Your gate will likely be too far away from an electrical power source for a plug-in. So, you're far better off having an energy source near your gate. You're worried about any environmental impact your energy use may have, and you want to save money on power. Solar power is the answer to. It works exactly like a gate running off the electrical grid, except the solar panel continually recharges the batteries. See also: Solar Powered Products: Top 10 You Should Invest in Today Solar panels generate from 5 watts to 170 watts of energy. They come in 12 or 24 volts DC. Check the weight the swing arm can handle, the wattage and voltage the swing arm and the. Follow all instructions included in your kit for installation and testing. Do the same for inspection and maintenance. Mount the control panel, the solar panel support bar, and the battery box to the post to which your gate's hinges are attached. Attach brackets to your solar panel and to the support bar. Make sure it slopes north so it will be facing south when you slide your solar.