Most people use their garage doors to leave and enter their homes several times in a day, and as such, garage doors are subjected to frequent opening and closing. However, despite so much use and dependence on garage doors, most homeowners have got no idea how these doors work. They only get concerned about their garage door systems when something breaks unexpectedly impairing the functions of the door. As a homeowner, it’s important to understand the mechanics, parts, and operations of your garage door system so that in case of a glitch, you can easily identify it and call for a repair.
One of the main parts of a garage door that every homeowner needs to familiarize with is the overhead electric motor, otherwise known as the garage door opener. A door without an opener is just like a decoration, as it can neither open nor close and in that case, how will you get in and out of the garage?
Garage door openers come in different shapes and sizes, and, therefore, for you to know which one is best for you, you need to understand how they work. The working of an overhead electric motor isn’t complicated, and so, it won’t take you long to master the concept. Let’s roll it out below.
The Anatomy of the Operator
- Motor and Gears: The motor is connected to a volt outlet and its work is mainly to overcome the inertia of a stopped door. It also slows down a door in transit and prevents it from crashing to the floor.
- Drive Guide: Also known as the T-trail, this track directs and shields the drive mechanism (it can either be a screw, belt, or chain) as it closes or opens the door. It mainly connects the operator to the trolley which is then connected to the garage door.
- Height Adjustment: The settings of the operator determine how far the door can go. The machine controls the motion of the door and makes adjustments in case the door isn’t closing or opening completely. It can also adjust the force of the door’s motion so that it stops moving when held.
- Inverter and Battery: Most garage door openers use DC current for smaller and more efficient motors. The inverter converts the household AC power to DC, which runs the motor. The DC power is also used to charge a battery that kicks in when there’s a blackout.
The Types of Drive Mechanisms Available
- Belt: This is one of the quietest and most expensive drive options we have.It rotates through a gear on the operator top to pull the trolley.
- Chain: This is one of the oldest and cheapest technologies. It’s slightly slack when the door is open and is quite noisy (produces a racket sound).
- Screw: This drive wears out the trolley more quickly than the other options, but it’s quite affordable and the noise level is average. A continuous threaded shaft connects the operator to the trolley, and its arm reaches for the door.
Get to learn how your overhead electric motor works, so that you do your repairs on time. If you need to replace your garage door opener, you can check the available options online. Do this as you purchase your white king bed stead online.