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 door's and mechanism's movement.

The rollers move on a track that must be firmly secured 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 have 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.

Then, for automation of the door, the metal (or plastic) rack is placed on the door leaf. The rack is a toothed rail that 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 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 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 remote controls' range is not desired, an external antenna can be installed to amplify the signal.

The following details the wiring required for a sliding garage door mechanism and all the 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 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 reflective photocells are used, only one 4x0.6mm² cable is required up to the transceiver. Reflective photocells cost a little more, but if wiring hasn't been done, they offer an immediate solution without repairs and extra work.
• The key-operated push button (keypad) or simple push button requires a 2x0.6mm² cable.
• The warning beacon requires a 1x1.0mm² or 2x1.0mm² cable.

The 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 panel for sliding garage door 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 time-tested. 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 that stop the movement when they detect an obstacle during the closing of the door and start the reverse movement (opening).
• There is an available setting for automatic closing of the door with the user selecting the start time of the closing. 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 a push button (keypad or simple push 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 has features 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 tested and reliable. It has 4 buttons on which we can set 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 exceptionally well with the Autotech S5060T control panel.

Sliding mechanism installation procedure - Summary

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

• Check that the door operates smoothly manually.
• Check if wiring exists or install it.
• After the checks, proceed with the installation of the motor's 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 for proper operation of the entire setup and explain all details for safe use to users.

The above are just summarized 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 in a specific position for the motor to operate correctly. Below, the exact position 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. 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 condition is met, proceed with installation. If this condition is not met, there are 2 options:

• Accept that the door leaf will not open completely (but will open up to the point where it reaches distance C from the base). This solution is chosen if the clear 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 contacts 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 good cooperation. Often, the design of the door determines 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 the case where the rack has been placed 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 axis of rack spacer)
H1+H2+H3=H4+H4+H5=130mm (bottom of base to axis of rack spacer)
H4=72mm (top side 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 elevated foundation (the base can be placed on an elevated spot 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 installing the mechanism. There are two cases:

• If there is already a rack, we check if its current height 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).
• 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 substrate 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 length instead of simply pushing it. This will create wear and tear, and sooner or later, operational problems will arise.

On the contrary, if the gap is too large, the cooperation between the gear and the rack will not be correct, and there will be jolts and stresses on the motor. Therefore, great care is required to create this gap.

Manual override of Motorline BRAVO 500 sliding gate opener

The manual override procedure for the Motorline BRAVO 500 mechanism is a simple and easy process 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 gate opener features a high-strength metal gear. The cover protects against the trapping of objects 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.