The Proteco Meko-8 mechanism has quite good specifications and can cover most sliding garage door cases. Specifically:

• It is suitable for garage doors with a maximum weight of 800kg.
• It can operate safely and without problems up to 25 times per hour.
• It can operate safely and without problems up to 40 times per day.

Regarding the weight of the door, you should ask its manufacturer. However, most sliding gates weigh around 60-70kg/m. So in most cases, 800kg is a limit that is quite safe and rarely reached by a typical residential or even commercial garage door.

The hourly uses are sufficient for an average garage door as it can operate approximately every two minutes during peak hours. It should be noted here that if the motor overheats, it will stop operating until it returns to normal operating conditions. That is, it has thermal protection to protect itself from excessive use.

Finally, the daily uses can cover most cases of residential garage doors. The daily uses are a limit so that the motor does not wear out prematurely and lasts for many years without problems.

Checking Proteco Meko-8 mechanism dimensions

With a height and length of 31cm, the Proteco Meko 8 motor can be installed on most sliding garage doors. Also, with a width of less than 20cm, it fits even in cases where there is not much space.

A typical sliding garage door arrangement naturally includes the door leaf, which has wheels at its bottom. The wheels must be well maintained so as not to hinder the movement of the door and the mechanism.

The wheels move on a rail which must be firmly fixed to the ground. The rail must be straight without bumps or deformations.

The rollers hold the door perpendicular to the ground. They are placed in the middle of the travel so that they always have contact with the door. They must be stable and not allow the door to deviate from its course, but without hindering its movement.

Finally (for a door without a mechanism) the last accessories are the mechanical stops of the door. These define the final position of the door both when opening and closing.

Then, to automate the door, we install the metal (or plastic) rack on the door leaf. The rack is a toothed bar that works with the motor's gear to transmit movement.

The motor is placed in the center of the door's travel so that it always has contact with the door. It has a gear that transmits movement from the mechanism to the door via the rack.

Beyond the mechanism, an essential accessory for the safety of the entire construction are the safety photocells. The safety photocells are placed on either side of the opening and check if there is an obstruction in the door's path. If an obstruction is detected during the closing of the door, the photocells give a command to the mechanism's control panel and the door's closing stops.

Also, for even greater safety, a safety flashing light could be installed, which signals when the door is in operation. It is usually installed when the door is adjacent to busy roads, roads with heavy traffic, and in areas where visibility is limited.

Finally, in cases where the range of the remote controls is not desired, an external antenna can be installed to amplify the signal.

Below are the wirings required for a sliding garage door mechanism and for all accessories that can be added (not all accessories are included in this particular set)

• The Proteco Meko-8 mechanism requires a 3x1.5mm² cable suitable for outdoor use. If the distance from the electrical panel is large, it would be advisable to install a 3x2.5mm² cable. In any case, it is good for the mechanism's wiring to start from a separate fuse in the electrical panel.
• Wired photocells require 4x0.6mm² cables for the receiver and 2x0.6mm² for the transmitter. If photocells with a reflector are used, then only a 4x0.6mm² cable is required up to the transceiver. Reflector photocells cost a little more, but if the wiring has not been laid, they provide an immediate solution without repairs and extra work.
• The key switch (keypad) or simple push button requires a 2x0.6mm² cable.
• The warning light requires a 1x1.0 mm² or 2x1.0 mm² cable.

The wiring should preferably be done by a qualified electrician. Particular attention should be paid to protecting the cables from moisture as these installations are outdoors.

Autotech S5060T control panel for sliding garage door mechanisms

The Autotech S5060T control panel is included in the set and is integrated into the mechanism. It is a control panel that combines simplicity of use with all the necessary functions and has been tested over time. It combines perfectly with the Proteco Meko 5 mechanism.

Technical specifications:

• It has a socket for the mechanism's limit switches
• We can adjust the mechanism's force.
• There is the possibility of a soft start and stop for less wear and tear on the mechanism and the garage door.
• It accepts safety photocells that interrupt movement when they encounter an obstacle during the closing of the door and start the reverse movement (opening).
• There is an available setting for automatic door closing with the user's choice of closing start time. The use of photocells is essential for the automatic closing function.
• There is the option of electric braking.
• The opening direction is adjusted with a microswitch.
• The panel can accept a push button (keypad or simple push button).
• The panel can accept a 230VAC warning light without a flasher or a 230VAC lighting lamp.
• It has a built-in receiver with simple operation.
• User information regarding the mechanism's functions is provided by LED lights.

The above control panel has been tested by thousands of users and has proven to be extremely reliable. In addition, it has functions such as adjusting the mechanism's force, slow start and stop, which make it one of the best choices on the market at the moment.

ProfelmNet PSD-36T sliding garage door mechanism remote control

The ProfelmNet PSD-36T remote control is tested and reliable. It has 4 buttons where we can set 4 different mechanisms (gates, shutters, overhead garage doors, etc.). It has a fixed 12-bit code at 433.92 MHz. It has a modern design and works excellently with the Autotech S5060T control panel.

Operation of sliding gate photocells

Photocells are a product that dramatically increases safety in the use of the sliding mechanism at minimal cost. These specific photocells (IR5001P) are extremely reliable and operate with a voltage of 12-24 VDC or 12-24 VAC, which makes them compatible with most control panels on the market. They have been on the market for years and do not present problems. They do not require maintenance and are quite reliable even in difficult weather conditions.

Photocell operation: The transmitter emits an infrared light beam, in the non-visible spectrum, which is directed towards the receiver. When there is no obstacle to interrupt the beam, the door operates normally. When, during the closing of the door, the beam is interrupted by an obstacle (vehicle, pedestrian, pet, etc.), the control panel instructs the mechanism to stop the closing of the door and start the reverse movement (opening). If the beam is interrupted while the door is opening, it continues its course normally, while if it is open, it is not allowed to start closing.

An alternative solution to wired photocells is the installation of photocells with a reflector. These photocells do not require wiring from both sides of the door, so they are easier to install. They are preferred in cases where the door and the surrounding area have been completed without provision for wiring. They have a small surcharge compared to wired photocells, but they are a very good solution when wiring cannot be laid.

Metal rack for sliding garage door mechanism

The metal rack is the most widespread solution for use in metal sliding gates. The metal rack consists of one-meter sections, with a diametral pitch of 4 (module 4) and has a cross-section of 12x30mm. Each piece includes 3 spacers. It is installed on doors with a maximum weight of 2 tons and is galvanized for greater resistance to outdoor conditions.

During the installation process, the spacers are welded onto the door. Then the rack is screwed onto the spacers. The rack has oval holes for the spacer screws. This allows some margin for minor adjustments of the rack's height.

Particular attention should be paid during the installation of the metal rack to the necessary clearance between the gear and the rack. This gap should ideally be 1.5mm. This gap is such that the rack cooperates perfectly with the gear. If the gap is larger, the rack will "kick" and the door's movement will not be smooth. If this gap does not exist and the rack touches the gear, then the mechanism is forced to carry the door, so sooner or later it will wear out and develop a fault.

Installation procedure for sliding mechanism - Summary

In summary, the steps for installing a sliding garage door mechanism are as follows:

• Checking the door that it operates smoothly manually.
• Checking the wiring if it exists or installing it.
• After the checks, the motor base is installed. It requires a stable foundation. Usually, a reinforced concrete base is the appropriate solution.
• Mounting the motor on the base.
• Installing the rack.
• Installing accessories (if any)
• Checking the proper functioning of the construction and explaining all details for safe use to the users.

The above are simply a summary of the installation steps for a sliding mechanism. Inside the mechanism's packaging, you will find detailed, step-by-step instructions, well-written and easy to follow, even for people who are not directly involved in the field.

Disengagement of Proteco Meko-8 sliding automation

For greater safety, the disengagement of the Proteco Meko-8 mechanism is done with a key. Insert the disengagement key into the lock and unlock it. Then open the cover to the fully open position and the motor now operates manually. By reversing the process (locking the cover), we reset and re-engage the mechanism.

Proteco Meko 8 mechanism gear

The gear of the Proteco Meko-8 mechanism is metal for greater durability and reliability. It has a protective cover to prevent accidents and protect users.

Packaging of the MEKO-8 (Kit-Complete) S mechanism set

The MEKO-8 (Kit-Complete) S set is delivered in two packages. The first contains the mechanism, remote controls, photocells, flashing light, and any accessories that may have been ordered extra from the set.

The second package includes only the metal rack due to its length and weight.

The set is delivered ready for installation after being checked by our technicians and with the remote control configured.

Installation instructions for the sliding garage door set

The set is delivered with detailed instructions in Greek. They have been edited by us to be easy to follow even by people who are not directly involved in the subject.

They contain detailed steps for each stage of installation, from the motor base and the rack to accessories such as photocells and push buttons. Detailed instructions for the Autotech S-5060T control panel integrated into the mechanism are also included.

Available documents for the Proteco Meko-8 motor (in English)

CE Declaration of Conformity

Installation Manual

Proteco Meko Sliding Automation Commercial Brochure