A typical sliding garage door setup naturally includes the door leaf, which has wheels at its bottom. The wheels must be well-maintained to avoid hindering the door and mechanism's movement.

The wheels move on a track that must be firmly secured to the ground. The track 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 path to always maintain 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 door stops. These define the final position of the door for both opening and closing. 

Next, for automating the door, we mount the metal (or plastic) rack onto the door leaf. The rack is a toothed bar that engages with the mechanism's gear to transmit motion. 

The motor is positioned at the center of the door's travel path to maintain constant contact with the door. It features a gear that transmits motion from the mechanism to the door via the rack.

Beyond the mechanism, an essential accessory for the overall safety of the installation are the safety photocells. Safety photocells are installed on either side of the opening and check for obstacles in the door's path. If an obstacle is detected while the door is closing, the photocells signal the mechanism's control panel, and the door's closing stops.

Furthermore, 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 satisfactory, an external antenna can be installed to boost 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 specific kit).

• The Motorline BRAVO 500 mechanism requires a 3x1.5mm² cable suitable for outdoor use. If the distance from the electrical panel is long, it would be advisable to use a 3x2.5mm² cable. In any case, it is good practice for the mechanism's wiring to start from a separate fuse in the electrical panel.
• Wired photocells require 4×0.6mm² cables for the receiver and 2×0.6mm² for the transmitter. If reflective photocells are used, only one 4×0.6mm² cable is required up to the transceiver. Reflective photocells cost a little more, but if wiring has not been installed, they offer 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 ideally be done by a qualified electrician. Particular 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 kit and integrated into the mechanism. It is a control panel that combines simplicity of use with all necessary functions and has been time-tested. It pairs perfectly with the Motorline BRAVO 500 mechanism. 

Technical specifications:

• It features a socket for the mechanism's limit switches.
• We can adjust the mechanism's force.
• There is an option for soft start and stop to reduce wear on the mechanism and garage door.
• It accepts safety photocells that stop movement if an obstacle is encountered during door closing and initiate reverse movement (opening).
• There is an available setting for automatic door closing with user-selectable closing start time. Photocell use is essential for automatic closing to function.
• Electric braking is an option.
• Opening direction is set via a microswitch.
• The control panel can accept a push-button (keypad or simple push-button). 
• The control panel can accept a 230VAC warning light without a flasher or a 230VAC illumination 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 boasts features such as force adjustment for the mechanism, and slow start and stop, which make it one of the best options currently available on the market.

 

ProfelmNet PSD-36T Sliding Gate Mechanism Remote Control

 

The ProfelmNet PSD-36T remote control is tested and reliable. It has 4 buttons to control 4 different mechanisms (swing gates, roller shutters, overhead garage doors, etc.). It uses 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 - Briefly

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

• Check that the door operates smoothly manually.
• Check existing wiring or install new wiring.
• After checks, proceed with the motor base installation. This requires a stable foundation. Usually, a reinforced concrete base is the appropriate solution.
• Mount the motor on the base.
• Install the rack.
• Install accessories (if any).
• Check for proper operation of the installation and explain all details to users for safe use.

The above are simply a summary of the steps for installing a sliding mechanism. Inside the mechanism's packaging, you will find detailed, step-by-step instructions that are 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 positioned at a specific point for the motor to operate 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 base position, follow this procedure:

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

• We compromise by not fully opening the door leaf (but it will open to the point where it reaches distance C from the base). This solution is chosen if the clear opening is sufficient and what remains continues to meet our needs.
• We extend 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 mounting 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-wise) - Detailed Dimensions

The installation height of the mechanism is extremely important for the overall installation process. What matters is the height in relation to the rack for their proper cooperation. Often, the design of the door determines 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 for cases where the rack has been installed with the teeth facing downwards (this is the recommended and most common solution).

 

 

 

H1= 38mm (motor mounting base height)
H2=77mm (top of base to top of gear)
H3=15mm (top of gear to rack spacer axis)
H1+H2+H3=H4+H4+H5=130mm (bottom of base to rack spacer axis)
H4=72mm (top of base to bottom of rack)
H5=20mm (bottom of rack to rack spacer axis)
H6=10mm (spacer axis 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 mechanism's dimensions 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 reposition the rack (uninstall and reinstall).
• In the case where there is no existing rack, we check if there are available mounting points on the door at the desired rack installation height. Otherwise, we will have to install the entire structure higher by shaping the foundation where the mechanism's base will be placed.

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

 If this clearance does not exist, the mechanism is forced to carry the door along its entire travel path instead of simply pushing the door. This will cause wear and tear, and sooner or later, problems in its operation will arise. 

Otherwise, if the gap is too large, the cooperation between the gear and the rack will not be correct, and jolts and strains will be created on the motor. Therefore, special attention is required to create this gap.

Motorline BRAVO 500 sliding gate opener manual override

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

 

Motorline Bravo 500 mechanism - gear

The Motorline Bravo 500 sliding gate opener has a high-strength metal gear. The cover protects against any objects getting trapped between the gear and the metal rack. The protective cover is positioned in such a way as to allow the rack to be installed with the teeth facing both upwards and downwards.