Solar powered barriers How they work and when to choose one

Three parts do the work. A photovoltaic panel turns daylight into electricity. A battery stores it. A motor and controller spend it, raising and lowering the arm whenever a signal arrives from a remote, keypad, intercom or sensor.

The balance between those three is everything. A barrier that burns a lot of energy per opening needs a big panel and a big battery, which makes it heavy and hard to move. The Dofygate 4 tackles the problem from the other end: its carbon-fibre arm is light and folds as it opens, so each cycle takes very little energy and a compact panel can keep up.

UK winter days are short and often grey, so it is the right question to ask. Panels still generate in overcast daylight, only less, and what matters is the balance of energy collected against energy used.

On most sites the Dofygate 4 runs on solar alone all year. A very busy entrance in December and January may need the battery topping up around once a month, and a Battery Booster base adds reserve for heavy use and long nights. If an entrance is exceptionally busy, we can also supply a mains-powered version of the same barrier.

A mains-wired barrier is still a sound choice for a permanent, very high-traffic entrance where a supply is already to hand. Where it is not, or where the entrance will move during the job, solar usually wins on cost and speed. For a wider comparison, including battery-only and manual barriers, see our guide to automatic traffic barriers.

• Construction and infrastructure sites, where gates move as the work progresses
• Temporary road closures, bus gates and works access
• Recycling centres, yards and depots with no supply near the entrance
• Farms and rural entrances, including biosecurity points
• Showgrounds, festivals and other events
• Any site where digging a cable trench would be slow, costly or disruptive

Over 1,200 Dofygate barriers are in service across the UK, at sites from Sizewell C to household recycling centres. See who uses them and read the case studies.

Keep the panel clean and free of shade, so it collects as much light as it can. If the barrier starts to move slowly or stops short of closing, the battery is usually low; recharge or exchange it before looking for anything else, especially after a long run of dull weather.

A yearly inspection catches wear early and gives you a record for your health and safety file. Find out what is included in our annual barrier servicing.