A power cut does not mean being locked in, or leaving your door open. Our doors are designed to work by hand in a fault. This article explains the general idea behind manual release and how to prepare before you need it.
By door type
- Roller door: release the motor with the dedicated cable, then move the door by hand.
- Sectional garage door: it can be operated by hand in a fault or power cut.
- Window shutters: release the brake in the motor.
- Polycarbonate door: it works by hand in a power cut.
- Sliding gates: manual release. Swing gates: mechanical lock and manual key.
Why does a door need releasing first?
Door motors usually connect to the door through gears, a chain or a drive shaft, and that link resists hand movement so the door cannot simply be pushed open from outside. That is why most motors have a release mechanism, such as a cable, key, lever or brake release, that disconnects the motor from the door for a while so it can move by hand. This is also why you should not try to lift the door by force before releasing it: it can damage the gears or the slats.
Before a cut happens
The best time to learn the manual release is before you need it:
- On installation day, ask the installer to show you the cable, key or brake release, and try it once with them there.
- Keep the manual key for a swing gate where you can find it, out of children's reach.
- Agree at home or at the shop who knows the method.
- Keep the cable visible and not hung in a way that could hurt anyone.
- If the door is the only entrance to the building, think about a temporary alternative.
General steps during a cut
These are general steps and each door differs, so follow your installer's instructions:
- Make sure the door is not moving and nobody or no vehicle is in its path.
- Use the release method for your door type from the list above.
- Move the door gently and steadily, and do not let it drop or slam.
- For heavy doors, get a second person, and do not handle a large gate alone in strong wind.
- If you want to leave it closed, make sure it is properly locked before walking away.
Two tips
Do not force the door if you feel unusual resistance. When the power returns, put the motor back into drive mode.
If the power is back and the door still does not work
A general checklist before calling maintenance:
- Did you put the motor back into drive mode after the manual release?
- Is power actually reaching the motor? Check the breaker in the electrical panel.
- Is the remote battery good? Try the wall push button if there is one.
- Is anything blocking the track or the door's path?
- If there are photocells, are they clean and unobstructed?
If the fault continues, photograph the door and record what you hear, as that speeds up diagnosis.
Common mistakes
- Lifting the door by force before releasing the motor.
- Forgetting to put the motor back into drive mode, so the remote seems dead.
- Letting children play with the cable or the manual key.
- Tampering with the motor or opening its cover without a qualified technician.
- Standing under or in the path of the door during release.
Common questions
Do I need tools to release the door? It depends on the type: the dedicated cable for a roller door, the brake release for shutters, a manual key for a swing gate.
Does releasing it harm the door? The manual release is designed for faults and power cuts. But do not force the door if you feel unusual resistance.
Why does the remote not work after the power is back? First check that the motor was put back into drive mode after the manual release.
Can the problem be avoided altogether? Cuts can happen, but knowing the release method in advance makes it a passing inconvenience.
Summary
- Each door type has its own method: cable, brake, key or manual release.
- Learn it with the installer before you need it.
- Never force the door, and put the motor back into drive mode when power returns.
If the fault continues after the power is back, send us a photo or short video and we will guide you, or see maintenance and warranty. To learn about the door types: roller doors.