A typical sliding garage door setup naturally includes the gate leaf, which has wheels at its lower part. The wheels must be well maintained so as not to hinder the movement of the door and the mechanism.

The wheels move on a rail which must be firmly fixed to the ground. The rail must be straight without bumps or deformations.

Rollers hold the door vertically to the ground. They are placed in the middle of the travel so that they always have contact with the door. They must be stable and not allow the door to deviate from its path without, however, 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, for door automation, we install the metal (or plastic) rack on the gate leaf. The rack is a toothed rail which 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 has contact with the door. It has a gear which 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 obstacles 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 flashing light 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 amplify 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 particular 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 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 to the transceiver. Reflector photocells cost a little more, but if the wiring has not been laid, they provide an immediate solution without repairs and extra work.
• The key button (keypad) or simple 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 gate 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 the necessary functions and has been proven 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 the possibility of 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 door closing and initiate reverse movement (opening).
• There is an available setting for automatic door closing with the user's choice of closing start time. The use of photocells is essential for automatic closing to function.
• There is an option for electric braking.
• The opening direction is adjusted with a microswitch.
• The control panel can accept a button (keypad or simple button).
• The control panel can accept a 230VAC warning light without a flashing light 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 has functions 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 tried and tested. It has 4 buttons to which we can program 4 different mechanisms (gates, 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 Process - 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 checks, the motor base is installed. It requires a stable foundation. Usually, a reinforced concrete base is the appropriate solution.
• Install the motor on the base.
• Install the rack.
• Install accessories (if any)
• Check the proper functioning of the system and explain all the details for safe use to the users.

The above are just a summary of the installation steps for 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 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 this procedure:

1. Manually push the door leaf to the fully closed position. Place the mechanism 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 installation. If this condition is not met, there are two options:

• Accept that the door leaf will not open completely (but will open up to the point where it reaches a distance C from the base). We choose this solution if the free 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 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 cover the mounting screws. The base has a hole for the passage of cables, which must be positioned on the correct side.
 

 

Installation of mechanism (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 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 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 side 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 the installation of the mechanism. 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 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 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 on which 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 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 sooner or later problems will arise in its operation.

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

Manual override for Motorline BRAVO 500 sliding mechanism

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