A solar gate opener is a smart way to automate your gates. A lot of people today use automatic gates for convenience and easiness. But those systems mostly work on grid power. So, in case of a power outage, you would have to alight from your vehicle and open the gate manually.
We have a wide range of the best solar-powered gate openers on the market. It is an easy way for homeowners to set up automatic gates with solar power. If you have your gate somewhat away from your power connection, you can wisely choose a solar gate opener.
A solar gate opener actually comes in a kit of components, which include PV panels, actuators, control boxes, remote controllers, batteries, etc. Many brands offer solar-based automatic gate-opening systems and they come in different options like single-door or dual-door ones.
BEST THREE MODELS AT A GLANCE
Ghost Controls Solar Gate Opener
- Perfect Dual Swing-Gate Solar Opener
- Heavy-Duty Dual Arm Operators
- 10-Watt Mono Solar Panel.
- Separate Lockable Battery Box.
USAutomatic Solar Gate Opener
- Heavy-Duty Single-Gate Solar Gate Opener.
- Capable of Operating Gates Up to 20 ft and 250 lbs.
- Tough and Strong Actuator Ram.
- Completely DIY Solar Gate Opener Kit.
Topens Solar Gate Opener
- Heavy-Duty Single-Gate Solar Gate Opener.
- Capable of Operating Gates Up to 16-Ft and 550 Lbs.
- Tough and Strong Steel Actuator Ram in the Kit.
- 20-Watt Polycrystalline Solar Panel.
Table of Contents
Best Solar-Powered Gate Openers
Here, we would like to have our take on some of the best solar-powered gate openers.
As stated above, we have different models of solar gate openers from different brands. It is not easy to find a solar gate opener as long as it is not an easy-to-use system. You need to have a clear idea of the automatic gate-opening system to make sure you get the best model.
Our team of researchers has gone through several models to hand-pick a list of the best. So, you can quickly find one for your needs and budget from our list below.
1. Ghost Controls Solar Dual Automatic Gate Opener
Ghost Controls is a key North American innovator of gate automation solutions. The brand offers a large variety of solar and regular automated gate openers. We would like to start the list with a cool solar gate opener from the brand.
It is Ghost Controls TDS2XP heavy-duty solar dual automatic gate opener kit. You get the product in different variants for single and dual gates and with or without solar panels.
Here, we have its dual-gate variant. As you see, it is a special design for dual agricultural as well as tubular-style gates. You can quickly set it up to automate your gates powered by solar. The kit packs up all the essential components to set up a solar gate opener in your home, farm, and more.
Specs-wise, the Ghost Controls kit is designed for dual swing-type gates up to 300 lbs or 20-inch lengthier. It packs a 10W mono solar panel for charging the required 12V battery (not included). Meanwhile, being a dual gate opener, it packs two durable and heavy-duty operator arms.
With the Ghost Controls kit, you get an individual lockable battery box (ABBT) to safely manage the battery. The possible acid leak from the battery won’t thus damage the motherboard and other components. The kit contains all other essential installation hardware, fasteners, etc.
Why Should You Buy
- Perfect Dual Gate Solar Opener.
- Strong and Durable Dual Arm Operators.
- Special Lockable Battery Box.
- 10-Watt Mono Solar Panel.
2. USAutomatic Sentry 300 Gate Opener
Next, on our list of the best solar-powered gate openers, we have USAutomatic’s single-gate Sentry 300 gate opener. It also comes in a dual-gate version.
This product is one of the toughest and most commercial-grade automatic gate openers on the market today. It can easily operate a gate with a size of up to 20-feet and a weight of up to 250 lbs.
It is an ideal solution for automating the gates of your home, farm, and outhouse. Thanks to its heavy-duty and tough design, it would work neatly in rough outdoor conditions.
Why Should You Buy
- Heavy-Duty Single-Gate Solar Gate Opener.
- Capable of Operating Gates Up to 20 ft and 250 lbs.
- Tough and Strong Actuator Ram.
- 5-Watt All-Weather Solar Panel.
- Completely DIY Solar Gate Opener Kit.
3. Ghost Controls TSS1 Heavy-Duty Single Gate Opener
The next model is the single gate variant of the above Ghost Controls product. The DIY solar gate opener bundle is a perfect choice for swing-type gates up to 20 ft. Whether it is a decorative, chain link, tubular, or any other type of gate, this model will work finely.
As you see, the gate opener kit doesn’t include a battery. You need to collect a 12V battery before attaching it to the gate. Also, it requires AXPO push-to-open bracket kit and some other additional accessories. Check out the latest price of the Ghost Controls gate kit below.
All the Ghost Controls gate openers are quiet, fast, and invincible. As per the brand, these features testify to the quality of the applied mechanical and electronic components in their making. Also, its solar gate openers work steadily faster, thanks to the new radiofrequency technology used.
The gate opener kit contains many essential accessories like a 10W solar panel. It also features an opener arm, control box, remote transmitter, mounting brackets, fasteners, and more.
Why Should You Buy
- Ideal Single Gate Solar Opener for all Gates.
- Strong and Durable Arm Operator.
- Special Lockable Battery Box and Safety Measures.
- 10W Mono Solar Panel to Power Up the Opener.
- All the Essential Installation Hardware Included.
4. Topens AD5S Solar Automatic Gate Opener
It is a popular single-door solar automatic gate opener from Topens.
This equips a 24V DC motor to ideally automate your gate by consuming less power. Topens has designed the gate opener to support a single gate up to 16 ft in size and 550 lb in weight. With the advanced technologies, it would offer you a long operating life.
This product offers you two styles of installation; push-to-open and pull-to-open options. letting you open the gate outwards and inwards automatically. The included solar panel is a 20W unit, which is enough to charge the 24V battery (not included) to support the gate function.
The Topens solar gate opener is fine for a variety of single-door gates made of metal, wood, or any other materials. It is a nice choice for use in your home, worksites, farm, and more.
To ensure protection and safety, Topens has designed the gate opener with lots of safety measures. They include soft start, soft stop, reliable electromagnetism limit switch, adjustable stall force, and auto-close time. If the gate gets stuck or goes through any trouble, it can recover automatically.
Why Should You Buy
- Heavy-Duty Single-Gate Solar Gate Opener.
- Capable of Operating Gates Up to 16-Ft and 550 Lbs.
- Tough and Strong Steel Actuator Ram.
- 20-Watt Polycrystalline Solar Panel.
- Completely DIY Solar Gate Opener Kit.
- Available in Multiple Bundles.
5. Mighty Mule MM272 Automatic Gate Opener
The Mighty Mule solar gate opener kit is made to operate light-duty dual swing gates, which weigh 300 lbs and have a size of 12 feet. The kit doesn’t pack a solar panel. You need to buy a separate Might Mule 5W solar panel separately to make it run on solar power.
You can set it up yourself to let you manage your gates automatically. The bundle certainly features all the required documents like an installation DVD. So, it will be a nice choice for a DIY enthusiast, who is looking to automate the gate with solar power.
Coming to specs, the Mighty Mule gate opener kit packs a control box, an AC transformer, a single-button remote controller, and installation hardware. In addition, you need to buy two more vital components; a 12V marine or automotive-type battery and a solar panel.
Why Should You Buy
- Solar-Enabled Gate Opener for Light-Duty Dual Gates.
- Mighty Mule’s Exclusive Dual Sense Technology.
- Capable of Operating Gates Up to 12-Ft and 300 Lbs.
- Solid, Strong, and Durable Steel Actuator Ram.
- Completely DIY Solar-Enabled Gate Opener Kit.
6. Co-Z Sliding Gate Opener
The next on our list of the best solar-powered gate openers is a sliding gate opener. This kit also doesn’t come with a solar panel, which you need to buy separately to make it a solar gate opener. With a lot of advanced features, it is a perfect choice to automate your large sliding gates.
Specs-wise, the stainless-steel gate opener is capable of automating a 40-foot gate with a weight of 1400 lbs. As a sliding gate, it can handle a huge weight. The included motor is a quiet and powerful 200W unit, which can move the gate smoothly without making much noise.
The Co-Z sliding solar gate opener touts several sophisticated features, including an auto-close capability. Well, that would make the gate to be automatically closed a little after it was opened. The durations you can set for the function are 12, 24, and 36 seconds.
The kit packs a complimentary remote controller that works within a range of 100 feet. It touts four buttons to let you easily manage the gate. Made with a strong aluminum base and copper worm gear, the system can last longer and ensure you a longer life.
Why Should You Buy
- Heavy-Duty Solar Sliding Gate Opener.
- Capable of Operating Gate Up To 40 ft Longer and 1400 Lbs.
- Heavily Strong and Durable Gate Opener.
- Perfect for Large Sliding Gates.
- Rich With Several Advanced Features.
7. Eco-Worthy Solar Automatic Gate Opener Kit
The next is a very popular solar gate opener kit from the brand, Eco-Worthy, a leading vendor of renewable energy products. It is a relatively complete solar gate opener kit as long as it packs up a pair of batteries as well.
The heavy-duty dual-swing gate opener can handle a heavy gate of 661 lbs and a length of 20 feet. It comes with a pair of heavy-duty arms made of stainless steel. So, you can employ it to automate large folding and swing gates. The kit is also available in single-gate and many other variants.
Coming to specs, the Eco-Worthy solar gate opener kit has a lot of other essential components. The included solar panel is a 20W unit. You also get another variant of the product with an 11W solar panel. The 20W solar gate kit is also available in a single-door variant.
This kit contains two pieces of 7Ah batteries, an intelligent digital control box, a remote controller, and an infrared beam sensor. You can easily set it up anywhere by referring to the installation manual included.
Why Should You Buy
- Heavy-Duty Dual-Swing Gate Solar Gate Opener.
- Capable of Operating Gates Up to 12-Ft and 661 Lbs.
- 20W Solar Panel and a Pair of 7Ah Batteries.
- Solid, Strong, and Durable Stainless-Steel Actuator Rams.
- Completely DIY Solar-Enabled Gate Opener Kit.
8. Aleko AR900 Sliding Gate Opener
Here is another outstanding product on our list of the best solar-powered gate openers.
This is from a top brand called Aleko, known for its range of gateway products and accessories. The gate opener system has a powerful 120V AC/24V DC motor to ensure excellent initial torque and incessant operation.
The Aleko gate opener system is capable of operating gates up to 900 lbs or 30 feet in length. The system has several advanced features like an RF hopping code that helps protect your remote code from others. Check out the link below for its latest price and buy a unit.
It touts an auto-close function among many other modern features. That auto-close is available in 0, 30, 60, and 90-second modes. The bundle contains two units of solar panels. They are 60W panels each and are enough to recharge the system’s backup under the sun.
The kit has a pair of 22Ah batteries. Also, you get it with a battery box, remotes, charge controller, 3.3-feet metal-reinforced nylon gate gear rack, wires photocells, mounting brackets, and more.
Why Should You Buy
- Sliding Rack-Driven Solar Gate Opener Bundle.
- Powerful 24V DC / 110V AC Motor Inside.
- Capable of Operating Gates Up to 30-Ft and 900 Lbs.
- Two Units of 60W Monocrystalline Solar Panels.
- Adjustable Auto-Close and Soft Start and Stop Functions.
9. OrangeA Sliding Gate Opener AC1400
The next is the top-end variant of a line-up of sliding gate openers from the brand, OrangeA. It is a powerful solar gate opener that comes with many advanced features. It is capable of operating big and heavy gates weighing up to 3100 lbs.
The gate opener system is made with an aluminum base and its cogwheel is copper made to offer you efficient and durable operation for a longer period. It features programmable remote codes that will help you block others from accessing the code.
The gate opener highlights RF hopping code technology and it supports up to 25 remote controls. So, every member of your family and friend circle can keep a remote control. It also features an automatic stop function, adjustable soft-start, slow stop, auto-close, and more.
The package doesn’t come with a solar panel and so you need to buy a suitable one separately. You can use it with IF sensors, optional keypads, and more. It is quite easy to install the opener system.
Why Should You Buy
- Advanced Automatic Sliding Gate Opener.
- Powerful Enough to Support 3100 Lbs Gates.
- Aluminum Base and Copper Worm-Gear.
- RF Hopping Code Technology.
- Available in a Range of Power Variants.
10. Mighty Mule Light Duty Single Swing Gate Opener
Finally, we have the single-swing gate opener of Mighty Mule as the last pick on our list of the best solar-powered gate openers. This model, as you see, is meant for light-duty swing gates up to a size of 12 feet in length and a weight of 300 lbs.
The gate opener is nice for different types of single gates like chain links, wood, panel, and more. It is an ideal pick for a DIY homeowner as you can yourself fix it, thanks to the included installation DVD and a detailed manual.
The gate opener kit doesn’t pack up all the components, by the way. You need to separately buy the required 12V automotive or marine-type battery and a solar panel of 5W or 10W to set up a complete automatic gate opener. Overall, it is a cool automatic solar gate opener for all types of single-swing gates.
Why Should You Buy
- Solar Gate Opener for Light-Duty Single Swing Gates.
- Capable of Operating Gates Up to 12-Ft and 300 Lbs.
- Solid and Durable Steel Actuator Ram.
- Simply DIY-Friendly Solar Gate Opener.
- Mighty Mule’s Exclusive Dual Sense Technology.
FAQs
1. What Is the Best Solar Powered Gate Opener?
There are a lot of brands on the market that offer the best solar gate openers.
Ghost Controls, USAutomatic, Topens, Mighty Mule, Eco-Worthy, and Aleko are a few to name. All these brands offer their products in various types and capacities to meet the diverse needs of customers.
2. How Well Do Solar Gate Openers Work?
Solar-based gate openers work quite cost-effectively. With the decrease in the prices of solar panels, it is indeed a cool idea to rely on a gate opener that works on solar power.
You can thus run your automatic gate opener without additional power. Solar energy will keep it running and you can save some bucks on your power bills.
There is actually no technical difference between a gate opener that works on solar or grid power. Both have the same function, but you need to make sure the right amount of solar output as you will have to run the gate opener multiple times a day.
3. How Much Does A Solar Gate Cost?
The cost normally falls between $1500 and $3000 for the whole kit of a solar gate opener. You will need to spend extra on setting it up. Fine, the price really depends on the model you choose and the components in the kit. Most brands offer a lifespan of a minimum of 10 years before requiring a replacement.
4. Are Mighty Mule Gate Openers Any Good?
Mighty Mule is one of the brands on our list of the best solar-powered gate openers. The brand is famous for its range of smart and automatic gate openers and related accessories. Of course, the brand’s products have a great number of takers across the world. We have included two models of the brand on our list above.
How Solar Gate Openers Work
There is actually no difference between how a solar automatic gate opener or a regular one works. The only difference is the power source. That is why solar panels and batteries are essential parts of a solar gate opener.
Well, apart from solar panels and batteries, you have everything the same. Clearly, the gate opener kits feature a control box, actuator rams, remote controllers, and more. We talk about each item in detail below.
1. The Control Box
The control box is simply where you have the control unit of an automatic gate opener. Typically, it sports the required battery packs, important wirings, and the motherboard, which controls all the input devices.
The control box should obviously be fully secure. Usually, it is made of solid and toughened plastic. You can install it at some distance from the gate as it would mostly be weather-proof and durable.
However, for extra safety, you can contain it inside a steel box. It is ideal to protect the control unit without letting dust and rainwater inside. Make sure you buy a solar gate opener kit with a quality control box.
2. The Actuator Rams
The actuator rams, as their names suggest, are the metal parts that push and pull the gates using the power from the battery. Evidently, they are heavy-duty, corrosion-resistant stainless-steel metal bars with actuators.
Obviously, a two-door gate opener kit comes with a pair of rams, while a single-door model features one ram. Not to let grit and water inside, these actuator rams feature perfect rubber sealing.
3. Battery Packs
A traditional electricity-based gate opener doesn’t need a battery. But a solar one wants the battery because it needs to store power for the full-time operation of the automatic gate opener. Usually, the battery included is a 12V one and different solar gate opener kits feature battery packs in different capacities.
Some models come with powerful batteries that can store enough power for the function of the gate opener for around seven days without sunlight. That is how you can open your gates automatically in remote areas, farms, worksites, and more. For that, you have our list of the best solar gate openers below.
4. Solar Panels
Finally, we have the most important component, the solar panels. You don’t actually need high-powered solar panels with a solar gate opener. Small and low-power solar panels are quite enough to juice up the batteries.
Surely, all the best solar gate openers below highlight good quality solar panels. You can mount the panels somewhere with good exposure to the sunlight. And keep charging the battery packs all the time around.
Final Thoughts
That has been our list of the best solar-powered gate openers. A gate opener is absolutely a great way to make your life rather easier and trouble-free. Getting it powered with a solar panel makes it cost-free as well as remote location-friendly, too. Hope you have enjoyed our list of the best solar gate openers. Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Vahid Vee is a full-time blogger who is highly passionate about off-grid and sustainable power systems and is an expert at researching and exploring new topics, checking facts, and presenting things in simple language. As an avid observer of the global off-grid power and battery market, he is really excited to share with you the latest trends, fresh products, and other developments in the markets. #Contact Email @ veevahid@gmail.com – LinkedIn – Full blog profile.
