How to open the gate when the light goes out (types of automation and unlocking systems)
If you have automatic garage doors installed, then this makes your life a lot easier: you don’t have to waste effort opening the garage doors manually. However, car owners living in suburbs or areas with frequent power outages ask how to open the gate if the power goes out?
First, power outage problems will not occur if you have a battery backup installed. This device will ensure automatic operation of entrance or garage doors if an unscheduled power outage occurs. But often we forget about such important and useful things. Therefore, if you don’t have a backup battery, don’t despair! There are several ways to solve the problem depending on the type of gate. Let's figure it out.
Emergency opening of swing gates
If you have automatic swing gates installed, then an unlocking mechanism will come to the rescue. For emergency opening, you need to use the key that usually comes with the gate. We insert the key into a special hole on the drive and unlock both doors. The garage door can now be opened.
Emergency opening of swing gates without a key. To urgently unlock swing gates, remove the electric drive levers from the wings. This is not difficult, the main thing is to act carefully: first, unscrew the four bolts, after which we easily disconnect the drive not only from the doors, but also from the support posts.
Unlocking sliding gates
If you have to deal with sliding garage doors, there won’t be any particular difficulties either, since their unlocking is identical to swing ones. The only peculiarity is that the cylinder with a turnkey hole can be installed in two places - on the movable structure itself or on the side rails. A special key will help unlock the electric drive. It is worth remembering that unlockers vary depending on the manufacturer. But the algorithm of actions is the same. Even if you do not have such experience and have a “complicated” relationship with technology, do not worry: you will quickly understand the principle of operation.
To urgently unlock sliding garage doors without a key, you need to remove the rack or the electric drive itself. The choice depends on what is easier to remove. But such work requires serious skills and it will be difficult for a beginner.
Unlocking automatic sectional doors
To unlock these gates, other methods are needed. The specificity of sectional doors is that they are controlled using cords. If the drive is a bulk type, then the cord hangs directly on it. If the engine is rack and pinion, the cord hangs from the carriage. To release the lock, pull it out. Heavy gates need to be unlocked differently. A chain gearbox is inserted into the drive itself. When there is no power, the gearbox switches from the electric drive to manual control. Pull the chain: the gate starts to move.
Opening roller gates
A key is not needed for this type of gate. The kit should include a hand crank. We insert it into the box, after which the canvas will begin to move if you turn the knob. It is important to know that in manual mode the roller blade lowers and rises slowly - the gate is open.
Automatic garage doors today are not a luxury, but a completely natural attribute of a car enthusiast accustomed to comfort. Let unexpected situations often happen in life. Now one of them has become less. After reading this article, you will be able to open your garage door when the power goes out. You are not afraid of power outages.
We also recommend that you familiarize yourself with the range and prices of garage doors in Kyiv or use our services and repair gates of any complexity with a guarantee.
Unlocking automatic sectional doors
Unlocking such gates is somewhat different. Control occurs via a cord, which can hang directly above the gate motor or can hang from the carriage if the motor is rack-and-pinion type. All you need to do is make sure that the door is in the fully closed position, otherwise the open position is dangerous because the whole weight of the gate can fall and cause serious damage, including bodily harm. The emergency release cord is then pulled, which disconnects the cart from the carriage and the door opens manually.
If the gate is heavy, you need to use a chain reducer and attach it to the motor, then pull the chain and open the gate.
If the culprit is not electricity, but a broken or unbalanced spring, it is better to contact specialists for repair work.
Schemes and drawings of structures
If you use roller doors in the garage exclusively for driving your car in and out, you can give preference to the classic version of the surface: solid, without decorations or additional parts.
Article on the topic: What kind of metal garage Ford 56 for Sue
Often, decorative elements and design moves are added to the external design of automatic roller shutters for garage doors in order to highlight the structure against the general background.
But the lifting mechanism has its own resource, and its repair is often expensive. Therefore, for a walk-through garage or warehouse, it is better to consider roller gates with a wicket door and a handle.
This option will eliminate the need to use the automation many times, and will allow you to exit through the door whenever possible. On the other hand, such a solution adds cost to the structure.
What are they for?
Roller shutters are designed to protect premises. They are used in a variety of cases: as protection on windows, as doors on garages and commercial containers, to cover store windows during non-working hours, even to divide an office into sections.
They can have different appearances, making them fit very well into any interior. It does not have to be a standard rectangular design, they can be custom made to fit irregularly shaped holes. A special box is provided for rolled up roller shutters so that they do not spoil the appearance of the room. You can even hide this box inside the wall.
Description
Important! Roller shutters are divided into electric and mechanical, depending on the roll-up system.
They are mostly made of metal, but there are also plastic versions.
Roller shutters perform several functions at once. They decorate the room, protect against the entry of strangers, can cover from excess light and, with the advent of new technologies, help with thermal insulation. Roller shutters consist of four parts: the canvas itself, the control mechanism, guides and control elements. Installation is possible at any stage of construction. Unlike bars on windows, roller shutters prevent vandals from breaking glass.
How to remove paint from roller shutters on entrance doors
Very often, vandals paint graffiti on roller shutters. In this case, it is better to remove the paint immediately, but if for some reason the disgrace was noticed after a few days, then there is also a way out.
Cleaning process
When removing paint, you need to take care of your own safety - wear gloves and a protective mask. After this, you need to apply the solvent liquid onto the unwanted pattern with smooth movements, trying not to touch the roller shutter fabric itself. The liquid should sit there for about 5-10 minutes.
Article on the topic: How to cover a garage roof with roofing felt
After this, you can remove the paint with a soft cloth. It is better to remove paint from technological crevices after completing the main cleaning with a thin brush dipped in a solvent.
What is the best way to remove paint?
If the drawing is completely fresh, then a quick wipe with white spirit or any other construction solvent will do. If the paint is already old, then you need to use a special solvent “Removing Old Paint”. It does not corrode the paint on roller shutters, but it removes drawings with a spray can very well.
[adinserter block=”50"]
How to remove roller shutters
To dismantle you need to prepare. If they are electric, then first of all you need to disconnect them from the network. In the case of mechanical roller shutters, the main difficulties will be in removing the frame, because the frame together with the canvas is very heavy.
Filming
Dismantling begins by winding the canvas into a box, then disconnecting the limit switches from the shaft. If the control is manual, then first remove the control fastenings using a screwdriver, then use a key to remove the box fastenings. At the very end, the guides are dismantled. If the roller shutters are electric, then you need to disconnect the roller shutters from the main control, wind up the cable, and then calmly dismantle the box and guides in the manner already indicated.
What will you need for this?
Hammer, screwdrivers, wrenches of various diameters, protective gloves. More detailed information can be found in the instructions for the roller shutters.
How to fix
There are a number of common breakdowns of roller shutters that you can fix yourself.
Common breakdowns
If foreign objects or dirt accumulate in the guides, the slats may become deformed or fall out of their grooves.
In this case, a complete replacement of the canvas may be necessary, but in most cases it is enough to go through the canvas and replace the deformed lamellas. If this breakdown is not corrected immediately, it leads to deformation of the guides, blockers, and lock. In this case, only replacing the damaged part will help.
When heavy objects fall from above, deformation of the box itself usually occurs. The canvas does not move out at all or does not work correctly. Depending on the extent of the damage, it is necessary to either replace the box or straighten it. Deformation of the guides is also possible, the repair is the same.
Sometimes the side plugs on the canvas fall out. In this case, the blade immediately jams in the guides. It is necessary not only to replace the plugs, but also to completely reassemble the blade; there is no other way to pull it out of the guides.
Article on the topic: How to sell a garage correctly
Electric roller shutters may have problems with the power supply. This can be noticed because the mechanism stops responding to commands or executes them incorrectly. In this case, it is necessary to replace the fuses or wire.
What are they repairing?
To repair roller shutters, depending on the breakdown, you may need screwdrivers, a hammer, a sledgehammer, a set of sized bolts and nuts, and additional spare parts.
How to open roller shutters without electricity
Typically, electric roller shutters have a backup manual mechanism for such cases. If it is not provided, you need to get to the box and separate the limit switches. Then the only problem will be the weight of the canvas itself. Usually in the electric version it is quite heavy, but the inertial mechanism will help you lift it.
Important ! During manual opening of the roller shutters, the mechanism must be disconnected from the power supply.
How to connect electric roller shutters
Before installing the roller shutters, it is necessary to accurately select the location and lay holes for the power cables. After this, you need to connect the power unit and the wall switch, adjust the limit switches that directly move the shaft, and check the operation of the system.
Connection Tips
There are usually places in the roller shutter box to attach excess wires, so there is no need to try to save it. To lay power cables, a hole with a diameter of about 12 mm is usually drilled, this is quite enough. Before installing roller shutters, you need to check the instructions; they usually indicate the types of cables, all color codes and connection diagrams.
Connection safety precautions
Before starting work, you need to make sure that when laying technical holes, no other cables in the wall will be affected. All connections must be terminal only, with additional protection with brackets. The entire system must be connected to the electrical network after complete assembly.
How to open roller shutters without a key
When attempting to open electric roller shutters without a key, you must ensure that they are unplugged. Mechanical ones are usually equipped with a spring-inertia mechanism. Therefore, when trying to open it without a key, you need to hold the blade by the special stoppers and under no circumstances rest your palm on the blade. Deadbolt locks can be opened without a key only from the inside, by unscrewing the fasteners. Then the lock must be carefully loosened in the groove until it allows both bolts to be pulled out.
To open electric roller shutters without a key, you need to dismantle the box, disconnect the limit switches and pull the ends of the springs out of the holes on the shaft.
Article on the topic: Garage with rails leading into it
How to attach
The mounting of roller shutters depends on their type. The box can be mounted outside or inside the opening.
Types of fastening
If the box is installed on top, then it is better to use dowels, expansion anchors and other fasteners of this type. For internal installation, expansion anchors must be used. If there are metal structures, it is necessary to use self-tapping screws; wooden structures require through studs. Additional elements are always attached with self-tapping screws.
[a[adinserter block=»51"]p>
How are they attached?
To fasten roller shutters and their elements you will need a screwdriver, hammer drill, drill, wire cutters, hammer, marker, tape measure, screwdrivers, rivet gun, indicator screwdriver, ladder and sealant.
How to setup
First of all, the spring-inertial mechanism requires adjustment. Although the instructions recommend calculating the strength of this mechanism using a special table, it is better to do this by eye. It is necessary to screw the spring onto the shaft several times, attach the canvas in place and, holding it with your hand while lifting, make sure that its lower stops rest against the edge of the box. After receiving the result, adjust the number of skeins accordingly - wind up or loosen.
In mechanical roller shutters without a spring-inertial mechanism, adjustment is simple. It consists in the number of revolutions of the blade around the shaft. Adjustment is carried out by opening and closing the roller blind until the desired length is reached. If the canvas does not reach the edge of the opening, lamellas are added to it; if it overlaps, the lamellas are removed.
How to adjust electric roller shutters
Electric roller shutters are adjusted by shortening or increasing the duration of shaft rotation. This indicator is adjusted by the location of the limit switches. The position of the switches is adjusted using a regular screwdriver, which is used to tighten the screws.
Which ones are better to choose?
According to their purpose, roller shutters are divided into garage doors, which use more durable wide profiles, roller shutters for doors and windows, and protective grilles with perforations. Garage doors are usually used in garages, storage areas, retail outlets and the like. Roller shutters for doors and windows can also be used to protect a glass roof from the elements. Protective grilles with perforation primarily serve an aesthetic function; they are used not only outdoors, but also indoors.
Tips for choosing
When choosing roller shutters, you need to decide on their purpose, take measurements of the opening and choose the type of installation. The easiest way is to install the roller shutter box outside the opening, but this makes it an easy target for vandals. Therefore, they usually choose to install the box inside the slope. The overhead installation is suitable for residential buildings and private garages that are already in use. Where security and intrusion protection are paramount, it is better to choose the built-in option.
Article on the topic: How to build a garage with a residential attic
Slats for roller shutter curtains can be made from different profiles. For private properties, light aluminum profiles are usually purchased. Retail outlets and other similar premises require reinforced anti-vandal structures.
The choice of control depends on the weight of the canvas itself. Up to 10 kg an inertial cord is suitable, up to 30 kg - gear and cardan mechanisms, then it’s worth purchasing a spring-inertial drive.
With a mechanical drive, a deadbolt lock is usually chosen, but in electric versions, special electric locks with keys and top locks are usually used. The second option is more reliable.
How to shorten in width
Important ! It must be remembered that cutting roller shutters to width yourself will lead to loss of warranty and possible breakdown of the spring-inertia mechanism.
The roller shutter blade, shaft and protective cover need to be shortened. The first step is to disconnect the blade from the shaft and pull out the side plugs. After this, the canvas is divided into separate lamellas and, using a grinder, shortened to the required length. Then the canvas is put back together and the side plugs are installed. The box is disassembled, the shaft is pulled out, which is cut to the same length using a grinder. You need to unscrew one side cover from the protective box, then shorten the box in the same way, drill new holes for fastening the side cover and screw it back. Put the whole system together.
In what cases should roller shutters be shortened?
Roller shutters are shortened if you made a mistake with the width of the opening when ordering. It is also possible to move it to a new location where the opening width is smaller than the previous one.
What you need to shorten
To shorten the roller shutter you will need a grinder, screwdrivers, a set of wrenches, a tape measure, a marker, and protective devices.
How to open protective roller blinds without light?
Roller shutters are your protection from thieves, wind, rain, fire. They come in different sizes, different types of material, motor, durability of the product and accessories included in the package. But they all face the problem of lack of electricity.
To avoid an unpleasant situation, we recommend installing:
- Protective roller shutters with an emergency unlocking system.
- Safety roller shutters that do not provide emergency locking.
The first type allows you to open the roller shutters when there is no electricity. Basically, such a motor is installed on the gate. Protective roller shutters are installed on windows extremely rarely due to the size of the box, which affects the final cost of the product.
It is not advisable to install protective roller shutters in suburban complexes, since you will have to manually go around all the windows and doors to close and lower the roller shutters, plus the mechanism itself will have to be installed inside the house and adjustments made during repairs.
It is economical and advisable to have a generator at the dachas, which in case of a power outage will not make you feel the difference and will help in the operation of all electrical appliances. Another solution is to install mechanisms on rechargeable batteries, which are easily recharged and can be used for long-term operation.
How to manually open electric roller shutters?
Roller shutters, roller shutters, roller gates are mechanisms that are used to protect large enterprises, houses, cottages, entrance doors or windows. They are quite capricious, as they overheat, sometimes stick, close only halfway, or do not work when the electricity suddenly goes out, and the very idea of how to open such a structure quickly becomes unbearable.
To avoid a situation where there is no electric power, we recommend installing an emergency device for opening, for example, a cardan version. It has greater lifting force than belt or cord drives. The cardan drive control unit can be installed both indoors and outdoors and operated using a handle. It is best to focus on a removable handle, which the owner will always have and minimizes the risk of the gate being unlocked by intruders.
If there is no backup manual drive
The situation in this case is complex, but also completely solvable: however, with a canvas weight of up to 30-40 kilograms. To open manually, you need to get to the box and carefully disconnect the limit switches from the structure. The canvas unlocked in this way, if it is not too heavy, can be easily lifted - the built-in spring-inertia mechanism can serve a good purpose in this case.
Precautionary measures
It is necessary to ensure that during the entire time that you spend manually opening the roller shutter, it is disconnected from the power supply: the electronic key must be in the “Off” position. When lifting the canvas, you need to stand next to it, and not under it - then the risk of injury is minimal.
Unlocking sliding gates
Sliding gates are unlocked identically to swing gates if you have the key provided in the kit. Some models may be equipped with a manual release lever or handle. The turnkey location can be installed on rails on the side or on a moving mechanism. It is important not to get lost and follow the instructions for emergency operation of the gate. If it is required for sliding gates, then it is necessary to remove the electric drive or rack.
Your steps to unlock automatic gates
The primary factors that may prevent the operation of automatic gates may be:
- lack of electricity supply;
- low batteries in the remote control;
- leaving the gate in manual mode for a long time, due to which it stops responding to electrical commands;
- a lot of insects have accumulated in the drive, which affect the response of the mechanism;
- There are obstacles in the path of the sensors that prevent your vehicle from being detected.
But whatever these factors are, you can always try to open the gate yourself, in manual mode. To do this, always refer to the owner's manual and keep the key and lever in a visible place.
If you are convinced that the gates have stopped working for other reasons, it is better to always contact Alumix specialists in Kiev, Dnepr, Kharkov, Lvov, Ivano-Frankivsk, Odessa and Rivne, who will identify and repair the breakdown, install and put into operation roller shutters, any gates, even the most complex design and drive within a strictly specified time frame.
Three ways to unlock automatic gates without light
Automated mechanisms and gates with electronics are today a luxury that can fail in the event of a power outage. The main thing in such situations is to have several effective methods in your arsenal that will help you quickly and easily open gates of even the most complex design.
The garage door must be completely closed before opening. Check the serviceability of the mechanism itself and make sure that you do not need the help of a specialist. Then check the chain to see if it is lubricated and running quietly. Next, make sure that the power to the entire house is turned off so that it doesn't suddenly turn on and shock you.
- Opening with a key. This method is suitable for sliding gates and swing gate models. The key opens the gate motor and unlocks it.
- Opening by cord or chain gear. The method is suitable for sectional doors, industrial doors and doors with automated roller shutters. They open without a key by manually turning and lifting.
- Alternative opening. It applies more to gates that are not equipped with a deadbolt lock. You will have to sacrifice one section of the gate and cut a hole around the motorized bracket for it to fall off. Then raise the gate manually.
But in order to minimize unnecessary costs, we recommend installing a deadbolt lock at the installation stage. Its advanced design with a handle, fastening mechanisms and a locking system will help you easily open the gate when the lights go out, while resisting burglary.
Also, when installing gates, we recommend installing additional accessories in the form of small gates with a low threshold or additional handles, which will make it a little easier to get into the garage if the electricity is turned off.
A wide range of accessories for different gate designs can be viewed and purchased on the website of the Alumix online store with delivery throughout Ukraine.
