If you’re wondering whether a solar gate opener can continue functioning after the sun sets, the short answer is yes, but only if the system is set up correctly.
A solar gate opener does not directly rely on sunlight to open and close your gate in real time. Instead, it uses a battery backup system that stores solar energy collected during the day.
If the solar battery is weak or undersized, your solar panel will not work well at night, and you will run into problems sooner or later.
So let’s break it down: what makes a solar gate opener work well at night? It comes down to three key factors:
- A strong, reliable battery
- A solar panel that can fully charge that battery during the day
- How often do you use the gate
1. A High-Quality Solar Battery Keeps Your Solar Gate Opener Working at Night
When your solar gate opener runs at night, it’s not pulling power from the panel—it’s tapping into the battery. So as long as the battery has enough charge, the opener will operate just fine at night, in cloudy weather, or even during a power outage.
For many solar gate openers, 12V deep-cycle batteries are the gold standard. A 12V deep-cycle battery is sufficient for a regular solar gate opener system and can keep it working at night.
Here’s why:
- Deep cycle batteries are designed to deliver steady power over long periods. Unlike car batteries, they are designed for long-term use.
- Deep cycle batteries can handle more frequent charging and discharging without breaking down like standard batteries.
The Zumi WS1 Solar Gate Opener comes with a 12V 8Ah battery paired with a 50W DC motor.
This system is capable of powering a 900-lb single-swing or double-swing gate at a motor speed of 4,600 rpm.
With such a formidable battery, you have no problems operating it at night.
Can You Add More Batteries to Your System?
For most solar gate openers, you can connect multiple batteries to ensure your gate opener keeps working at night. Adding more batteries will ensure that the input voltage to the main board does not drop due to low power, and your gate keeps opening efficiently.
- However, unless your system is specifically built for a 24V battery, it is advised to stick with 12V batteries.
- Also, the batteries must be connected in parallel (same voltage, more current), then connected to the main board of the solar gate opener.
This is important because many modern solar gate openers use 12V batteries.
How to Make Your Solar Battery Last Longer into the Night
So, if you live in a cloudy or low-sunlight area and are worried about how long your solar gate opener can last at night, there are two ways to go about this: get an additional battery or replace the existing battery.
1. Get an additional battery to serve as backup.
No matter how low the sunlight levels are in your area, two 12V DC batteries should be more than sufficient to keep your system working throughout the night and more.
2. Replace the Battery
Some brands of solar gate openers are compatible with a variety of solar batteries, so you can completely replace the battery with a bigger and better solar battery.
However, if you are using a Zumi solar gate opener and would like to upgrade your battery, we recommend that customers choose lead-acid batteries.
Lead-acid batteries perform better in outdoor conditions, and they are less likely to be damaged or affected by changes in weather.
2. An Appropriate Solar Panel
Even the best battery is only as good as the charge it gets during the day. The job of a solar panel is to capture sunlight and convert it into electricity to top off the battery. A good solar panel helps you get as much energy as possible into the battery.
If your panel isn’t up to the task, your battery might not get fully charged, especially in winter, shady spots, or overcast conditions. And that’s when nighttime performance takes a hit.
What Solar Panel Do You Need to Ensure Your Solar Gate Opener Works at Night?
- If your area does not get a ton of sunlight consistently, aim for at least a 20W–30W solar panel.
- Make sure the panel faces south (I’m assuming you are in the northern hemisphere) and is tilted to match your latitude for max exposure.
- Clean it regularly—dust and dirt reduce efficiency.
This guide will help you determine how much solar power a gate opener needs.
Upgrade to a Bigger Solar Panel to Keep Your Solar Gate Working At Night
A bigger solar panel enables the battery to charge faster during the day, helps it keep up with how often the gate is used, and sustains high performance in low-light conditions.
If your battery struggles to hold a charge or your gate slows down at night, you might not need a new system—just a solar panel upgrade. There are two ways you can improve your solar panel setup
1. Upgrade the Existing Panel
Swap your current panel for a higher wattage one (just match the voltage—usually 12V). Check your gate opener’s charge controller to see how much input it can handle.
Pro Tip
- Not all solar gate opener brands allow you to replace the existing solar panel.
- If you have a heavy gate opener like the WS1 Pro Solar Heavy Single Swing Gate Opener, you can add any solar panel that falls within the range of 12- 24V to give it more capacity and flexibility.
2. Add a Second Panel
To boost the nighttime performance, you can wire more solar panels to your solar panel system, as long as you do so in parallel (again…same voltage, more current).
You’ll need a Y-connector or a combiner box, and your charge controller must support the total input.
Just make sure not to exceed the system’s voltage or amperage limits, and always use weatherproof cables and connectors for outdoor setups.
Some Gate Openers Offer Better Night Performance
If your gate opener has a problem sustaining high performance during the night, this can be an indication that the brand you chose is simply not a very good one. The best solar gate openers are specifically designed and equipped to operate well during the night hours.
Consider the WS1 Pro Solar Heavy Single Swing Gate: with a 12V DC motor, 12V 8Ah Battery, and a 30W solar gate opener, it is designed to power gates up to 1,100lbs and 20ft long.
Its 60W motor power will keep your gate working all night at an impressive 4,600 rpm.
Moreover, you can add additional batteries to the system, more solar panels (if you choose to), and switch it to electric power in extreme cases.
The same goes for the Zumi WS1, a much smaller (and way more affordable) solar gate opener designed for gates up to 900 lbs and 20ft long.
Want Reliable Nighttime Operation?
Here’s your solar gate opener checklist:
- Battery: Use a 12V deep cycle battery, 20–35Ah minimum.
- Panel: Aim for at least a 20W panel (or higher) for consistent charging, especially if you get limited sun.
- Match your usage: The more you use your gate, the more power you need. Make sure your panel and battery can keep up.
Let Us Help You Pick the Right Setup
Zumi has designed this gate opener recommendation page to help you pick the right gate opener for your gate. Let us help you suggest a battery + solar panel combo that’ll keep your gate moving no matter the weather or time of day.
You might also be interested in how solar panels increase home value in the U.S, and our recommendations for the top affordable gate openers in 2025
