A typical sliding garage door layout naturally includes the door leaf which has rollers at its bottom. The rollers must be well-maintained to avoid hindering 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 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, to automate the door, we mount the metal (or plastic) rack on the door leaf. The rack is a toothed rail that cooperates with the gear of the mechanism to transmit motion.

The motor is placed at the center of the door's travel so that it always has contact with the door. It has a gear that transmits motion 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 if there is an obstruction in the door's path. If an obstruction 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 remote controls' range is not desired, an external antenna can be installed to amplify the signal.

Below are detailed descriptions of the wiring required for a sliding garage door mechanism and 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 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 photocells with a reflector are used, only one 4×0.6mm² cable is required up to the transceiver. Photocell with reflectors cost a little more, but if the wiring has not been laid, they provide 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 ideally 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 board for sliding gate operators

The Autotech S5060T control board is included in the set and integrated into the mechanism. It is a control board that combines simplicity of use with all necessary functions and has been proven reliable over time. 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 a possibility for 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 detect an obstacle during door closing and initiate reverse movement (opening).
• There is an available setting for automatic door closing with the user choosing the closing start time. The use of photocells is essential for automatic closing.
• There is an option for electric braking.
• The opening direction is adjusted by 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 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 board has been tested by thousands of users and has proven to be extremely reliable. In addition, it features functions such as mechanism force adjustment, soft start and stop, which make it one of the best choices on the market today.

ProfelmNet PSD-36T Sliding Gate Opener Remote Control

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

Sliding mechanism installation procedure - Summary

In summary, the steps for installing a sliding gate opener are as follows:

• Check that the door operates smoothly manually.
• Check for existing wiring or install new wiring.
• After checks, proceed with the installation of the motor base. 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 the proper functioning of the system and explain all details for safe use to 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 gate automation base

The base of the sliding gate opener must be positioned at a specific point for the motor to function correctly. The exact placement of the base is defined below, 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. Push the gate leaf, by hand, to the fully closed position. Place the mechanism 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 condition is met, the installation proceeds. 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). Choose this solution if the free opening is sufficient and what remains continues to meet your needs.
• Lengthen the door, extending the gate leaf. It can be lengthened 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 design of the door dictates where the rack will be placed so that there are mounting 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 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 already been placed 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 up by shaping the foundation on which the mechanism's base will be placed.

A key 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 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 too large, the cooperation between the gear and the rack will not be correct, and jolts and stresses will be created in the motor. Therefore, special attention is required to create this gap.

Manual operation of Motorline BRAVO 500 sliding mechanism

The manual operation of the Motorline BRAVO 500 mechanism is a simple and easy procedure for all users. With the key, we open the disengagement door and push it to the fully open position. The garage door now operates manually. With the reverse procedure (closing and locking the door) we re-engage the mechanism.

 

Motorline Bravo 500 mechanism - gear

The Motorline Bravo 500 sliding mechanism 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 that it allows the rack to be installed with the teeth facing upwards or with the teeth facing downwards.