs start from R450

The price depends on the gate length and weight, the motor you choose, and extras such as intercoms, safety beams and extra remotes. Call or WhatsApp 081 232 2249 for a price. A photo of the gate helps.

Send a photo of the dish, the fault or the wall on WhatsApp and we’ll come back with a price, usually within working hours.

Gate motor installation questions

Straight answers to what people ask us most. Anything else, WhatsApp a photo and ask.

Which gate motor is best?

The one rated for your gate's weight with room to spare. For most house and complex sliding gates, the Centurion D5-Evo (up to 500kg) is enough. Heavy gates and busy entrances suit the D10 (up to 1,000kg). Swing gates depend on leaf length. We check your gate and recommend a motor on site, not by brand alone.

How long does gate motor installation take?

A standard sliding gate motor usually takes half a day to a full day. Swing gates, double gates and installs that need new wiring, a new base or gate repairs can take longer. We tell you the expected time when we quote. We test the gate, remotes and safety beams before we leave.

Does a gate motor work during load shedding?

Yes. Our motors run on a battery that charges whenever the power is on, so the gate keeps opening and closing through load shedding. A charged battery usually handles many cycles. If the outage is long, you can open the gate by hand with the release key. We can fit a larger battery for gates that are used a lot.

Can you fit a motor to my existing gate?

Usually yes, if the gate is in good condition. It needs to move freely by hand, run on a level track and have solid posts. We can also fit a motor you have already bought. Call or WhatsApp 081 232 2249 for a price. If the gate is worn or out of alignment, we tell you what to fix first.

Do you fit safety beams?

Yes. Safety beams stop and reopen the gate if something is in its path, and we recommend them on every automated gate, especially where children or pets live. Call or WhatsApp 081 232 2249 for a price. Most motors also have a built-in obstruction sensor, but beams detect objects before the gate touches them.

Can I add an intercom or remotes later?

Yes. We add audio, video and GSM intercoms, extra remotes and keypads to existing gate motors. Remote programming is covered on our gate motor repairs page, and we can pair an intercom with CCTV so you can see who is at the gate from your phone.

Need Gate motor installation? Call or WhatsApp.

Call or WhatsApp with your area and the problem, or send a photo of the dish. You get a clear price before we start, and a technician who arrives with the parts.

Mon to Sat, 07:00 to 17:00. Emergency callouts 24/7