CMD180 Controller – User Guide
Setup, wiring, and the parameter reference for the AutoVent CMD180 controller.
Limit switches
What keeps the motor from rolling too far? The answer is the limit switches. There are 2 of them: an upper and a lower knob.
Can I change where the motor stops? Yes. The particular position of the limit knobs sets the stopping point.
There are 2 knobs, what does that mean? A knob only stops either the upper or the lower position. It takes both to stop at each end.
Adjusting the limits
How do I know which knob is for the upper limit position? The problem is it varies depending on the installation. It takes experimentation to figure it out for your installation.
How do I adjust the upper limit
- Determine which knob stops the motor from rolling upwards.
- Adjust the knob in small increments.
- Watch the stopping point.
- Run the motor to test the position.
- Repeat until the motor is at the desired position. This process is much easier with a 2nd person.
The center stainless screw locks the knob. Use your Phillips screwdriver to loosen it slightly.
I can’t turn the knob, what’s wrong?
The screw in the center of the knob needs to be loosened slightly.
My motor loses position, in a very short time
The screw in the center of the limit knob needs to be hand-screwdriver tight. If it is slightly loose the knob will move on its own.
How the limit switches work
The cams slowly rotate as the gearbox shaft turns. When a cam pushes the switch, the motor will stop.
Fabric rolling problems
My rollup fabric has a big lump in it and the motor wraps up too far. Fabric is tearing and everything is tight. What’s wrong?
The problem is the fabric isn’t rolling evenly. Bad rolling gets it to the top too soon. The motor doesn’t know it is winding up poorly. It goes the same rotation count regardless. Motor limits are dumb. They only know total rotations.
Unroll the fabric, pull it taut to remove all wrinkles. Try again until it rolls evenly.
Motor troubleshooting
The motor doesn’t go at all, even when it’s connected to a controller
Use a voltmeter, check if there is 24v at the end of the cord. Test voltage with the control opening and closing.
Can I connect the CMD-180 directly to an outlet?
Gearbox orientation
Does gearbox orientation matter? Yes, installed orientation is very important.
Why does orientation matter? Because it will ruin the motor if installed upside-down or sideways.
How do I orient the CMD-180? Install with the motor at the top. Always motor above the limit switches.
Setting the top position
How close can I set my top position?
Don’t set it too close. It will roll differently from summer to winter. You want about 6 inches of room for error.
Specifications
| Rated amps | 6 |
|---|---|
| Rated volts | 24vdc |
| RPM | 3 |
| Max rotations | 38 |
| Weight without accessories | 14 lb |
| Output shaft size | (2) 0.78″ |
| Max circuit breaker size | 7.5 amp |
| Max torque | 800 in-lb |
Motor wiring
Power the motor with an AutoVent Captain10, KVT-400, or CMR models.
Extending the motor lead
The wire length between the controller and the motor is limited. The limit is based on the wire gauge.
- 100 ft with a 14 gauge wire
- 200 ft with 12 gauge wire
- 300 ft with 10 gauge wire
Motor lead cord wire colors
The cord lead has 3 conductors.
Brown = power conductor A
Blue = power conductor B
Connect the brown wire on the right side, blue wire on the left, of a controller’s motor output terminals. If the motor runs the wrong way, swap the blue & brown.
Connection example for KVT-400 or Captain10
CMR connections
The CMR control can power 2 motors per board. Connect up to 2 motors where circled below. If the motor runs opposite of the CMR’s toggle switches, swap the motor’s blue & brown.
CMC-400 connections
The CMC controls can power 2 motors per board. Connect up to 4 motors where circled below. If the motor runs opposite of the CMC’s toggle switches, swap the motor’s blue & brown.
Circuit breaker sizing
AutoVent controls generally come with extra circuit breakers. Use the smallest size that doesn’t nuisance trip. The max size for this motor is 7.5 amps.
Motor torque
The CMD-180 max torque is approx. 800 in-lb. The largest circuit breaker/fuse we recommend is 7.5 amps. Under normal conditions, keep the load to 6 amps or less, so there is some reserve for unusual conditions.
The chart above shows amps versus torque. Above 6 amps, your load is too big.
Curtain size & rolling
How big of a curtain can I roll with a CMD-180
Our experience is, this torque is nominally 200 ft of bottom rolling curtain. With a 2 inch roll pipe and no ice.
Bottom rolling versus middle rolling curtain
We recommend rolling curtains from the bottom. Center rolling curtains turn 2 or 3x harder. They take way more torque. Especially if wind is blowing the curtain against grippy bird wire.