Installing and adjusting the Sargent MPower 300 Low Energy Power Operator

I was invited to an installation of a SARGENT MPOWER™ 3000 Low Energy Power Operator at the Dugmore & Duncan distribution warehouse in Corona, Calif. A portion of the warehouse has been dedicated as a training facility; providing hands-on lock hardware education for locksmiths. Framed doors are mounted to the walls, equipped with different mechanical and electro-mechanical lock mechanisms and closers.
The SARGENT MPOWER 3000 Low Energy Power Operator is designed to provide slow speed power door opening. The MPOWER 3000 is UL listed in the United States and Canada for use on fire and smoke barrier doors. To accommodate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and ANSI A156.19, the opening time is adjustable, up to 30 seconds with 5 seconds being the minimum requirement. In addition, the closer portion of the unit meets the requirements of A156.4 (Door Closers).
To ensure the minimum opening and closing force required and to eliminate back-drive, the MPOWER 3000 drive train and motor does not activate when the door is opened manually. The door closing cycle is controlled by the internal Grade 1 mechanical door closer that has adjustable closing force and backcheck. In the event of power failure or if the unit is turned off deactivating all control functions, the door will close by means of the closer.
When the door is opening under power, the MPOWER 3000 low energy power operator has obstruction detection to prevent accidents. The motor automatically stops if an obstruction is detected during the powered opening cycle.
For this article, we installed a SARGENT Series 3060 Low Energy Power Operator on the pull side of a left hand opening 1-3/4” thick hollow metal door with an accommodating opening of 111 to 180 degrees. The power operator was equipped with a rigid arm and slide track configuration. The hollow metal frame face and reveal were of appropriate size to accommodate mounting the unit without modification.
Note: Before installing any lock hardware, make sure the door swings freely through the entire opening and closing cycles. If not, make repairs to ensure proper operation.
SARGENT recommends that when the MPOWER 3000 is installed onto a hollow metal or aluminum door and frame, the frame be reinforced. The minimum thickness of the frame material and the reinforcement total .1524”. The recommended reinforcement thickness total should be at least .2092”. As an alternative for a 12 or 14 gauge unreinforced hollow metal or aluminum frame, blind rivet nuts can installed into the frame. For wood doors and frames, use a sufficient length screws to secure the unit to the frame header.
For this installation, use the provided template to locate the six holes to be drilled into the face of the frame for 1/4-20 machine screw size blind nut rivets and the two 7/8” diameter holes (or pre-drilled) into the frame for wiring. Locate the three 3/8” diameter holes in the door. The slide track assembly is secured to the door using the provided sex nuts and screws. The slide track is mounted with the opening up and the bumper towards the hinges.
Before drilling the holes in the frame, place the unit against the frame, making sure the screw holes are in the proper locations. Repeat this procedure before drilling the holes for the slide track assembly.
For this installation, the MPOWER 3000 was mounted onto the frame using blind nut rivets. The blind nut rivet requires a closed or open end wrench and a hex wrench to tighten a threaded rivet onto both sides of the drilled opening. When properly drilled and installed, the blind nut rivet is very secure. Blind nut rivets are sold for specific thread sizes.
Once the blind nut rivets were installed, the Series 3060 Low Energy Power Operator was mounted onto the frame using Phillips head 1/4-20 screws. Note: The unit must be mounted with the door closer body just above the top of the door.
The slide track assembly was installed using the screws and sex nuts.
Once mounted, the slide arm must be assembled and installed. With the arm rod slid into the tube, the distance between the spindle square and the slide stud should be 13-1/2”. Install the 9/64” hex drive socket head screw to secure the arm rod in place.
The closer must be pre-loaded in order to position the spindle for the arm. Use a crescent wrench on the top of the spindle to rotate the spindle clockwise and mount the slide arm onto the bottom of the spindle. Secure the slide arm onto the spindle using the 1/4-20 flat head screw with countersunk washer. Tighten the screw using a 7/16” wrench.
The stud end of the slide arm is mounted into the slider in the slide track. Before installing the stud, make sure the retainer clip in the slider is extended. If so, slide the stud into the opening and press the retainer clip against the slider. The retainer clip will keep the slide arm in place.
Test the operation of the closer. Open the door completely and allow it to close and shut the door. Adjust the power adjustment using a 1/8” hex wrench as necessary. The power adjustment screw can be turned up to eight revolutions to increase the power to maximum. For this application, no adjustment was required.
Adjust the sweep speed and the latching speed of the closing cycle. The ADA requires that from an open position of 70 degrees, the door must take at least three seconds to move to a point three inches from the latched position. Measurements are made at the leading edge of the door.
Adjust the backcheck on the opening cycle. The backcheck slows the door as it opens to help prevent the door from opening to the maximum. Too much backcheck can prevent the operator from opening the door. Too little backcheck will allow the door to open too quickly.  Note: Always adjust the backcheck as the final adjustment.
Power the unit and make the necessary adjustments to be sure the mechanism is in proper operation. This includes jumping terminals 1 and 2 and adjusting the open position ring to set the open position of the door. If a problem occurs during adjustments, press the breaker switch on the end of the unit to “RESET”. This will return the electronic adjustments to the default positions.
The final series of adjustments is to the inverter. Always use the Trimpot adjuster through the finger guard. Never use a metal Phillips head screwdriver to adjust the inverter.
The six inverter POTs are to increase or decrease the operation. Clockwise rotations will increase; counterclockwise rotation will decrease. The six inverter POTs are:
CL- Obstruction Detection on Open
MAX- Door Open speed
MIN- Motor Reversing Speed
DEC/B- Hold Open Time (5-30 seconds)
ACC- Door mounting (factory set)
COMP- Motor torque at Hold Open Position
Once the SARGENT MPOWER 3000 is in adjustment and operating properly, the final step is to install the Wall Switch. For this installation, a standard normally open momentary dry contact wall switch was installed running one wire from the #1 and #2 positions on the four connector terminal. Test the operation of the Wall Switch.
The SARGENT MPOWER 3000 Low Energy Power Operator is available for push or pull side applications. Power operation can be activated via a wall switch, radio frequency device or motion sensor. The MPOWER 3000 has a SPDT relay for interfacing with latching or locking devices. The SARGENT MPOWER 3000 comes with a two-year warranty.
For more information, contact your local locksmith distributor or SARGENT Manufacturing Company, 800-727-5477, Web Site: www.SARGENTlock.com.