CHUXAWAY SCX

SCX – PREMATURE BATTERY EXHAUSTION

If your batteries are draining prematurely, the check the following potential causes:

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1) Door and motor unit not properly aligned.

Please  note that the top of the door must make clean contact with the microswitch that protrudes from under the motor unit, otherwise the motor will continue to try opening the door and drain the batteries.  If you are not using the door that we supply, please ensure that it makes clean contact with the limit switch on the underside of the motor unit.  If the door fails to activate the limit switch at the top of travel, then the unit will maintain power to the motor after opening and this will drain the battery.  Also please ensure that the door does not weigh more than circa 1Kg.

It is also important to ensure that the cord attaches to the door in a manner that the cord pulls vertically (in all planes) until the rising limit switch is activated, otherwise it will strain if it pulls at an angle at the end of its travel and then it is possible the motor remains engaged instead of cutting out as a result of clean activation of the microswitch………this would result in premature battery exhaustion!

The diagram below shows correct engagement of the aluminium door that we supply:

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Please click here to see a video showing an example of poor alignment, and click here to see a correct alignment video. 

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2) Cord wrapped wrong way – “yo-yo” effect.  (Door Jammed open).

If the control unit is in “CLOSE” mode, then it will try and lower the door.  The motor stops running when the cord goes slack. If the cord never goes slack (e.g. because the cord is not long enough or is pulled tight when in closed position), the motor will spin till the cord unwinds fully inside the motor control unit and then winds the cord the other way around the motor pulley (like a yo-yo) and then it will lift the door.

As the unit then thinks it’s closing the door, the upper limit switch has no effect, and the door jams open.  If left unattended in this condition, the batteries will become prematurely exhausted.  

We have created a video to detail the condition and how to avoid and resolve it at this link. 

If this has happened because the cord is not long enough then either extend the cord or replace it.  See this link if replacing the cord.  Otherwise, to correct the condition perform the following:

1) Turn off the power pushing the toggle switch up

2) Gently but firmly push the door down until the upper limit switch is released (it will be stiff due to the motor gearing)

3) Advance the Control Unit mode to “OPEN” using the MANUAL button

4) Turn on the power, pushing the toggle switch down.  The door should lower and when the door has fully lowered, maintain tension on the cord by keeping it taught with your fingers (pulling away from the motor unit).  At the end of its travel the unit will start to wind the cord back in and as it takes the weight of the door release the tension on the cord allowing the motor to lift the door again till it reaches the upper stop switch.