Centurion D5 Evo vs D5 Smart — Which Should You Buy in 2025?
The Centurion D5 Evo and D5 Smart are the two most popular sliding gate motors in South Africa. Choosing between them comes down to your budget and how much load shedding you experience.
Key Differences
- Battery: D5 Evo uses an external 12V 7Ah SLA battery. D5 Smart has a built-in 24V dual lithium battery — no external battery box, no rust, no acid leaks.
- Backup cycles: D5 Evo delivers ~100 open/close cycles on a fully charged 7Ah SLA. D5 Smart delivers up to 300 cycles on its lithium pack.
- App control: D5 Smart includes the SMART 2 receiver as standard — app control out of the box. D5 Evo requires an additional SMART 2 receiver (add ~R1,500).
- Price: D5 Evo installed: R8,500–R11,000. D5 Smart installed: R10,000–R13,000. Price gap: approximately R1,500–R2,000.
- Battery lifespan: D5 Evo SLA batteries last 2–4 years under normal load shedding; lithium in D5 Smart lasts 5–8 years.
Recommendation
Choose the D5 Smart if you experience regular Stage 3+ load shedding, want app control without an add-on, or have a gate that operates more than 20 times per day. Choose the D5 Evo if you're on budget, have reliable power (Eskom Direct with Stage 1–2 max), or want the ability to add a solar panel later at low cost. Call JD Gates on 012 012 6285 for a personalised recommendation.