A typical sliding garage door setup naturally includes the door leaf, which has rollers at its bottom. It is essential that the rollers are well maintained so that they do not hinder the movement of the door and the mechanism.

The rollers move on a track which must be securely fixed to the ground. The track must be straight without bumps or deformations.

The guides hold the door vertically to the ground. They are placed in the middle of the travel so that they are always in contact with the door. They must be stable and not allow the door to deviate from its path 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.

Then, 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 gear of the mechanism to transmit movement.

The motor is placed in the center of the door's travel so that it is always in 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 structure is the safety photocells. Safety photocells are placed on either side of the opening and check if there is an obstacle in the door's path. If an obstacle is detected during the closing of the door, the photocells signal the mechanism's control panel and the closing of the door 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 range of the remote controls is not desired, an external antenna can be installed to amplify the signal.

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

• 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 install 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 4x0.6mm² cables for the receiver and 2x0.6mm² for the transmitter. If photocells with a reflector are used, only one 4x0.6mm² cable is required up to the transceiver. Reflector photocells cost a little more, but if wiring has not been laid, they offer an immediate solution without patching or extra work.
• The key-operated push button (key switch) or simple push button requires a 2x0.6mm² cable.
• The warning light requires a 1x1.0 mm² or 2x1.0 mm² cable.

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 unit is included in the set and is integrated into the mechanism. It is a control unit that combines simplicity of use with all the necessary functions and has been tested over time. 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 soft start and stop function for less wear and tear on the mechanism and the garage door.
• It accepts safety photocells that interrupt movement when an obstacle is detected during door closing and initiate reverse movement (opening).
• An adjustable setting for automatic door closing is available, allowing the user to choose the closing start time. The use of photocells is essential for automatic closing.
• There is an option for electric braking.
• The opening direction is set by a microswitch.
• The panel can accept a push button (key switch or simple push button).
• The panel can accept a 230VAC warning light without a flasher 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 above control unit has been tested by thousands of users and has proven to be extremely reliable. In addition, it features functions such as mechanism force adjustment, slow start and stop, which make it one of the best choices on the market today.

 

ProfelmNet PSD-36T Sliding Garage Door Mechanism Remote Control

 

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

 

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 if the wiring exists or install it.
• After the checks, proceed with the installation of the motor base. A stable foundation is required. Usually, a reinforced concrete base is the appropriate solution.
• Mount the motor onto the base.
• Install the rack.
• Install accessories (if any).
• Check for proper operation of the installation and explain all details for safe use to the users.

The above are simply a brief outline 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 in a specific position for the motor to function correctly. Below, the exact placement of the base is detailed depending on whether the door opens to the right or to the left (left and right are defined when looking at the door from the side where the motor and rack are installed).

 

 

 

 

 

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

1. Manually push the door leaf 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. Manually push the door leaf to the open position. The base must be at a distance C from the edge of the door. If this is true, proceed with the installation. If this condition is not met, there are 2 options:

• Compromise by not fully opening the door leaf (it will open only 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.
• Increase the length of the door by extending the door leaf. It can be extended in length 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) - 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 door design determines where the rack will be placed so that there are support points for the rack on the door. Below are detailed drawings for the installation height of the mechanism in the case where the rack has been installed with the 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 center of rack spacer)
H1+H2+H3 = H4+H4+H5 = 130mm (bottom of base to center of rack spacer)
H4 = 72mm (top of base to bottom of rack)
H5 = 20mm (bottom of rack to center of rack spacer)
H6 = 10mm (center 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 positioning reasons). In this case, the motor is protected, e.g., in case of flooding.

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

• If a rack already exists, we check if the height at which it has been installed is compatible with 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).
• If no rack already exists, we check if there are available mounting points on the door at the desired rack installation height. Otherwise, we will have to place the entire structure higher by shaping the foundation on which the mechanism's base will be placed.

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

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

Otherwise, if the clearance is large, the cooperation between the gear and the rack will not be correct and jerks and stresses will be created in the motor. Therefore, special care is required to create this clearance.

Manual override for Motorline BRAVO 500 sliding gate mechanism

The manual override procedure 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 procedure (closing and locking the door), the mechanism is re-engaged.

 

Motorline Bravo 500 Mechanism - Gear

The Motorline Bravo 500 sliding mechanism features 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.