The Proteco Meko-8 mechanism has very good specifications and can cover most sliding garage door cases. In detail:

• 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.

As for 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 uses per hour 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. It has thermal protection to protect itself from excessive use.

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

Checking the dimensions of the Proteco Meko-8 mechanism

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 space is limited.

A typical sliding garage door setup naturally includes the door leaf, which has wheels at the bottom. The wheels must be well-maintained to ensure smooth movement of the door and 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 vertically to the ground. They are placed in the middle of the travel so that they always maintain contact with the door. They must be stable and not allow the door to deviate 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, for door automation, we install the metal (or plastic) rack on the door leaf. The rack is a toothed bar that cooperates with the motor'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 is the safety photocells. The safety photocells are placed on either side of the opening and check for any obstacles in the door's path. If an obstacle is detected during the door's closing, the photocells signal 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 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 specific 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 from the electrical panel.
• Wired photocells require 4×0.6mm² cables for the receiver and 2×0.6mm² for the transmitter. If photocells with a reflector are used, then only one 4×0.6mm² cable is required to the transceiver. Reflector photocells cost a little more, but if the wiring has not been installed, they provide an immediate solution without patching and extra work.
• The key button (keypad) or the simple button requires a 2×0.6mm² cable.
• The warning beacon requires a 1×1.0 mm² or 2×1.0 mm² cable.

Wiring should be done by a qualified electrician. Special care must be taken to protect the cables from moisture as these installations are outdoors.

Autotech S5060T sliding garage door mechanism control panel

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 pairs perfectly with the Proteco Meko 5 mechanism.

Technical specifications:

• It has a receptacle 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 that stop movement when they encounter an obstacle during door closing and start the reverse movement (opening).
• There is an available setting for automatic door closing with the user choosing the start time of the closing. The use of photocells is essential for automatic closing.
• There is an option for electric braking.
• The opening direction is adjusted with a microswitch.
• The panel can accept a button (keypad or simple button).
• The panel can accept a 230VAC warning beacon 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 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 mechanism remote control for garage door

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

Operation of sliding gate photocells

Photocell is a product that significantly increases safety in the use of a sliding mechanism with minimal cost. These specific photocells (IR5001P) are extremely reliable and operate with a voltage of 12-24 VDC or 12-24 VAC, making them compatible with most panels on the market. They have been on the market for years and do not present problems. They require no maintenance and are quite reliable even in difficult weather conditions.

Photocell operation: The transmitter emits an infrared light beam, in the invisible 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 door's closing and begin the reverse movement (opening). If the beam is interrupted while the door is opening, it continues its path normally, while if it is open, it is not allowed to start closing.

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

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 pieces, 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 to the door. The rack is then screwed onto the spacers. The rack has oval holes for the spacer screws. This allows for small vertical adjustments of the rack.

Special attention must be paid during the installation of the metal rack to the necessary clearance between the gear and the rack. This clearance should ideally be 1.5mm. This clearance is such that the rack cooperates perfectly with the gear. If the clearance is larger, the rack will "kick" and the door's movement will not be smooth. If this clearance 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.

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 the wiring if present or installing it.
• After the checks, the motor base is installed. A stable foundation is required. Usually, a reinforced concrete base is the suitable solution.
• Mounting the motor on the base.
• Installing the rack.
• Installing accessories (if any)
• Checking the proper functioning of the setup and explaining all the 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 package, you will find detailed, step-by-step instructions, well-written and easy to follow.

Disengagement of Proteco Meko-8 sliding automation

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

PROTECO MEKO 8 mechanism gear

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

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

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

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

The set is delivered ready for installation as it has been checked by our technicians and the remote control is programmed.

Installation instructions for the sliding garage door set

The set comes with detailed instructions in Greek. They have been prepared by us to be easy to follow even by people who are not directly involved in the field.

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

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

CE Declaration of Conformity

Installation Manual

Commercial brochure for Proteco Meko sliding automation