A basic gate automation package, motor, two remotes, gets most people 80% of the way there. These five upgrades cost more upfront but solve real, recurring problems that a bare-bones install doesn't.
1. A Keypad Alongside the Remotes
A Centurion SMARTGUARD Air keypad, around KES 8,500, gives staff, family members without a remote, and yourself on the day the remote battery dies, a working backup method that doesn't depend on carrying a fob. It pairs naturally with remotes rather than replacing them.
2. A Second Battery Backup Cycle Beyond the Standard Pack
The standard backup battery covers a normal outage comfortably. For properties in areas with genuinely extended outages, or for anyone who has been burned by a multi-day power cut before, a second or higher-capacity battery pack is a small additional cost against the alternative of being locked out entirely once the first battery is exhausted.
3. A GSM Dialler for Phone-Activated Entry
Letting visitors, delivery drivers, or staff trigger the gate via a phone call from an authorised number removes the need to physically hand out remotes to people who only need occasional access. It is particularly useful for rental properties, gated compounds with regular contractor access, or anyone who wants to open the gate remotely without being on-site.
4. Individually Assignable Keypad or Card Codes
A single shared PIN is convenient but cannot be revoked for one person without changing it for everyone. Systems that support multiple distinct user codes, or proximity card readers where individual cards can be added or deleted, let you remove access for one departing staff member without disrupting the household. This matters more than it sounds like it should the first time a former employee's access needs to be cut off cleanly.
5. A Flashing Warning Lamp
An amber warning beacon that flashes while the gate is in motion, an inexpensive FAAC accessory around KES 4,500, is a genuine safety feature on gates near a driveway, footpath, or shared access point where pedestrians might not otherwise notice a heavy steel gate starting to move.
- โขKeypad: backup access method independent of remote battery life.
- โขExtended battery backup: covers longer outages than a standard pack.
- โขGSM dialler: phone-call activation for visitors and occasional users.
- โขIndividually assignable codes: revoke one person's access without resetting everyone's.
- โขFlashing warning lamp: pedestrian safety around a moving gate.
None of these are essential in the way battery backup and safety photocells are, those two are non-negotiable on every installation we do. But each one on this list solves a specific, recurring frustration, and each is a modest addition against the base cost of a gate motor installation.
Browse keypads, GSM diallers, and warning lamps See current pricing on access control accessories.
Ask about adding features to an existing gate motor Most accessories can be retrofitted without replacing the motor.