Can this garage door be automated?

[michaelbrat]

Trying to figure out how to add power to this garage door. I'm not sure what type it is technically. It's manual only, and has some kind of assist in the top drum, to aid in opening and closing. I haven't been able to figure out a way to hook up a garage opener system.

Any ideas guys? It's be great to get this thing on a clicker.

Thanks!
Mike B

 

[sloppy]

should be able to.. Usually its just a chain drive setup running off a motor.. Any door company should be able to set something up pretty easily..

 

[Stuart in MN]

It would require a commercial door opener designed for rollup doors, but sure it can be done.

 

[pepi]

Give this a wag to me 5 min to find

http://www.buydoorsdirect.com/elmoop.html

or full list

http://www.dogpile.com/info.dogpl/s...=roll+up+garage+doors+auto+open+and+close&ql=

Man o man using the search function in a browser is an amazing tool.

 

[rsanter]

Yes it can
Where I work we have several that have electrical openers

Bob

 

[Ironcrow]

Cable arrangment like they use on drawing tables:
http://www.versatables.com/products/drafting-table-parallel-bar/
to keep the bottom edge of the door parallel to the ground. Easy to come up with from parts at the hardware store.

Then get a regular residential opener from Sears and mount it vertically at one edge of the door.

 

[upndown]

check on line for Rolling Steel Doors..Usually requires a jack shaft opener. Any commercial door co should be able to hook you up! No cables involved, they have a shaft and a spring under the hood and just rolls up on top of its self.. similar to a venetian blind

 

[lisiecki1]

Looks to me like that door is a "shed style" door. It doesn't have a chain drive operator like a "commercial" door, therefore, a jackshaft opener does not work on it.

If this is the case, no, it probably can not be automated. Unless you replace it with a commercial style roll up door.

edit: I take that back, there appears to be brackets coming out from the wall that the door is mounted to. Maybe you have a commercial door that has never had an operator installed on it, chain or otherwise?

 

[Milton Shaw]

I have one like that and a shaft out each end and have a sprocket and opener added to it. Mine is on the right side but they can be mounted on either side. Commercial door places is where you need to check.

 

[Ron Fletcher]

I would check this out first. If it is the cheaper door that they put on regular metal buildings, it might not be designed to have a motor/pulley on one side of the door. It could **** to one side and hang up. The heavy metal roll up doors are designed to have a motor raise it up. Mine won't roll up grabbing it by one side. The best way to tell is to try and open it by raising one side and see if it binds. (Yours looks just like mine) If it does, it may cost more than it is worth to motorize it.

 

[Norcal]

A now closed used building supplier had a couple of those for $50 each, single phase too, never had a use for them so let em be...

 

[michaelbrat]

Thanks for all the feedback. Definitely gives me more than a few places to start.

I think I'll give a professional a call and see what they say. Though a jackshaft seems to be what I need. Below is a closer pic of the drum.

I'll be sure to keep you guys updated with any progress. Thanks again for the tips, it's greatly appreciated

Mike B

 

[Lsylvia]

Were you ever able to work out putting an opener on your door? I am in the situation.

Thanks

 

[broncorick]

If not ordered with these can not be retrofitted according to the roll up door place.

 

[broncorick]

If not ordered with these can not be retrofitted according to the roll up door place.

 

[TooMuchHair]

I just put a manual chain hoist on my 16' W x 13'-6" H sectioned overhead door. I love this thing and it only cost about $85.. http://www.ebay.com/itm/261163235441?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[upndown]

I just put a manual chain hoist on my 16' W x 13'-6" H sectioned overhead door. I love this thing and it only cost about $85.. http://www.ebay.com/itm/261163235441?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

I agree! Nothing wrong with a little exercise, plus operating a big *** door manually allows you to feel if the door is binding anywhere. Brush a little Slip-It in the guides and good to go.

 

[txturbo]

all you need is a chain sprocket attached to the shaft at the top. Then use a regular chain drive garage door opener mounted on the wall. Shorten the chain and readjust the limit switches.

 

[upndown]

Never seen one done like that! Sounds like a headache to me.

 

[Kevin54]

If you can lift it by hand, I'm wondering if you can mount a standard garage door opener off to the side., but you would have to rig a cable and a pulley to it. Shouldn't be too hard if you can weld things up to make a pulley bracket.

You may also be able to run a pulley off of the existing shaft and mount it to a motor and a belt, that the motor is reversible. It can be a homemade deal depending on ingenuity

BTW......welcome to Garage Journal. Be sure to update if you do something, and hope to see you around more on here. But be prepared. Once you enter the Garage Journal Zone......Wallets tend to become lighter

 

[txturbo]

Never seen one done like that! Sounds like a headache to me.

Look at one that has a manual chain opener. All it is is a sprocket with a loop of regular chain around it. To automate it just change the type of sprocket to a bicycle chain sprocket and hook it to a chain drive garage door opener. Sounds pretty simple to me.

 

[txturbo]

BTW....that looks like the commercial roll up door used on public storage units.