Gate Repair Services

Warning against lithium batteries for gate motors 

When it comes to access control motors, choosing the right battery is critical for reliable and uninterrupted operation. As lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries become increasingly popular in a variety of applications, Centurion Systems is warning the market against using these batteries in gate motors.

Lithium Battery 

LiFePO4 batteries typically have a charging temperature range of 0 to 45 degrees Celsius and an operating discharge temperature range of -20 to 60 degrees Celsius. When these temperature ranges are exceeded during charging and discharging, a built-in battery management system (BMS) isolates the internal battery to prevent damage or possible catastrophic failure.

Due to solar radiation considerations, gate motors are usually installed outdoors, resulting in internal temperatures that are typically 15-35 degrees higher than the ambient temperature, depending on solar radiation (winter and summer) and the duration of direct sunlight. A simple analogy is a vehicle parked in direct sunlight with no cooling or ventilation inside.

As a practical example, if a gate motor is exposed to direct sunlight for several hours and the ambient temperature is 25 degrees Celsius, the internal temperature can easily reach 45 degrees Celsius or higher. In this case, the LiFePO4 battery's BMS will prevent the charger from charging the battery until the temperature returns to a safe charging range. This is a significant limitation for rolling load shedding, as every opportunity to recharge the battery should be exploited.

In summer climates where the ambient temperature exceeds 30 degrees, the internal temperature of the gate motor may exceed 60 degrees Celsius, which means that the battery will be completely shut down until the internal temperature returns to a safe range.

Although sealed lead-acid batteries (SLA) can be affected by temperature, they offer a more manageable solution. Charging these batteries with voltages suitable for higher temperatures ensures a consistent approach across all our chargers, ensuring a more adaptable solution. Unlike LiFePO4 batteries, SLA batteries do not require a built-in BMS, meaning they do not shut down when temperatures fluctuate.

Centurion Systems has over 35 years of experience relying on SLA batteries for gate motor applications. This track record demonstrates the reliability and suitability of SLA cells for seamless gate automation even in harsh environmental conditions

The Benefits of Solar-Compatible Gate and Garage Door Motors

People living in secluded areas have already started to harness the power of the sun and benefit from solar power in terms of security for their property and belongings.

Many secluded areas in South Africa make it impossible to keep a gate closed and locked, either due to a lack of electricity, a far energy source or the sheer daily complications of manually opening and closing a distant entrance.

Combined with the latest GSM system, you can now open and close your remote control gate with your smart phone no matter how large your property is.

City dwellers are following suit with this alternative option. Having to deal with an unreliable utility power supplier has made home owners look for substitutes. Unfortunately with high crime rates in the country it is a non-negotiable to have an automated driveway gate motor and automated garage door motor.

A conscious living ethos toward a greener environment is also a motivator to choose solar powered home automation.

The benefits of solar-compatible gate and garage door motors

# Solar powered gates are, first and foremost, the cheaper option. Electric gates are expensive to install and to run, whereas, once installed, solar powered gates will work endlessly without any further financial input.

# Electric gates need underground wiring systems, which will mean digging up your land and locating a feasible mains to connect to – extra work, money and stress.

# Solar powered gates can be located anywhere on your property. They do not require as much external baggage as their electric counterparts, and so can be positioned as far from any civilised structures as needed.

# Solar is a fully renewable energy source.

# Not only is it free but also more reliable than Eskom at this  stage

# Off the grid solution, where utility grid is not desirable

# Reduce your electricity bill

# Intelligent monitoring if solar panel is tampered with

# No costly electric cable lay

# Continuous service through power cuts

 Equipment needed for your solar installation:

• Fully weather resistant solar panels
• Solar mounting brackets
• Solar regulators
• Deep cycle batteries and enclosures

 

Gate Motors for swing gates

The type and model of gate motors for swing gates to use to automate your driveway gate is determined by a number of factors. Swing gates have either one or two sections called leaves. This will determine. Furthermore one must consider the dimensions, weight and frequency of use when choosing the optimal gate motor.

Swing gates swing instead of slide at the entrance of your driveway. This style of gate opening is chosen if there is no parallel length of wall for the gate to slide along.

The most important factor to consider when choosing between a single or double leaf is the manoeuvre area.  Swing gates need a certain amount of space to swing into without damaging property.

The 2 types of swing gate motors

• Articulated - arm and piston. An articulated-arm gate motor is suitable to any type of driveway gate. The motor’s main component is characterised by a strong metal arm, the ends of which are secured, on one side, to the gate leaf and, on the other side, to the automation system’s motor unit. The other advantage of an articulated arm gate motor is that one does not have to make any construction changes to the walls or pillars to which the arm will be attached. 

CENTURION VANTAGE: This is an exceptionally strong linear swing gate motor for domestic and industrial gates. With battery backup for uninterrupted operation during power failures and load shedding. It can be used for single leaf gates up to 4m wide.

 

• Linear piston gate motor arm

NICE WINGO: Designed for residential swing gates, with gate leaves of up to 3m each.

Whatever your needs, we at Gate Repair Services will be able to propose the ideal gate motors for swing gates solution for you.

HANSA Industrial sliding gate motor 380 V converted to 220 V

Gate Repair Services is excited to announce an industry first!We now have a new, extra heavy-duty sliding gate motor that can run on 220 volts.

The Hansa heavy duty 3 phase motor, which is widely used on extra heavy-duty gates such as aeroplane hangar doors at airports, has up to now only been able to work on 380 volts.

The Hansa industrial sliding gate motor which can push up to 4 tons is now available with a unique 220 volt inverter panel.  So if you have an extra heavy-duty application but you do not have a 3 phase electricity supply this is the answer for you.

These motors are not standard shelf stock. 7 working days are needed to fabricate each motor and with a waiting list for these Hansa motors, we suggest getting your order in soonest.

Gate Repair Services – always offering you something new. Never problems, only solutions.

Please contact us for more information on this amazing new development.

Electrical Fence Compliance Certificate

Did you know that when selling your house an Electrical Fence Compliance Certificate for your electric fence is required?  This is to make sure the installation is safe and that the homeowner is not be held liable for any injuries caused to person who touches it.

If  there has been any change of owner of the property since 01/10/12 or there has been a change to the electric fence installation after01/10/12  an EFC  (Electric Fence Certificate) is required.

This rule applies only to a free standing property.  If the area secured by an electric fence is part of a communal system, it is then the responsibility of the Body Corporate.

What is very important to note is that an Electric Fence COC is not the same as an Electrical COC.  This means the Electrical COC does not cover electric fences.   This is governed by Regulation 12(4) of the Electrical Machinery Regulations which were promulgated in terms of the Occupational Health & Safety Act (No. 181 of 1993). This is a separate certificate since it falls under the provisions of a separate set of regulations.  A C.O.C for an electric fence installation can only be issued by a person accredited by the Department of Labour and issued by the chief inspector as an electrical fence installer.

How long is the EFCC valid for?

The certificate is valid for as long as the installation is not altered.  It can also be transferred to the next owner as long as the installation has not been changed in any way but with a maximum of two years limit.  To keep a certificate current electric fence owners should ensure that the fence is in good working order by conducting general maintenance.

If  your fence was erected prior to 1/12/12 with no alternations  then the inspector will ensure that the fences is in good working order;  cannot be easily touched by accident and complies with electric fence legislation at the time the fence was installed.

The maintenance generally consists of clearing the fence of all vegetation and debris that could cause high-voltage pulses and that could lower the effectiveness of the fence, tightening wires that are visibly slackened and fixing all broken parts of the fence.

If  your fence was erected after 01/12/12 you have to comply with the Electrical Security Installations Regulations (SANS 10222-3:2012) to receive your Electrical Fence Compliance Certificate.

 

Protect your possessions

Lightning strike strength on the Highveld is on the increase as global warming takes effect.  “South Africa has one of the highest lightning ground-flash densities in the world,” says SA Weather Service’s Tracey Gill, who has made it her life’s work to study and document this phenomenon.

So we can unfortunately expect higher losses of our electronic equipment due to the severe and intense thunderstorms, added with the high soil resistivity levels we have on the Highveld.

So how does this all happen?

Lightning is the result of build up of ions in the air.  The electrical discharge of these ions in a very short duration and high voltage is lightening.  It can occur between a cloud and the ground or within a cloud.  With the Highveld having high soil resistivity, we experience high levels of ground strikes.

Power/voltage surges are fast, temporary spikes in voltage, current or transferred electrical energy within an electrical circuit. Surges are unavoidable.  They occur when the electrical charge is boosted at some point in the electrical circuit.  They can be caused by lightning but also by electrical switchgear, electrical motors or electrical power generation machines.

This means that damage to your electrical and electronic equipment can be from other sources other than lightning. In South Africa, Eskom’s ageing infrastructure and their implementation of load-shedding is a major cause of power surges.

The following diagram illustrates the waveform of a typical mains supply and that of the same mains supply with power surges.

So this is where power surge protection and lightening protection come in as an absolute must for every home on the Highveld.

When a fault occurs an electrical earthing system makes your electrical installation and your appliances safe so that you don’t get electrocuted.  Lightning and surge protection devices have an electrical earthing terminal that must be connected to the electrical earthing system. A path for safely dissipating overvoltage transients surges is provided by earthing.

A surge protector that includes both Threshold Clamping Technology and Sine Wave Tracking Technology are first prize. Excellent protection from lightning load-shedding power surges is offered by these surge protectors. A qualified and registered electrician is required to install surge protectors and lightening protectors to safe guard your house against a lightning strike.

Centurion D5 Smart Gate Motor – The Clever Choice

“The technology surpasses anything we’ve ever done before” - Centurion design team.

Centurion’s just launched, in March 2020, new generation gate motor is here to make your life way more convenient than it’s ever been before. 

This new generation gate motor is a great advancement on the current D5 gate motor.  It is the culmination of 30 years of gate motor design, research and development.  Plus integrated with new artificial intelligence technology that is now at our fingertips thanks for the 4th Industrial Revolution “4IR”.

This driveway gate motor gives intelligent feedback and effortless cell phone set-up and operation.

Be smart with 3 reasons to upgrade to the Centurion D5 Smart!

1 - Speed - The perfect balance between security and safety with a top speed of 30 metres per minute
2 - Wireless user interface - easy setup and configuration from your smartphone
3 - Diagnostics and logging - makes your life easier with advanced diagnostic feedback, Intelligent logging and reporting.

 

The motor is so easy to install for your gate automation company with mounting hardware.  Once installed the motor looks neat and tidy with clever cable storage.

TECHNOLOGY:

• Onboard multichoice NOVA receiver with 1500 button memory
• Set up is so effortless with remote technology and wireless smart phone input
• With the system running on 24 V, it can do more functions and extend battery backup life, leaving you more empowered during load shedding and power outages
• It has a built in alarm system, activated by vibration. When this is linked to your alarm and armed response company, it ensures that tempering and unauthorised access onto your property is diverted. This reduces the risk of a home invasion
• Personalised inputs and outputs according to customer’s specifications.
• The motor can push up to a 500 kg driveway gate mass
• The motor has a gate speed of 30m/min
• Code-hopping multichannel onboard receiver
• This gate automation can operate off a solar supply

The all-essential anti-theft bracket has been improved on in design and strength.

 

Electric  Fence break ins – How they happen!

There is a sense of complacency that once your perimeter security has been installed, you are safe within your garden and home.  Unfortunately this is not the case.  Lapses in maintenance can certainly offer opportunities to robbers who are savvy.

Here are 8 of the most common ways home invasions happen through your electric fence, and what you can do about it.

• Your electric fence is off hence no current is being pushed though the energiser. Obviously the shock of the electrified wires is the deterrent to climbing over.

What to do: Have your energiser maintained often to prevent breakdowns.  Secondly install a battery back-up system, so when you experience a power failure or load shedding, your fence can still continue to be effective. 

• Thieves throw a rubber mat over electrified wires to insulate against the electric shock.

What to do: Include earth loops on your wires.  Link your electrified fence to an alarm and to your armed response company.  When the fence is tampered with, the alarm will sound.      

 

• Thieves fold parts of rubber hose over the electric fence wires.

What to do: Include earth loops on your wires . Link your electric wiring to an alarm and to your armed response company.   When the fence is tampered with, the alarm will sound.           

 

• Robbers can easily bend weak or poorly erected brackets over.

What to do: Check your brackets frequently to see if they are loose, especially after a severe storm.  Also check for rust and loose plaster, and replace if necessary. 

 

• Robbers can easily climb over low wire installations

        What to do: Make sure that your fence is at least 8 wires high.

 

• Thieves can climb under loose wires

What to do: Check your electric fence wiring often and check for wires that have come off the bobbins. Cut away any foliage that has grown onto wires and is dragging them down.

 

• Robbers can easily break through a weak wall underneath your fence.

What to do: Check your bricks and plaster for any weakness and looseness. If you have a palisade fence, check for rust on each bar.

 

• Thieves push wires apart using a stick, and then crawl through space.

What to do: Include earth loops on your wires. Link your electric fence to an alarm and to your armed response company.   When the fence is tampered with, the alarm will sound.       

    

Keeping safe on Sundays

Unfortunately a high crime rate in Johannesburg is a reality. As South Africans, we are outdoor people, taking full advantage of the beautiful sunshine we have in Johannesburg.  We also entertain a lot at our homes, on the patio enjoying a braai and swimming. 

Too often we hear stories about groups of people being robbed during a Sunday lunch. We let our guard down when we entertain. We are caught up with conversation and enjoying a glass of wine. Robbers know this and often use the element of surprise.  So often it is heard that a group enjoying a Sunday braai are held up at gunpoint with cell phones, wallets and jewellery being stolen. Even worse are guests being tied up and the house ransacked.  Secondly robbers know that their movements will go unnoticed in a noisy environment. 

Opportunistic robberies at the driveway gate are also very common.  Hi-jacking is the number one crime committed at the driveway in Johannesburg. 

Being vigilant is a must to any occasion.  Here are some tips without putting our homes, friends and family at risk when hosting a gathering. 

Always attempt to allow guests to park off street, on your property. This instantly reduces opportunistic theft Opportunistic theft often leads to on property theft once the thieves have worked out the soft way in.  If guests have to park outside on the street make sure they do not leave any valuables in their vehicles, not even clothing.

If it is a large party with many cars on the street, hire a car guard and give him your house alarm remote control to press if any suspicious behaviour is noted. 

Keep greetings at the gate very short.  Only open and close the gate for guests to walk through. Rather welcome guests in, close gate and then greet.  The same would be when guests are leaving. Say goodbye behind closed driveway gates. Be aware and listen when guests arrive, do not chat outside on the street. 

Keep your front door locked even if you are expecting more visitors. This is an easy way for robberies to gain entry without being noticed and slip out again with stolen goods. Never, ever leave your driveway gate open if expecting more visitors too. 

These tips become even more pertinent during the festive season as the high crime rate in Johannesburg increases.

Ride the Storm and be Safe

Home security does unfortunately become compromised during the heat of summer with impending thunderstorms building up.  These Gauteng thunderstorms will be developing hopefully most afternoons. They are a welcome relief to the gardens and pools but these storms do bring with them home security risks.  We would like to remind our customers to be vigilant during these times and not allow the stormy weather to create opportunities for criminals to use to their advantage.

Unfortunately, criminals do not stay away during storms in Johannesburg and actually use the extra noise to their advantage. Please be sure to remain vigilant during and after storms. 

The wind is one of the biggest culprits.  Criminals use the noise of wind to shield their tampering noises. Gate Repair Services strongly recommends putting the following deterrents in place.  Install an alarm on your gate motor or garage motor.  The sensor of the alarm will detect any tampering made to gate and sound an alarm.  Also install a gate motor anti-lift cage which will prevent thieves from removing your gate motor.  Anti-lift brackets on your gate will prevent robbers from lifting your gate off its rack.    

You can also trim and remove any lose branches and greenery away from electric fencing, making sure your electric fence is running at optimal efficiency. 

Secondly rain can also cause havoc with your electrical components such as gate motors and garage motors.  Make sure that they are covered properly with a weatherproof cover.  Check prior to the storms starting that there are no cracks in it. 

Rain also provides poor visibility to see unwanted visitors around your driveway gate., compromising your home security. 

Thirdly, lightning strikes can damage electrical components in your gate motors and batteries for your electric fences gate motors and alarms. Be sure to check that these are in good working order and fully charged prior to the stormy season.

And finally make sure doors and windows are properly closed so your home security is not compromised.

 

Safer Safety Beams with ET Nice

Infra-red safety beams for your driveway gate and garage door are indisputably necessary for your safety and security, by preventing damage to person and property such as your car.

Beams are programmed to an auto close setting, in case you forget to close your own gate or garage, opening yourself up to potential home invasion, car hijacking or theft.  This is really important to understand as statistics show that the highest percentage of home invasions in Johannesburg start at the perimeter of your property, including your driveway gate.

If your gate or garage does start to close and your car or child has not moved out the way in time, the safety beam has a sensor to re-open.  This prevents harm to your child or pet and damage to your car.

Now a new generation infra-red safety beam for your driveway gate and garage door has recently been launched by ET Nice and Gate Repair Services is already installing them for its customers!  It is a manufacturing first of its kind as it contains a weatherproof built in courtesy LED light.  The Wave Wireless Safety Beam.

                              

This makes arriving at and leaving your driveway much safer as uninvited guests will be more visible but invited guests have the added safety of seeing the pathway without tripping - with the  Open / Close courtesy light.  The Wave Wireless Transmitter infra-red Safety Beams will also let you know about the status of the Gate / Door i.e. whether it is open or not due to a power failure, low battery, gate jam or forced entry.

The wireless battery-operated (up to 3 years) transmitter makes it so easy to install so no unnecessary trenching for cabling is needed and no parallel mounting surface is required. When the battery does go flat, you will hear an audible siren informing you. You can mechanically adjust the beam to the tilt you want to make the safety beam as optimal as possible.

The beam has a 6m operating mode in its standard mode and a 12 m operating mode in its boost mode.

So now infra-red safety beams have just become safer.  Speak to our call centre for more details.

ET Drives away theft

Due to high levels of crime in Johannesburg, including house robberies and hijackings of vehicles in driveways, it has become a no-brainer to have an automated driveway gate and garage door.  Automated gates and doors have certainly become a major deterrent to house robberies as these gates and doors are harder to force open.  Secondly they reduce the risks of hijackings.  When one has to get out of the car and manually open the gate or door, this makes you extremely vulnerable to robbery and attack.

Unfortunately gate motors have become a target for theft in Johannesburg, with criminals selling them on to unsuspecting customers.  

When installing a new gate motor, Gates.co.za recommends installing the ET Drive sliding gate motor series as they are less likely to get stolen for the following reasons:

• The motor unit has an anti-theft alarm system built into it. If anyone forces the gate open, moves the gate off machine teeth or removes the machine itself, the alarm will trigger.
• The alarm can be localised to the machine or linked to your house alarm using a wireless solution.
• If anyone tampers with your IR beam with black tape, your gate will open but will not close. If the gate does not close within 20 sec an alarm will trigger.  You can also receive an SMS on your phone which can then be followed up with your armed response company.
• The motor has a polyurethane cover, not plastic which perishes faster.
• The cover is screwed onto base plate. It is not possible to push or kicked it off.
• The cover has a strong metal key lock system. The keys are not common to all the motor covers. There are 10 different lock types which mean a key fitting your motor cover from another machine is 1 in 10.

If you do have an existing gate motor which you do not want to replace, that does not have the above safety features, then anti-theft brackets are strongly recommended. 

Gate Repair Services can easily install this for you so you can stay on top of the high levels of crime in Johannesburg.

Perimeter Fence Security on steroids - to the power of 8 

Boundary walls, jumped by intruders, are the easiest points of access onto your property. For an intruder to never gain access beyond the pavement bordering your property wall, is the best way to keep yourself, family, house and belongings safe and secure.  You can also never rely on your neighbours’ perimeter fence security.    

Here are 8 great tips to pimp your perimeter walls to prevent illegal access to your property and worse of all harm to yourself and family. 

• The threat of a very unpleasant shock while trying to jump your wall and touch the electric fence wires should be enough to deter an intruder trying to gain access to your property. 
• Unfortunately we notice that an electric fence shock alone is not enough to deter determined intruders and they will continue to attempt to slither under the lowest wire. This is where metal security spikes or flat wrap add an extra layer of protection. They make walking on the wall and crawling over the wall more difficult for the intruder.
• Even more determined intruders will attempt to avoid the metal security spikes by lifting the wires up using a V shaped stick in order to jump your perimeter wall. Earth loops prevent electric fence wires from being tampered with by setting off an alarm if a wire is moved no more than 2 cm.
• An electric fence alarm, preferably linked to your armed response company, will be activated if any of the wires are tampered with, via the earth loops. 

Your driveway gate and paedestrian gate are the second most vulnerable point of entry onto your property. 

• Assuming you have installed gate automation, the obvious accessory to include is an anti theft bracket. This prevents thieves from lifting your gate motor off its rack and thereby easily gaining access to your property. It also obviously prevents theft of your gate motor leaving your driveway literally an easy street to walk down
• Anti lift brackets prevent your drive way gate from being lifted vertically in order for it to be lifted off its rail.
• A gate alarm is permanently on until a resident uses their remote to open the gate. The remote bypasses this alarm for a set time for the gate to open and close. If the time is expired and the gate is still open the alarm will go off.  If the gate is forced open the alarm goes off as well. So without the touch of the residents remote any alteration on the gate will go into alarm. If the gate is kept open for longer than its normal duration which is approximately 30 seconds the alarm goes off.  The alarm can be wired into the house alarm system thereby linking armed response.
• CCTV allows you to visually see who is lurking outside your driveway gate or on your pavement and next to your boundary wall. It allows you to call in your armed response patrol vehicle to unnerve the potential intruder away from your perimeter fence.

The Lowdown of Load Shedding

This month load shedding, ageing infrastructure, cable theft and a cyclone are making for the perfect electrical storm. We are being battered from four different angles at the moment in Johannesburg.

Load shedding is the most predictable power outage in South Africa at the moment.  Using useful apps such as “eskomsepush” from Google’s playstore and being flexible, we are able to plan our lives around the load shedding schedules which last for 41/2 hours.  Our gate and garage motor’s battery backups can cope with this duration of power outage. 

Unfortunately our load shedding periods are being extended due to derelict infrastructure of our electricity supply.  When a phase of load shedding is over, the grid experiences a massive power surge when switched back on.  The aged cables are just not able to sustain the surge. 

 “[It’s] like shaking a baby uncontrollably. The impact might not be felt immediately, but in no time it will result in severe whiplash.” That’s how Nico de Jager, MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services for the City of Johannesburg describes it. “When power is restored at peak time, an excess of 11000 volts will cause more trips.”

“This cable is older than I am,” said the City Power supervisor in charge of replacing the old cable on Tana Road in early March. It caused huge parts of Emmarentia to be without electricity for more than 24 hours.  Substations around Johannesburg are struggling to keep the lights on.

Thirdly, overhead copper cable theft is rife during load shedding as it is a safe time for the thieves.  Any 'repair' activities taking place during load shedding are illegal and should be reported to 011 490 7900/7911/7553.
  
Fourthly, the Cyclone Idai caused severe damage in Mozambique, damaging pylons and transmissions line.  This consequently affected 900 MW of power supply to Eskom, also contributing to Eskom having to implement severe load shedding schedules in Johannesburg.

During these extended periods of load shedding your gate or garage battery backup may very well not be adequate and you may have to revert to a manual setting.  It is not safe to go out in the dark and open your driveway gate manually.  Gate Repair Services therefore recommends installing an extra 40AH battery backup to keep your gate or garage motor on during loadshedding.

 Insect Invasions

An ant infestation may be the cause of your driveway gate motor or safety beams having gone on the fritz.  Take a look under the covers!

           

Ants are the biggest culprit when it comes to invading outdoor electronics.  Ants nest in soil, in wood and are also opportunistic nesters. Your outdoor home electronics such as gate motors and swimming pool motors may very well become a choice of shelter for soil ants and opportunistic nesters. 

Opportunistic nester ants will build an ant nest anywhere that provides shelter, water and access to food. Soil nesters live in shallow, underground tunnels. During heavy rainstorms these nests flood, forcing the ants to search for higher dry ground like your gate motor or safety beams covers.

There is also a theory that ants are attracted by the electromagnetic fields in switches hence their attraction to them. It also appears that termites may enjoy chewing on the plastic insulation of electrical wiring equally as wood.

Once the ants invade, they leave a scent trail that allows them to return to the nest and establish a colony where ant food, eggs and larvae are housed.  These colonies can begin to cause havoc with your electronics making them short circuit, preventing them from turning on and leading to repairs. Often the switches inside them need to be replaced.

When the ants enter the electronic parts connections are created with their bodies and the electrics, causing circuits to short out and electrocute the ants. A pheromone, a scent ants use to communicate that they are "under attack”, is then released.  This attracts more ants to the colony compounding the ant infestation problem.

Other insects that can cause disruption to your outdoor electronics include wasps. Wasps like locations that are left undisturbed like your covers and motors.  Treat the wasp nest at night when all the workers and queen are present.  They are also less aggressive at night.

Cockroaches are the next suspects. They search for warm and dark spaces, such as your gate motor cover, to lay eggs. Their excrement can corrode circuit boards and short out electronic components.

How to get rid of ants and how to get rid of cockroaches:

In order to rid your outside electrical components of a cockroach or ant infestation try blowing those pesky invaders out of all the nooks and crannies first.  To avoid damage to your circuit board rather use an insect bait such as ant traps, as opposed to an insecticide spray for ant and cockroach control.

 Dealing with a faulty, broken and lost garage or gate remote control

Have you got a faulty or broken gate or garage remote control and need to replace it?

First choice would be to replace your remote control with the exact same brand and model as you had before. The same would go for a lost gate remote control as well.

If the remote control is no longer being manufactured you can then use a similar remote control on the market that has the same features as your broken one.

Here are the 3 most common types of remotes:

• DIP switch – A DIP switchis a manual electric switch which is designed to be used on a printed circuit board along with other electronics. It can then be customised to a particular electronic device. 

• Learning remote: A learning remote can receive and store codes transmitted by another remote control via radio frequency; it can then transmit those codes to receiver that can read them.  

• Self learning remote (code hopping) - Each time your remote performs its self-learning, a new code is generated

The caveat is the safety feature of each type of remote control which must be taken into consideration. Older generation garage and gate remote controls are the DIP switch type.  They have pins that can be manually moved to set a frequency. By setting the DIP switches inside the transmitter, you control the code that the transmitter sends. The garage door would only open if the receiver's DIP switches are set to the same pattern. This provides some level of security, but not much. Eight DIP switches provide only 256 possible combinations

Many garage door opener remote controls use fixed-code encoding which use DIP switches or soldering to do the address pins coding process, For these fixed-code garage door opener remotes, one can easily clone the existing remote using a self-learning remote control duplicator (copy remote) which can make a copy of the remote using face-to-face copying.

Secondly unfortunately these frequencies are easily copied if someone gets hold of your remote control.  All they have to do is open the remote with a small screw driver and take a photo of the pin pattern and then duplicate it into a new DIP switch remote control.

New generation remote controls use something called a hopping code or a rolling code to provide security.

                                             

This is the safest type of remote control for your gate or garage door as the frequency can only be set from the receiver that is attached to your gate motor.  Your gate motors should always be locked and protected by an antitheft bracket.

 

 Safe Home Security Intercom Installation

Home security intercom adds an extra level of security to your home whilst living in these times in Johannesburg. Both hard-wired and wireless intercoms are available.  But be careful when you are improving the security of your home that you are not decreasing the safety of your home.

When installing a new gate or garage motor, a hard wired intercom or an electric fence the wiring of all automation motors, intercoms, and electric fences need to be compliant with the electricity regulation board, known as the ELECTRICAL CONFORMANCE BOARD South Africa (ECBSA).

Here is an example of a non-compliant installation of an intercom by a dodgy installer. The cable is exposed to weather such as rain and UV exposure and mechanical forces such as bending and kinking.

Correct home security intercom installation of a hard-wired intercom includes the wires in conduit (An electrical conduit is a tube used to protect and route electrical wiring in a building or structure) and no joints underground.  This prevents water from seeping onto the electrical wires. Conduit piping also prevents wires from being damaged by kinking or bending.

All this can cause an electrical short. An electrical short allows the electricity to pass through a path of least resistance Less distance between the two points means less resistance, which means your short circuit will produce more heat and result in fires. 

If you accept work like this from a contractor you are compromising the electricity compliance of your house as set out by ECBSA.  This contractor was clearly taking short cuts in doing the work and putting the homeowner at risk.  The homeowner is responsible for compliance, not the contractor. 

If a fire is to develop due to the non- compliant wiring of your home security intercom and causes damage to your house. your insurance may very well not pay out. 

So do not compromise your home safety – choose a reputable intercom installer such as Gate Repair Services. 

 

Top 10 Things to Know Before Installing an Electric Fence in Johannesburg

Any foreigner visiting Johannesburg will immediately be struck by the electric fencing surrounding every residence in virtually every area of the city. It's become so common place for the walls that enclose our properties and protect us from the outside to be equipped with electric fencing that the only homes and properties that stand out are the ones that don’t have electric fences bolted around them. Acting as both a physical and psychological barrier these nifty stands of wires and brackets that now blend into our surroundings as inconspicuously as the blue sky above are our first line of defense against burglary and intrusion

You Need your Neighbours Permission

In order to install an electric fence between the wall or fence separating your property from that of your neighbor you do need to ask for permission to install an electric fence. Since it will improve both your own security and their own this is generally not a problem and you will even find separated walls and fences with two rows of fencing. This double fencing actually increases your security since you do not need to rely on your neighbor to ensure their fence is working and properly maintained to be assured that your perimeter is secure.

How to Choose a Professional Company

With security being such a big industry it's no wonder that the market is saturated with one-man do-it-all shows who claim to have the best products, the quickest turnaround times and the lowest prices.  When it comes to electric fences it can, and very commonly, be done WRONG. When looking for a company ensure that you choose a well-established firm that has at least 2 to 3 teams of technicians out in the field. They should have a landline number that is answered professionally and a website where they include a physical address.

Know your Basic Components

Apart from the obvious such as the electric fence wires and the wall-top brackets which are mounted atop your fence or wall you should know about the other components which work together to make your electric fence system function. This includes the energizer which is one of the most expensive parts of the system and converts the electrical power from your mains into electrical impulses with high voltage. Also important is the battery back-up system which will keep your fence working in the event of a power outage, lightening diverters and sirens to alert you in the event that the fence is tampered with.

Insist on Multiple Earth Spikes

For a residential property an electric fence system will typically incorporate 3-5 earth spikes but many of the less professional companies and one-man-shows out there will take their chances in an effort to get the job done cheaply and quickly. You must insist that the company ensure there are a minimum of 3 earth spikes or as many as they recommend for your property. Earth spikes are essential to ensuring that the fence is not easily hit by lightening.

Insist on Earth Loops

You may have seen some strange looking metal loops between wires on electric fences and wondered what in the world they do.

Earth loops add an extra layer of security to your electric fence and perimeter.  Earth loops are placed between three wires on an electric fence to ensure that they cannot easily be separated or tampered with without setting an alarm off.  If the central wire which rests in the middle of the metal loop makes contact with the loop it will cause an interruption in the electrical flow and set an alarm off. It does not have to move more than 2 cm.  You should insist that the electric fencing company install anti-separation loops on your fences - especially if your fence has less than 5 wires.

This is an electric fence without earth loops that has been tampered with.  Note the branch that was used to create a space between the wall and the wires for the intruder to climb through.  

Opt for Battery Back-up

Keeping your fence up and running during load shedding or a power outage is absolutely critical since it is during this time that burglars and home invaders wander the streets looking for easy targets.  A 12-volt battery will be sufficient to keep your fence running for at least 6 hours which is certainly enough time to pass scheduled load shedding.  Some batteries can last up to 10 hours.  Most energizers come standard with battery back-up.

Know the Government Regulations

Government regulations require that an electric fence in any residential setting not carry more than 9900 volts. This is a fairly decent limit which is guaranteed to incapacitate and fend off any attack or attempted breach but is considered non-lethal. The electric fence company conducting the installation should be able to tell you what the voltage output of your fence is and if it's below this limit you need to find out why and insist on adjustments.

Electric Fences are Pet and Bird Friendly

Electric fences are deemed pet friendly because they are too far up for dogs to reach, are avoided by cats and cannot shock birds because they are not in contact with the ground (which is required for an electric shock to be delivered). To be more specific, cats can instinctively sense the electric current running through the wires and will avoid making contact with the fence and when it comes to dogs they will be unable to reach so high up as to make contact with the wires.

How to Maintenance an Electric Fence

Although most people don’t really consider their electric fence as a system that needs maintenance you will have to perform regular tasks such as trimming down trees and bushes which are touching the fence and conduct regular checks to ensure that the system is up and running the way it should be. This can and probably should be done by a professional on an annual basis who must check to make sure that everything is in working order and that the radio transmitter is able to send an intrusion detection signal if there is any interference.  If the wires are corroded, they need to be replaced.

You Should Connect to a Security Company

If you're not home and someone attempts to breach your exterior perimeter the load siren can go on for hours without anyone doing anything about it. This is why it's always a good idea to connect your electric fence to your home's alarm system and to a security company. This will ensure than any attempted breach will be dealt with quickly and efficiently whether you're at home or not.  

Electric fence signs

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 Electric Fence Security System

The heart of an electric fence system is the energiser (power unit).  The electric fence energisers a necessity.  This box is filled with capacitors that store the charge. The electric fence charger (energiser) converts mains or battery power (240 volts) into a high voltage pulse (non-lethal shock).  It also controls its movement down the wires, every 1.5 seconds. Energisers have a low energy consumption and you will not see any noticeable increase on your electricity bill.

If you are using a battery as power, keep in mind that the battery needs to be replaced every 2-3 years.  Also keep in mind as the battery looses charge, so does your electric fence. It is a lot more convenient to run off mains.

For an electric shock to occur, the current must complete a full circuit, as in diagram for electric fence.  When a grounded person touches the wires of the fence, the electric fence circuit is complete. Electricity flows through the body and back through the ground to the earth, to return to the terminal of the energizer.  It is at this point that a person receives a shock from electric fence and hopefully has experienced enough discomfort to lose interest in trying to climb over your wall.

Electric Fence Schematic

Discharge of current from the live terminal of an energizer is about 7000 volts. Not all this current actually ends up on the fence.  This is known as voltage leaking. Electric fence manufacturers state these numerous scenarios will determine how many volts actually end up running through the wires. These include:

• The condition of the wiring and connections
• The type of fencing wire you are using
• How well the live wire is insulated
• An ineffective earth system
• Vegetation touching the wires

An electric fence will only work if the electrical wiring is earthed.  Gate Repair Services technicians have seen unearthed electrical fence installations by previous installers, much to the customer’s horror!

So make an electric fence part of your security system. For a professional installation of your electric fence, call Gate Repair Services.

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 Why garage door will not close

Maintenance of your garage door and garage door motors is extremely important to avoid your garage door from not closing, hence compromising the security of your home in Johannesburg.

Well maintained garage doors equal optimally working garage door automation.  Unfortunately the motor is not there to compensate for a poorly mounted, unbalanced or damaged garage door.  This will just cause damage to your garage door automation as the motor has to deal with unaccounted forces.  If you cannot open and close your garage door manually without it sticking or jamming – do not use it on automation mode.

A tip to check the balance of your sectional roll up door is to release it from its automation and then close it, resting on top of a bathroom scale that is placed in the centre of your door.  It is well balanced if it does not exceed 15 kg on the scale.

All moving parts such as hinges, pivots and rollers of your garage door should be oiled to prevent rust build up.  The main pivot pin carries the most load.  Therefore bearings must be lubricated regularly to maintain smooth gliding.  

On a tip up door, springs should only be replaced by a professional.  Potentially it is a dangerous operation as the springs are under great tension, which can result in harm to person and property when released.

For aluminium garage roll doors, use a teflon or graphite spray in the guide channels for smooth movement of the door. Do not use a silicone spray or grease as this builds up grime, causing friction.

Wooden doors need to be regularly sealed and oiledwith a hardy product for UV protection. Wooden doors left exposed to the elements become warped and unbalanced.

Not only do you need to keep your garage doors well maintained, you also need to keep your automation well maintained.  If your garage door motor has been correctly installed by a reputable installer such as Gate Repair Services, minimal maintenance is needed on your motor. 

What you will need to do every 3 months is lubricate the worm shaft.  Please ask your installer which lubrication brand is recommended, as using something not recommended could end up causing serious and possibly permanent damage to your motor.

If you have this all in order, you will not be inconvenienced by a garage door that will not close.

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August 2018: Popular motors that we recommend: 

• Centurion electric gate
• Centurion gate openers
• Centurion gate remote
• Centurion sliding gate
• Centurion swing gate
• D5 gate motors
• D5 evo motor
• Centurion D3
• Centurion D5
• Centurion D10
• Centurion Vector 
• Centurion R series range 
• Nice Hansa Speedo 
• Nice Hansa Deluxe 1 & 2 
• Nice Hansa Elite models
• Nice Hansa gate motors
• Nice Hansa products
• Nice Hansa systems
• Old Hansa motors
• Nice Hansa automation
• Elite driveway gate operators
• Elite gate operator
• Nice Hansa electric gate controller connections
• Nice Hansa elite swing gate connections
• ET Drive 500
• ET Drive 1000

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Intercoms

Intercoms are there for visitors to alert you to their presence and to allow you to identify them and let them in if you so wish.  They can also be used to communicate between rooms and even different buildings like staff quarters.  You can find intercoms commonly outside homes. You get house intercoms and/or wireless door intercom system.  Tandem intercoms work in series from room to room.

Intercoms for home use are the biggest seller. But business intercom systems and office intercom systems are also now growing in popularity. Most homes have drive through intercoms for security reasons. 

We keep a full range of intercom parts but there are many types of intercom systems and we only keep parts for our systems. Most systems have an outdoor intercom at the gate and phone intercoms inside. Many intercom security products are available. 

Battery wireless intercoms are not recommended as they are unreliable.

DIY intercoms are also available, but can be time consuming and there is no
site guarantee.

Old fashioned wireless home intercoms are very basic and not recommended.

Intercoms, cordless intercoms and intercom door chimes are available to alert you to the presence of visitors and to allow you to identify them and let them in if you so wish. 

With regards to camera intercom phone systems with intercom cameras, there are many different systems available.

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Manual barriers/Security booms

Access control and security system helps staying one step ahead of criminals, which is always challenging. However one can implement many barriers that can make life more difficult for them. Most robberies that occur in offices, factories and homes are committed by opportunist thieves.  By reducing the opportunity of a criminal gaining access easily into your place of work or your home, the criminal may just walk on by to an easier target.

Gate security including a boom comes with many benefits including access control and burglar deterrent. These barriers offer an extra layer to the security of your business discouraging opportunist thieving from your business premises. 

You will easily recognise access control barrier security in most business premises car parks as an added feature to assist security guards in their work to stop criminal activity. Car park barriers can be either manual or automated rising booms and provide full restriction of the entrance and exit points to the business premises.

When considering installing a security boom, it is worth considering which type of barrier would be the most suitable for your needs. There are manual rising arm booms, automated rising arm booms, manual swing gates, automated swing gates, pedestrian gates, manual and automated sliding gates. These gates can add an extra layer of security to the premises.

It is not only business parks that benefit from barrier installation. There are also residential communities that wish to reside in gated communities such as townhouse complexes and life style villages.  Booms with the reinforcement of security guards certainly reduce the risk of theft and crime in these gated communities. Having gated access reduces unauthorised vehicle access as well as paedestrian entry. This makes for a safer living environment.

It has been proved that criminal elements are deterred by a barrier security gate as an access control measurement. This is because boomed access is a psychological and a physical barrier and the criminal does not like the thought of perhaps being trapped or slowed down.

Add an extra layer of security to your business parking with a manual barrier such as the ET NICE 4 m. 

 Electric fence wiring 

Electric fence wiring will, over time, require maintenance and possible re-wiring.

Electric fence wires can rust over time which acts as an insulator and reduces voltage flowing through the fence wires.  Secondly wires can snap due to vegetation starting to hang weight on the wires

Therefore maintenance of your electric fence is critical. Its ability to work optimally is reduced by plants that are allowed to grow onto the high tensile wires. Always remember to switch off your electric fence energiser when you are trimming vegetation away from the wires. 

Wiring of an electric fence consists of high tension (HT) metal wires.  Therefore when it comes to repairs of your electric fence wires, cable should never be joined along the length. Do not go for this cheap solution. It is recommended to replace the full length of the HT cable. This is due to the extended problems you can expect in the future with extra cost.   Repairs of HT cables along the length are exposed to weather and rain and can cause false alarms. Secondly the joins are not sealed and if someone were to touch the join they will get a nasty shock.

When installing electric fencing avoid hitting the wire with a hammer as this can cause kinks along the length.  Kinks in stiff wire will always break

Use crimp ferrules to join the fence wire ends, with the same material that the wire is made of example aluminium.  Aluminium is highly resistant to corrosion. IF you do use a different material for the wire and ferrules this difference in material can cause an electrolytic effect which can cause rust, leading to breaks in the electric fence wiring.

Most electric fencing in Johannesburg is wall top type fencing.  It is highly recommended, unfortunately due to our crime statistics, to install 8 strand electric fence wiring.  Intruders can simply just step over anything shorter than this.