Scooting through this thread from 5 years ago, I came upon this. It's pretty funny. There was a windstorm that tumbled the coop at night. See the coop is upside-down and in spite of it, the ADOR1 opened that morning. Some of these stories are too good!Installed ADOR1 last night. Appears that it worked this morning.
Yes, it is designed to be mounted out in full weather, even on a fence.
This post is from 5 years ago, but here is a little history about the pulsating. At first we didn't know what the pulsating was due to. It was not a show stopper but it is nicer if it slides smoothly and most of the early ones did. But we found out the cause and this is what it is. If the sprocket is pushed too far into the sprocket holes, it pulsates or "gallops". Not really a bad thing but it can be adjusted out. If the sprocket is too far away from the sliding panel, then the teeth of the sprocket can jump OUT of the holes sometimes. Usually, if the cover is screwed on, it holds the floor of the battery box still so that it doesn't flex...when it flexes, the sprocket can slip out of a hole. On early units the adjustment, if necessary, was accomplished by a spacer (washers) where the lower left corner of the box is fastened to a stud in the frame. The washers were placed on the lower left stud behind the box. That shimmed the motor away. Later the design was changed... maybe in 2013 or 2014, I'm not sure. but the screw holes in the box were made slotted so this could be adjusted. Another change made later on is a #8 split washer was put under the locknut on the lower left stud INSIDE the battery box. Then the locknut is to be tightened fully and then backed out exactly one turn. The split washer acts as a one-turn spring and absorbs some of the pulsating caused by teeth sliding in/out of sprocket holes. By the way, most of the friction of the sliding door is not in the slides, but where the teeth of the sprocket slide in/out of the holes. WD40 is a safe and easy way to lubricate the sprocket teeth, holes, and guides. I'd mention also that we changed the torque specs on the motor in late 2013 so later motors had better torque at lower battery voltage after that.
I have been using it for about a month. No problems.
I've been using it for a year and have had no problems. I thought I would dislike the 6v batteries but they last so dang long that I don't even notice. Plus I also bought a rechargable one
. I've yet to have a single malfunction. Very satisfied.
