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

The wheels move on a rail that must be firmly secured to the ground. The rail must be straight, without bumps or deformations.

The rollers hold the door vertically to the ground. They are placed in the middle of the path to always maintain 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.

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

The motor is placed in the center of the door's travel path to always maintain 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 overall safety of the installation is the safety photocells. The safety photocells are installed on either side of the opening and check for obstacles 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. 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 boost the signal.

Below is an analysis of the wiring required for a sliding garage door mechanism and for 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 long, it would be advisable to use 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 4×0.6mm² cables for the receiver and 2×0.6mm² for the transmitter. If reflective photocells are used, then only one 4×0.6mm² cable is required up to the transceiver. Reflective photocells cost a little more, but if wiring has not been laid, they offer an immediate solution without repairs and 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 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 kit 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 specifications:

• It has 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 and tear on the mechanism and the garage door.
• It accepts safety photocells that stop movement when they encounter an obstacle during the door's closing and start the reverse movement (opening).
• There is an available setting for automatic closing of the door with user selection of the closing start time. The use of photocells is essential for the automatic closing function.
• There is an option for electric braking.
• The opening direction is adjusted with a microswitch.
• The panel can accept push buttons (keypad 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 panel has been tested by thousands of users and has proven to be extremely reliable. In addition, it features functions such as force adjustment, slow start and stop, which make it one of the best choices on the market today.

ProfelmNet PSD-36T Sliding Gate Mechanism Remote Control

The ProfelmNet PSD-36T remote control is tested and reliable. It has 4 buttons to which we can configure 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 perfectly with the Autotech S5060T control unit.

Sliding mechanism installation procedure - Summary

In summary, 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 checks, the motor base is installed. It requires a stable foundation. Usually, a reinforced concrete base is the appropriate solution.
• Mounting the motor onto the base.
• Rack installation.
• Installation of accessories (if any).
• Check for proper operation of the installation and explain all details for safe use to users.

The above are simply a brief overview 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 operate correctly. Below, the exact placement point is defined depending on whether the door opens to the right or to the 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 these steps:

1. Push the gate 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 gate leaf.
2. Push the gate 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, proceed with the installation. If this condition is not met, there are 2 options:

• Compromise that the gate leaf will not open completely (but will open to the point where it reaches a distance C from the base). This solution is chosen if the clear opening is sufficient and what remains continues to meet our needs.
• Extend the door in length, by extending the gate leaf. It can be extended lengthwise 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 hardware. 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 collaboration. Often, the door's design 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 in cases where the rack has been placed with its teeth facing downwards (this is the recommended and most common solution).

H1 = 38mm (motor mounting base height)
H2 = 77mm (base top part to gear top part)
H3 = 15mm (gear top part to rack spacer axis)
H1+H2+H3 = H4+H4+H5 = 130mm (base bottom part to rack spacer axis)
H4 = 72mm (base top side to rack bottom part)
H5 = 20mm (rack bottom part to rack spacer axis)
H6 = 10mm (spacer axis to rack top part)
H1+H4 = 110mm (base bottom part to rack bottom part)
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 the mechanism's installation. There are two cases:

• If there is already a rack, we check if the height at which it has been installed 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 change the rack's position (uninstall and reinstall).
• If there is no rack already, we check if at the desired rack installation height there are available mounting points on the door. Otherwise, we will have to install the entire structure higher by shaping the foundation where the mechanism's base will be placed.

A key 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 path instead of simply pushing it. This will cause wear and tear and problems in its operation will sooner or later arise.

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

Manual operation of Motorline BRAVO 500 sliding mechanism

The manual operation procedure for the Motorline BRAVO 500 mechanism is simple and easy for all users. With the key, open the release 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 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 both upwards and downwards.