A typical sliding garage door setup naturally includes the gate leaf, which has rollers at the bottom. The rollers must be well-maintained to avoid hindering the movement of the door and mechanism.

The rollers move on a rail that must be firmly fixed to the ground. The rail 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 so that they always maintain contact with the door. They must be stable and prevent the door from deviating 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 both when opening and closing.

Next, for door automation, we install the metal (or plastic) rack on the gate leaf. The rack is a toothed bar 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 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 are the safety photocells. 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 send a command to the mechanism's control panel, and the closing of the door 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 remote control's 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 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 install 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 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 has not been installed, they offer an immediate solution without repairs and extra work.
• A 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 S5060Τ control panel for sliding garage door mechanisms

 

The Autotech S5060Τ control panel is included in the kit and is integrated into the mechanism. It is a control panel that combines simplicity of use with all the necessary functions and has been tested over time. It works perfectly with the Motorline BRAVO 500 mechanism.

Technical characteristics:

• It has a receptacle for the mechanism's limit switches.
• We can adjust the mechanism's force.
• There is the possibility for soft start and stop to reduce wear and tear on the mechanism and the garage door.
• It accepts safety photocells that stop 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 to function.
• 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 light without a flashing light 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 force adjustment, soft start and stop, which make it one of the best choices on the market today.

 

ProfelmNet PSD-36T remote control for sliding garage door mechanisms

 

The ProfelmNet PSD-36T remote control is tested and reliable. It has 4 buttons where we can set up 4 different mechanisms (gates, roller shutters, overhead garage doors, etc.). It has a fixed 12-bit code at 433.92 MHz. It has a modern design and works excellently with the Autotech S5060Τ control panel.

 

Sliding mechanism installation procedure - Summary

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

• Check that the door operates smoothly manually.
• Check existing wiring or install new wiring.
• After checks, install the motor base. A stable foundation is required. Usually, a reinforced concrete base is the appropriate solution.
• Mount the motor on the base.
• Install the rack.
• Install accessories (if any).
• Check proper operation of the installation and explain all details for safe use to users.

The above are simply a summary of the steps for installing a sliding mechanism. Inside the mechanism's packaging, you will find detailed, well-written, and easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions.

 

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 operate correctly. Below, the exact point where the base should be placed is detailed, 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 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:

• We compromise with the fact that the door leaf will not open completely (but will open until it reaches a distance C from the base). We choose this solution if the clear opening is sufficient and what remains continues to meet our needs.
• We extend 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 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 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 the case where the rack has been installed with the teeth 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 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 elevated foundation (the base can be placed on an elevated point 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 the height at which it has been installed 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).
• If there is no rack already, 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 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 gap does not exist, the mechanism is forced to carry the door along its entire path instead of simply pushing it. This will cause wear and tear and sooner or later problems will arise in its operation.

Conversely, if the clearance is large, the cooperation between the gear and the rack will not be correct, and jerks and stresses will be created in the motor. Therefore, particular attention is required to create this clearance.

Motorline BRAVO 500 sliding mechanism manual override

The manual override procedure for the Motorline BRAVO 500 mechanism is simple and easy 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), the mechanism is re-engaged.

 

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 downwards.