Add-a-Motor D20 — Owner's Manual (Automatic Small Door Motor Lift)

Owner's manual for the Add-a-Motor Model D20 — an automatic motor that lifts and lowers small doors (chicken coop doors, pet doors, and similar small door openings up to 25 inches, up to 4 lbs). Timer and X-10 compatible.

Furnished Components

• 1. Housing
• 2a. Actuator (Tipped)
• 2b. Actuator (Flat)
• 2c. Stop Switch
• 3. Reel
• 4. Wall Bracket
• 5. Lock
• 6. AC-DC Adapter
• 7. Lift-Cable (not shown)

Features

• Lifts and lowers a door up to 4 lbs, with door openings up to 25 inches (door not included). Important: use plexiglass, aluminum, or tempered masonite door material — wood doors can swell and jam, damaging the motor.
• Motor winds a cable on/off a reel (like a fishing reel) and automatically stops at the open/closed positions you set.
• Can be operated by an AC timer switch, remote control, or X-10 control (control not furnished).
• Can also be run on a battery + 12-volt timer setup for remote/off-grid locations (~$75 in parts), optionally with a solar charger for battery maintenance.

Battery/Solar System Component Specs (if not using AC power)

• 12-volt Timer: digital or analog; label/advertising must include a rating such as "appliance, motor, fan, pump, HP, 1/4." Never use a timer with adjustable motor speed control.
• Battery: 12-volt, 8 Ah (Amp-hours) or more.
• Solar Charger: 12–18 volt, 1–2 Watts.

AC Timers and X-10 Controls (Not Supplied)

• Timer must have a minimum of 2 ON and 2 OFF settings per 24-hour period. Never use a timer with a dimming feature.
• AC timer must be labeled with at least one of: Appliance, motor, fan, pump, HP, 1/4, or 1/3.
• X-10 systems: use ONLY an Appliance Module — never an X-10 Lamp Module or any device with a dimming feature.
• Caution: Failure to comply can damage the motor's AC-DC power supply and void the warranty. Mount motor and control switch under roof, shielded from weather.

Safety Information

• Warning: small parts pose a swallow/inhalation hazard — keep children, pets, and chickens away during installation.
• If any body part, hair, or clothing becomes entangled while the motor operates, immediately actuate the Stop Switch and unplug the Adapter.
• Do not oil, modify, or disassemble the unit.
• The product may operate unexpectedly when controlled by a timer or remote — after installation, check all connections and Lift-Cable knots, and regularly observe operation.
• Replace the Lift-Cable if inspection reveals wear that could affect reliable operation.

How the Motor Operates

The Stop Switch works like a light switch but only stops the motor — it cannot start it. As the motor runs, one Actuator (Tipped 2a or Flat 2b) moves toward the Stop Switch while the other moves away; when an Actuator pushes the Stop Switch to the opposite side, the motor stops. After stopping, the motor won't run again until power is off for at least 3 seconds; when power returns, the motor runs in the opposite direction until the other Actuator trips the switch. Adjust the Actuators closer to or farther from the Stop Switch to set your desired open/closed stop positions.

Test the Motor Before Installing

1. Set both Actuators close to the Stop Switch (rotate by hand — they're tight).
2. Plug the round AC-DC Adapter plug into the motor, then plug the Adapter into an AC outlet. Caution: the motor runs immediately — keep fingers and clothing clear.
3. Observe: one Actuator moves toward the switch, the other away. Let the motor stop itself.
4. Unplug, wait 3 seconds, plug in again — the motor should now run in the opposite direction. Each time power is reapplied, the motor runs then auto-stops even if power remains on.

Installation Steps

If your door is a swing-open type, convert it to vertical lift-lower first.

1. Mark the door's centerline on the inside, then mark near the top of the door on that centerline.
2. Attach a cup-hook (not furnished) to the inside of the door at that mark (alternates: a bent nail through the door, or a drilled hole — must have no sharp edges/burrs that could cut the Lift-Cable). Caution: the hook/nail must not protrude past the exterior surface or restrict door movement.
3. Measure your door height, add 10 inches (e.g., 15" door height + 10" = 25").
4. Measure up from the top of the door by that total and mark the wall, directly above the door's centerline.
5. Position the Wall Bracket's vertical oval hole over the wall mark and drive a screw partway in; level the bracket vertically, then drive a second screw through the horizontal oval hole below. Note: the bracket has a front and rear side — the rear side's tabs go against the wall.
6. A 40" length of Lift-Cable (80 lb test fishing line) is supplied. Thread one end through the hole in the Motor Reel and tie a slip-knot or barrel knot close to the housing, pulled tight, leaving ~30"+ hanging free. Caution: only use 80# or 100# test fishing line — never metal cable or nylon cord (voids warranty and can damage the motor).
7. Slide the motor onto the Wall Bracket and lock it in place with the top Latch, leaving 4 ladder slots visible above the motor for future adjustment.
8. With the door closed, tie the Lift-Cable end to the door hook with 2+ knots (if using a drilled hole, line it with electrical tape first). If the cable is slack, you can raise the motor position in the bracket, or let the motor wind up the slack in the next step (read step 9 first).
9. Warning: the motor will run immediately in this step. Ensure the door is closed and both Actuators are near the Stop Switch, then plug the Adapter into a 110V AC outlet, ready to unplug quickly.
   • If the door reaches the desired open position: immediately unplug the Adapter, then manually move the Stop Switch to the opposite side (do not move it back), and rotate the corresponding Actuator (Tipped if switch moved left, Flat if moved right) until it touches the switch.
   • If the motor stops before reaching the desired open position: measure the remaining distance (each click on the "controlling" Actuator = ~1 inch of travel) and rotate that Actuator away from the switch by that many clicks. Unplug, wait 3 seconds, plug back in — the motor reverses direction and should close fully. Repeat and fine-tune by moving the motor up/down in the Wall Bracket as needed.
10. Plug the AC-DC Adapter into a timer or remote control receiver, then into an AC outlet (or see Battery Tips for a battery-powered setup).

Timer Operation

Timer must have a minimum of 2 ON and 2 OFF settings per 24-hour period.

• Auto-open each morning: set Timer ON for your desired open time (e.g. 6:30 AM), and OFF as soon as possible after (e.g. 7:00 AM). An OFF must follow every ON, or the motor won't run again.
• Auto-close each evening: same pattern with your desired close time (e.g. ON 7:30 PM, OFF 8:00 PM).
• Multiple open/close times: repeat the ON/OFF pairing for each desired trigger time.
• To trigger early, use the timer's manual ON switch; the motor operates and stops at the set position, then resumes its normal schedule on the next real OFF cycle.

Troubleshooting

Motor operates erratically (starts/stops repeatedly or doesn't run)

• Plug the Adapter directly into an AC outlet and test — if it works fine standalone, your battery voltage is low or your timer doesn't meet the required specs.
• Push the Stop Switch to the opposite side and back quickly several times, then retry.
• Check the Adapter's UL safety fuse hasn't blown — output should read 16–20VDC with a voltage tester (plug must be center-positive).
• Verify the AC outlet has power (test with a lamp).

Open/close sequence has reversed

• A power failure can reset timer settings — verify AM/PM, time of day, and that every ON has a following OFF.
• A timed event may have been preempted by manual override — see Timer Operation above.

Battery Tips

1. Fully charge the battery (12V, 8Ah) with the correct AC-DC charger.
2. Splice a spare center-positive AC-DC Adapter plug/cable to your timer's battery terminals (matching polarity), then plug the other end into the motor. Note: cutting the plug off the D20's included Adapter voids its warranty (though it can be re-spliced later).
3. Set the timer's time of day and open/close schedule. If your timer has a "feed duration" setting (3–30 sec), set it to 30 sec so it auto-switches OFF (no separate OFF setting needed). For all other timers, you MUST set an OFF 30 seconds to 1 hour after every ON.
4. Test with the timer's manual ON/test button. If the motor runs the wrong direction, reverse the cable leads at the timer terminals.
5. Optional solar charger: connect positive (red) alligator clip to battery positive, black to negative; aim the panel toward the sun's midday arc and clean it periodically.

Battery maintenance: batteries are not weatherproof — keep covered but ventilated (snow/rain can short terminals). Check voltage periodically: if 15.0V or higher, temporarily disconnect the solar panel (overcharging risk); if 10.9V or lower, the motor may start/stop erratically — disconnect and recharge, or add a panel/replace the battery.

Periodic Inspection

• Power interruptions can reset your timer's time-of-day setting — recheck AM/PM and ON/OFF settings periodically.
• Lift-Cable can stretch over time — check knots and door operation regularly.
• Replace a frayed Lift-Cable only with 80# or 100# test fishing line. Never replace it with metal cable or nylon cord — this will damage the motor.

Limited Warranty

Warranted against defective materials for one year from purchase date (Adapter warranty: 90 days). For service, call 888-233-6686 (8:30 AM–4:00 PM Arizona time, weekdays) or email info@add-a-motor.com to request a Return Authorization Number, then ship prepaid to: Add-a-Motor, Inc., 16044 E Star Gaze Trail, Fountain Hills, AZ 85268. Include proof of purchase, a problem description with your RA number, and your contact info.

Warranty is void if the Adapter is plugged into a lamp-only-rated receiver/timer, or if the product is modified. The Lift-Cable is not covered under any warranty. Applies to the original purchaser only.

Self-Repair Parts

• Gearmotor (basic repair skill) — Item No. 46555, $21.50 + shipping
• AC-DC Adapter (no repair skill needed) — Item No. 78907, $19.55 + shipping

Call 1-888-233-6686 to order parts or obtain a Return Authorization Number before returning a motor for repair (typical repair cost $24.95–$34.95 including parts and labor).