The problem
The gate had been forced open by the fire department during an emergency, damaging the operator arm.
Separately, the customer reported needing replacement batteries approximately every two months.
How we diagnosed it
- The operator arm was broken and needed replacing.
- The existing solar setup had a single panel facing one direction, which limited its exposure to sunlight at other times of day.
- We identified the panel placement as a likely contributor to the inadequate charging, rather than treating the batteries as simply poor quality.
What we did
- Replaced the broken LiftMaster gate operator arm.
- Installed an additional solar panel facing the other direction, to improve sunlight coverage across the day.
- Replaced the backup batteries.
The outcome
Both the physical damage and the charging problem were addressed while keeping the existing gate. The work carries a three-year warranty covering the replacement arm, the added solar panel and the replacement batteries.
What you should take from this
Batteries that need replacing every two months are not bad batteries. They are a charging system that cannot keep up, and on a solar gate the usual reason is a panel that only sees the sun for part of the day.
