Dear Valued Client,
In the realm of gate motor applications, choosing the right battery is crucial for ensuring reliable and uninterrupted operation.
. While the
Lithium Iron Phosphate
(LiFePO4) batteries have gained popularity in various applications,Centurion Systems would like to
caution the market about using them in gate motors
.
LiFePO4 batteries typically have a
charging temperature range of 0 to 45degrees Celsius
and an
operating discharge temperature range of -20 to 60degrees Celsius
. Outside of these temperature ranges for both charging and discharging, the built-in Battery Management System (BMS) will
disconnect the internal battery cells
to prevent any damage or potential catastrophic failure.
Gate motors
are usually
installed outdoor
s, facing
sun radiation
, which leads to an
elevated internal temperature
typically 15-35 degrees higher than the ambient temperature, depending on the
sun radiation level
(winter and summer) and the
duration of direct sunlight exposure
. A simple analog y would be a parked vehicle in direct sunlight, without any interior cooling or ventilation.
As a practical example, an ambient temperature of 25 degrees Celsius with agate motor exposed to a few hours of direct sunlight would quite easily mean an
internal temperature of 45 degrees Celsius or higher
. In this scenario, theLiFePO4 battery BMS will
prevent the charger from charging the battery until the temperature is in the safe charging range again
. This is a major constraint during rolling power load-shedding as
every opportunity to charge the battery should be utilized
.
In a summer climate where the ambient temperature is higher than 30 degrees,the internal gate motor temperature could exceed 60 degrees Celsius, which would mean a
total disconnect of the battery
until the internal temperature is within the safe range again.
While
Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) batteries
are
not immune to temperature considerations,
they offer a
more manageable solution
. Charging these batteries at a voltage suited for higher temperatures, a
practice consistent across all our chargers
ensures a
more adaptable solution
. Unlike LiFePO4batteries,
SLA batteries do not require a built-in BMS
, which means
they do not disconnect during temperature fluctuations
.
In an ideal setting, where a gate motor is shielded from direct sun exposure during winter and summer sun ray angles, it is possible to use LiFePO4batteries. However, it is important to
ensure these batteries are purpose-built for gate motors
, capable of sustaining a
discharge pulse of 35A or higher fora minimum of 3 seconds
. Using batteries designed for alarm panel backup applications can significantly compromise the functioning of the gate motor due to their inability to provide the necessary initial current required for gate movement. When the gate motor remains shielded from direct sunlight and utilities LiFePO4 batteries designed for the motor’s initial currents,
a careful evaluation should weigh the cost-performance ratio against a high-quality7.2Ah SLA battery
. Nevertheless,
we cannot guarantee the gate motor’s consistent operation when using LiFePO4 batteries due to environmental dependencies
.
Centurion Systems, boasting
over 35 years of experience
, has
consistently relied on SLA batteries in gate motor applications
. This track record has proven the
reliability and suitability of SLA batteries for seamless gate automation
, even in challenging environmental conditions.
Should you want any further information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our support team via this link >> technical support team <<
