A typical sliding garage door arrangement naturally includes the door leaf, which has rollers on its underside. The rollers must be well maintained to avoid hindering the movement of the door and mechanism.

The rollers 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 remain in contact with the door. They must be stable and prevent the door from deviating from its path, 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 for both opening and closing.

Next, to automate the door, we attach the metal (or plastic) rack to the door leaf. The rack is a toothed rail that works with the mechanism's gear to transmit movement.

The motor is placed in the center of the door's travel so that it always maintains 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 for any obstacle in the door's path. If an obstacle is detected during the door's closing, the photocells send a command to the mechanism's control panel, and the door's closing stops.

Also, for even greater safety, a safety beacon could be installed, which signals when the door is in operation. This 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 remote control range is not desirable, an external antenna can be installed to boost the signal.

Below, we analyze the wiring required for a sliding garage door mechanism and all accessories that can be added (not all accessories are included in this specific set).

• The Motorline BRAVO 500 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 practice for the mechanism's wiring to originate from a separate fuse in the electrical panel.
• Wired photocells require 4×0.6mm² cables for the receiver and 2×0.6mm² cables for the transmitter. If photocells with a reflector are used, only one 4×0.6mm² cable is required up to the transceiver. Photocell with reflectors cost a little more, but if the wiring has not been installed, they offer an immediate solution without patching or extra work.
• The key switch (keypad) or simple push-button requires a 2×0.6mm² cable.
• The warning light requires a 1×1.0 mm² or 2×1.0 mm² cable.

Wiring should ideally be done by a qualified electrician. Special attention must 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 necessary functions and has been time-tested. It works perfectly with the Motorline BRAVO 500 mechanism.

Technical characteristics:

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

The aforementioned control panel has been tested by thousands of users and has proven to be extremely reliable. Furthermore, it offers features such as adjusting the mechanism's force, slow start and stop, which make it one of the best choices on the market today.

ProfelmNet PSD-36T remote control for sliding garage door mechanism

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

Sliding mechanism installation procedure - Summary

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

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

The above are just a brief summary of the steps for installing a sliding mechanism. Inside the mechanism's packaging, you will find detailed, step-by-step instructions, well-written and easy to follow.

Position of the Motorline BRAVO 500 sliding automation base

The base of the sliding garage door mechanism must be placed at a specific point for the motor to function correctly. Below, the exact point where the base should be placed is defined, depending on whether the door opens to the right or left. (Left and right are defined as looking at the door from the side where the motor and rack are installed)

To find the correct position of the base, follow this procedure:

1. Push the door leaf, by hand, to the fully closed position. Place the mechanism's base on the ground, at a distance of at least B from the edge of the door leaf.
2. Push the door leaf, by hand, to the open position. The base must be at a distance C from the edge of the door. If this is the case, the installation proceeds. If this condition is not met, there are 2 options:

• We compromise with the fact that the door leaf will not open completely (but will open up to the point where it reaches distance C from the base). We choose this solution if the free opening is sufficient and what remains continues to meet our needs.
• We increase the length of the door by extending the door leaf. It can be extended along its entire height or only at the point where it comes into contact with the rack.

The image shows the base and its fastening materials. The black plastic covers conceal the mounting screws. The base has a hole for cable routing, which must be positioned on the correct side.

Mechanism installation (height) - Detailed dimensions

The installation height of the mechanism is extremely important for the entire installation process. What matters is the height in relation to the rack for their proper cooperation. Often, the design of the door dictates where the rack will be placed so that there are support points for the rack on the door. Below are detailed diagrams for the installation height of the mechanism in the case where the rack has been placed with its teeth facing downwards (this is the recommended and most common solution).

H1 = 38mm (height of motor mounting base)
H2 = 77mm (top of base to top of gear)
H3 = 15mm (top of gear to axis of rack spacer)
H1+H2+H3 = H4+H4+H5 = 130mm (bottom of base to axis of rack spacer)
H4 = 72mm (top side of base to bottom of rack)
H5 = 20mm (bottom of rack to axis of rack spacer)
H6 = 10mm (axis of spacer to top of rack)
H1+H4 = 110mm (bottom of base to bottom of rack)
Ho = height of raised foundation (the base can be placed on a raised point for spatial reasons). In this case, the motor is protected, e.g., in case of flooding.

Based on the above dimensions, a pre-check is performed before installing the mechanism. There are two cases:

• If there is already a rack, we check if its existing height is suitable in relation to the dimensions of the mechanism and the height at which its gear is positioned. If the dimensions do not match, we will either have to raise the mechanism's base (if the rack is high) or change the rack's position (uninstall and reinstall).
• In cases where there is no existing rack, we check if there are available support points on the door for the desired rack installation height. Otherwise, we will have to install the entire structure higher by preparing the foundation where the mechanism's base will be placed.

A key point of attention is the clearance that must exist between the gear and the rack. Ideally, this clearance should be 1.5mm.

If this gap is not present, the mechanism is forced to carry the door along its entire travel instead of simply pushing it. This will cause wear and tear and problems will eventually arise in its operation.

If the gap is too large, the cooperation between the gear and the rack will not be correct, causing jolts and stress on the motor. Therefore, special attention is required to create this gap.

Manual operation of Motorline BRAVO 500 sliding mechanism

The manual operation of the Motorline BRAVO 500 mechanism is a simple and easy procedure for all users. With the key, open the disengagement door and push it to the fully open position. The garage door now operates manually. By reversing the procedure (closing and locking the door), we re-engage the mechanism.

 

Motorline Bravo 500 mechanism - gear

The Motorline Bravo 500 sliding mechanism features a high-strength metal gear. The cover protects against objects getting trapped between the gear and the metal rack. The protective cover is positioned in such a way that it allows the rack to be installed with the teeth facing upwards or with the teeth facing downwards.