The OPH is the heavy-duty jackshaft that does most of the hard work on commercial doors across the Lower Mainland, loading bays, warehouse mains, larger parkade entries. The OHJ is the same operator with an extra manual system added for grilles that need an egress path. They share a spec sheet, so they are covered together here.
What This Operator Suits
Heavy-duty standard, high and vertical lift sectional doors, rolling doors and grilles. Wall, hood or shelf mounted on either side.
OPH carries the Hoist-a-matic self-engaging chain hoist. OHJ carries the Hoist-a-matic *and* a floor level disconnect, and it exists for one specific reason: motorising grilles where a manual egress is required. If your building has a security grille over a retail frontage or a parkade with an egress obligation, the OHJ is very likely what is fitted.
One caveat straight from the manufacturer, because it decides whether this operator suits your door at all: the standard configuration is intended for properly balanced rolling steel doors with less than 80 lb of imbalance, rolling sheet doors, vinyl doors or equivalents. For larger rolling doors Manaras recommends an electrically activated drum-band solenoid brake as a mechanical modification. Fitting an OPH to a heavier rolling door without that brake is a specification error we do occasionally find.
Specification
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Motor | 60Hz high starting torque, continuous-duty, single-phase capacitor start or 3-phase, open drip proof, protected against overload. 50Hz 220V 1-phase and 380V 3-phase available |
| Output shaft speed | 41 rpm |
| Drive | #50 roller chain with 50B12 sprocket; door sprocket selected for 6″/s to 12″/s |
| Reduction | 5L/B V-belt first step, then chain and sprockets. 5/8″ input, 1″ output with 1/4″ keyway |
| Brake | Mechanical brake (solenoid brake available as a mechanical modification for larger rolling doors) |
| Manual operation | OPH: Hoist-a-matic self-engaging hoist. OHJ: Hoist-a-matic plus floor level disconnect. Electrical interlock cuts motor power when the hoist is engaged |
Duty rating in plain terms. Heavy duty, continuous-duty motor. The step up from the OMH/OMJ pair is real: #50 chain instead of #41, 41 rpm output instead of 36, and a continuous-duty rather than intermittent-duty motor. That is what lets it live on a door that cycles all day.
What Fails on This Unit
The reversing clutch is a consumable on this series. In a warehouse at 30 to 50 cycles a day it lasts three to five years; on a loading dock at 100-plus cycles a day, two to three. When it slips, the operator runs and the door does not follow properly. It is field replaceable and we carry it.
The manufacturer also notes the hoist is designed for light and limited use in the event of troubleshooting only. It is not a substitute for a properly working operator, and buildings that use it daily because ‘the door has been playing up’ wear it out fast.
Manufacturer Documents
Originals from Manaras-Opera, useful if the paperwork for a unit already in your building has gone missing:
- Specification sheet (OPH)
- Specification sheet (OHJ)
- Sell sheet (OPH)
- Sell sheet (OHJ)
- Dimension drawing (OHJ/OPH/OPJ/OSH)
Choosing Between Models
The OPJ is the same heavy-duty platform with only a floor level disconnect. If you are unsure which unit you have, the model code is on the data plate on the operator housing. Note the voltage and phase while you are there, and roughly how many cycles a day the door runs, those three facts decide most of what we would bring to a call.
See the full Manaras model reference for the whole range, or Manaras operator repair for service.
Parts and Accessories
Manaras publish a full accessory range that pairs with this operator: monitored and non-monitored photoelectric cells, light curtains, electric and pneumatic sensing edges, interface modules, push-button and key switch control stations, pull switches, keypads and card readers, radio receivers and transmitters, and traffic light kits.
One point that causes repeated confusion: on a UL 325 monitored circuit, a failed safety device makes the operator refuse to close. That is correct behaviour, not a malfunction. A door that suddenly will not close, with no other symptom, is very often a photo eye or sensing edge that has failed or drifted out of alignment.
- Accessory catalogue (PDF)
- Accessories and replacement components list (PDF)
- Radio Series 900 dip-switch compatibility chart (PDF)
- Radio Series 100 rolling code compatibility chart (PDF)
- Operator codes explained (PDF)
We stock the common wear items for the Opera and MEGA series, control boards, clutches, solenoid coils, limit switch assemblies and safety edges. Anything we do not carry we source through our distributor, and you will hear about a lead time before we attend rather than after.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I confirm I have a OPH?
The model code is on the data plate on the operator housing. If the plate is unreadable, which happens on older units in damp parkades, send us a photo of the operator and we can usually identify it from the frame and drive layout.
Do you stock parts for it?
We carry the common wear parts across the Opera and MEGA series. Model-specific components come through our distributor, typically within two business days.
Is it worth repairing or should we replace it?
Clutches, brakes, boards, limits, safety devices and wiring are repairs. A seized gear reducer or a burnt-out motor on a very old unit is usually a replacement. We tell you which one you are looking at and why, rather than leading with a new-operator quote.
Can you service a unit we did not buy from you?
Yes. Most Manaras units we attend were installed by someone else, often years ago.
The door will not close but opens fine. Is the operator dead?
Almost certainly not. That is the classic monitored safety circuit symptom, a photo eye, light curtain or sensing edge that has failed or moved. Check the lenses are clean, the alignment is good, and nothing is parked in the beam before assuming the worst.