A typical sliding garage door setup 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 firmly secured to the ground. The track must be straight, without bumps or deformations.

The rollers hold the door perpendicular to the ground. They are placed in the middle of the travel path to always maintain contact with the door. They must be stable and prevent the door from deviating from its path, but without impeding its movement.

Finally (for a door without a mechanism), the last accessories are the mechanical stops for the door. These define the final position of the door for both opening and closing.

Next, for automating the door, we install the metal (or plastic) rack on the door leaf. The rack is a toothed bar that engages 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 construction's safety 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 lamp 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 remote controls' range is not desired, an external antenna can be installed to boost 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 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 good to install a 3x2.5mm² cable. In any case, it is advisable that the mechanism's wiring starts 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 switch (keypad switch) or simple push button requires a 2x0.6mm² cable.
• The warning lamp requires a 1x1.0 mm² or 2x1.0 mm² cable.

Wiring should be done by a qualified electrician. Particular attention must be paid to protecting the cables from moisture, as these installations are outdoors.

Autotech S5060T sliding gate control panel

The Autotech S5060T control panel is included in the kit and integrated into the mechanism. It is a control panel that combines simplicity of use with all necessary functions and has proven itself 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 user-selectable closing start time. Photocell use is essential for automatic closing function.
• There is an option for electric braking.
• The opening direction is set with a microswitch.
• The panel can accept a push-button (keypad switch or simple push-button).
• The panel can accept a 230VAC warning lamp without a flasher or a 230VAC lighting lamp.
• It features 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. Additionally, it features functions such as mechanism force adjustment, soft start and stop, which make it one of the best choices currently on the market.

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 set 4 different mechanisms (gate openers, roller 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 procedure - Summary

In summary, the steps for installing a sliding garage door mechanism are as follows:

• Check that the door operates smoothly manually.
• Check the existing wiring or install new wiring.
• After checks, proceed with installing the motor's base. This requires a stable foundation. Typically, 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 system and explain all 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 packaging, you will find detailed, step-by-step, well-written and easy-to-follow instructions.

Position of the Motorline BRAVO 500 sliding automation base

The base of the sliding gate opener mechanism must be placed at a specific point for the motor to function correctly. Below is a detailed definition of where the base should be placed 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 for the base, follow these steps:

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

• Compromise by not fully opening the door leaf (but it 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 door leaf. It can be extended in length across 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 hide the mounting screws. The base has a hole for cable routing, which must be placed 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 dictates where the rack will be placed to ensure 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 teeth are 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 axis of rack spacer)
H1 + H2 + H3 = H4 + H4 + H5 = 130mm (bottom of base to axis of rack spacer)
H4 = 72mm (top of base to bottom of rack)
H5 = 20mm (bottom of rack to axis of rack spacer)
H6 = 10mm (axis 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 spatial 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 there is already a rack, we check if the height it has already been placed at 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).
• If 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 place the entire structure higher by shaping the foundation where 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 there is no such gap, the mechanism is forced to carry the door along its entire length of travel instead of simply pushing the door. This will create wear and tear and sooner or later problems will arise in its operation.

In the opposite case, 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. Therefore, special attention is required to create this gap.

Manual override for Motorline BRAVO 500 sliding gate opener

The manual override process for the Motorline BRAVO 500 mechanism is a simple and easy procedure for all users. With 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), we re-engage the mechanism.

 

Motorline Bravo 500 mechanism - gear

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