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Across Johannesburg the call-out fee is R350 – R650 and labour R450 – R800 per hour, with parts quoted separately. A backup battery costs R300 – R600 fitted, a lithium upgrade R1,500 – R3,500, a new sliding gate motor R5,000 – R9,500 and a garage door motor R4,500 – R8,000 installed. Ask for a clear labour and parts breakdown.

Highveld storms are the leading cause of dead controller boards in the city, and the surge usually travels down the mains or intercom cable rather than striking the gate. A surge arrestor at the motor and a quality protector on the power supply are inexpensive. If the motor dies after a storm, the board can normally be replaced on its own.

A worn backup battery is the reason in nearly every case. Lead-acid batteries lose capacity fast when they are cycled through outages several times a week, and once flat the motor stops the moment the mains drop. Replacing it is quick, and a lithium upgrade will cope far better with the Johannesburg schedule.

Lead-acid is cheap at R300 – R600 fitted but lasts two to three years and struggles with frequent load shedding. Lithium costs R1,500 – R3,500 but lasts five years or more, charges faster and gives many more openings per outage. If you are replacing batteries every year, lithium is cheaper in the long run.