Eliminate Garage door sensors?
- Thread starter DaveL.
- Start date
dirttracker18
Well-known member
The guy who was killed by his door was ironically doing the same thing that most of the guys on here that disconnect their sensors do, hit the button and duck under the door. Unfortunatley something likely caught his attention for a second, when he turned around he hit his head on the door and fell underneath.
Ironic isn't it? Many guys that have them disconected did so to duck under the door.
I like having the sensors there myself. Not so much for me but for all the other people that don't have the respect they should have for a garage (wife, kids, friend/neighbor borrowing a tool, etc.).
I just mounted my pad close enough that I can stand outside the door, reach around and hit the button
FWIT - My openor is over 10 years old and never had a sensor issue
I am now off to find some other old thread to dredge up, this fun
Ironic isn't it? Many guys that have them disconected did so to duck under the door.
I like having the sensors there myself. Not so much for me but for all the other people that don't have the respect they should have for a garage (wife, kids, friend/neighbor borrowing a tool, etc.).
I just mounted my pad close enough that I can stand outside the door, reach around and hit the button
FWIT - My openor is over 10 years old and never had a sensor issue
I am now off to find some other old thread to dredge up, this fun
Buckgnarly
Well-known member
OK, in the name of science and all the "dare devil" "death defying" Evil Kneivels in the history of humanity, I decided to test my garage door. I have had the anti-"child, small dog, cat/kitten killer, generall stupid person" mod (commonly known as no door sensors) done on my door for a while now. I was worried I may cause the early demise of one of the previous mentioned poorly represented group of victims (in addition to myself apparently!) so I decided to risk life and limb (literally) to boldly go where no human (that lived apparently) has gone before.......the business end of this killing machine known as a "garage door".....on with the test. Please, if small children or animals are around, you may want to shield thier eyes with graphic display to follow........
First, door with nothing to show the door can in fact close with current settings (note I do have insulation on the door)........
Next, door test with 12 pack box. For scientific purposes, this is an "Ecco-Box" (read that VT hippie) from a 12 pack of Vermont Long Trail Ale. I am currently working on finishing said 12 pack, hence the poor subtle humor in this post....
(note no catastrophic death of box)
Finally, after MANY beers, I worked up the nerve to test this horrbile, crippling, killing machine suspiciously know as a "garage door opener".....please DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME! It has been know on the internet to kill small children, animals, and stupid people......
Notice I moved my foot before and after to show that this is not some half assed magic trick, but indeed a true test of nerve in the face of the mutilator known as the "garage door" without sensor.
Please, take this demonstration and pass it along to all you know to so we can finally uncover this killer.....let my pain and risk taking not be in vain!
First, door with nothing to show the door can in fact close with current settings (note I do have insulation on the door)........
Next, door test with 12 pack box. For scientific purposes, this is an "Ecco-Box" (read that VT hippie) from a 12 pack of Vermont Long Trail Ale. I am currently working on finishing said 12 pack, hence the poor subtle humor in this post....
(note no catastrophic death of box)
Finally, after MANY beers, I worked up the nerve to test this horrbile, crippling, killing machine suspiciously know as a "garage door opener".....please DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME! It has been know on the internet to kill small children, animals, and stupid people......
Notice I moved my foot before and after to show that this is not some half assed magic trick, but indeed a true test of nerve in the face of the mutilator known as the "garage door" without sensor.
Please, take this demonstration and pass it along to all you know to so we can finally uncover this killer.....let my pain and risk taking not be in vain!
My garage door has the sensors disconnected because they just got ripped out over the years, I have to hold my button until the door is totally shut. If you let go of the button before it just goes back up. No safety hazard at all, a big inconvenience though.
darkk
Well-known member
Where the hell do you guys come up with this stuff???? this is an urban legend...it never really happened.
Heh. I like the sensors. Keeps me from accidentally shutting the door on the car.
I have three doors, only one has the sensors. Another will get them as soon as I get off my ****.
If you want to be able to close the door, you can always run a second button wired in parallel to the first, placing it just inside of the garage door itself. I have those on both of my shop doors so I can close them while standing essentially outside, by reaching in.
Or, you can install a keypad. They even make keypads capable of operating multiple doors, and more than one system within a given brand, for around $35. My Genie keypad will open both kinds of Intellicode systems and both of the Intellicode-compatible receivers.
I have three doors, only one has the sensors. Another will get them as soon as I get off my ****.
If you want to be able to close the door, you can always run a second button wired in parallel to the first, placing it just inside of the garage door itself. I have those on both of my shop doors so I can close them while standing essentially outside, by reaching in.
Or, you can install a keypad. They even make keypads capable of operating multiple doors, and more than one system within a given brand, for around $35. My Genie keypad will open both kinds of Intellicode systems and both of the Intellicode-compatible receivers.
Notice I moved my foot before and after to show that this is not some half assed magic trick, but indeed a true test of nerve in the face of the mutilator known as the "garage door" without sensor.
Please, take this demonstration and pass it along to all you know to so we can finally uncover this killer.....let my pain and risk taking not be in vain!
Please don't take this the wrong way, but would you trust the pressure detector to reverse itself quickly enough if it closed on your neck while you are laying on your back, without tightening the muscles in your neck?
I ask because that's probably the kind of force that could pin and suffocate a small child.
I don't have sensors on one of my normal-use doors, as they weren't there when we bought the house. We live in a cul-de-sac where none of the other residents have children, and right now we don't have any either. Thus, I haven't exactly been in a rush to install them. But, when we have children of our own I don't want to have to worry about it, so they will be installed.
Buckgnarly
Well-known member
I have no children, don't plan on it, and if there is a random kid in my garage I would hope it crushes his/her windpipe b/c they would be trespassing.....kidding, but really there are NO children anywhere near my house, I do not live like insects in housing developments!
If a guest or one of my nieces or nephews is unsupervised in the garage there are much more deadlier things out there also.As for the sensor, after "crushing" my foot I would by all means trust it...if it works and does not fail. Of course if a person is so worried about the pressure sensor failing, you better double up on that chain b/c if it breaks that door is coming crashing down. Perhaps when going in and out of the garage you should also wear a helmet (probably full face too in case you fall forward) in the event the door hits you in the head.....maybe kneepds to in case you fall on your kness....probably get my point.
I don't mean to tell anyone to take off their sensors, but between snow and sunlight I had enough of mine. I posted this b/c I was honestly curious last night and was messing around. I know the "risks", and feel comfortable not having sensors based on my living conditions....of course, everyone's situation and comfort level is different, so do as you please. I was just tired of hearing the domesday scenerios everyone hears about from a cousin's brother's sister's uncle.
OldTC
Well-known member
Hmmm,...I'll have to go check mine but I'm pretty sure if the closer senses resistance,.........it raises the door back up.
My lights are taped together and were tossed up in the attic somewhere by the installer. At my request.
I think I'll go test the resistance sensor on mine with the wife's cat.
My lights are taped together and were tossed up in the attic somewhere by the installer. At my request.
I think I'll go test the resistance sensor on mine with the wife's cat.
Ric in Richmond
Well-known member
Make everything idiot proof and you just get more idiots....
OldTC
Well-known member
"Natural Selection"........8th grade biology, Mr. Epperson's class.
Comment: Make your own decisions about what you consider acceptable risk in your home. If you can't figure out how to bypass these sensors on your own without the internet, put down the sharp tools and let the adults make the decisions.
Presumably the door controls for a shop an AP mech would work in aren't accessible to children. Presumably the shop is not accessible to children. Not a relevant story.
Presumably the door controls for a shop an AP mech would work in aren't accessible to children. Presumably the shop is not accessible to children. Not a relevant story.
Sureshot
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I never read through all the posts but have some experience with the results of the old style door.
A young man who was dating a fave niece of mine for a signifigant amount of time had his only sibling killed under a door when they were both young children. He witnessed it and has many problems today because of the traumatic effect. Maybe it was mishandled by family or whatnot after the fact I have no way of knowing. This young man comes from a professional home, inherited his fathers supreme intellect, and could have the world at his fingertips but is instead filled with demons and can't break the downhill spiral of broken relationships,booze,DUI,s etc.
I am usually all for the Darwin aspect but one does need to consider who are the vulnerable ones.
A young man who was dating a fave niece of mine for a signifigant amount of time had his only sibling killed under a door when they were both young children. He witnessed it and has many problems today because of the traumatic effect. Maybe it was mishandled by family or whatnot after the fact I have no way of knowing. This young man comes from a professional home, inherited his fathers supreme intellect, and could have the world at his fingertips but is instead filled with demons and can't break the downhill spiral of broken relationships,booze,DUI,s etc.
I am usually all for the Darwin aspect but one does need to consider who are the vulnerable ones.
cowboyjosh
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2010
- Messages
- 1,066
I recollect as a youngster getting the ever living daylights beat out of me when the folks caught me running under the garage door (old heavy wood door with a Stanley opener) while it was in motion, this was of course pre-photo reverse sensors and the auto reverse if the door struck a object.
I too am all for the Darwin aspect, but some safety items in the home aught not to be compromised. I think we over do safety now days with the liberal mindset "if it saves one life", but things like smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, garage door auto reverse sensors, and GFCI's, make todays homes much safer then houses of yesteryear.
I too am all for the Darwin aspect, but some safety items in the home aught not to be compromised. I think we over do safety now days with the liberal mindset "if it saves one life", but things like smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, garage door auto reverse sensors, and GFCI's, make todays homes much safer then houses of yesteryear.
Last edited:
slghmmr88
Well-known member
Had an wood frame double garage door with glass windows and applied wood shutters on door facing (very heavy-built 1959) break the right hand counterbalance spring on the way down with a liftmaster opener and a worn drive gear which let go when the spring snapped. Door came down hard, very hard, I mean shook the whole house. Would have done serious damage to anything in its path cause the bottom rail of the door was 2X6. All the auto reverse sensors or pressure switches wouldn't do one dam bit of good.
Worked on a home for a customer that had 2 double doors with t-111 and 1X3 trim nailed on them. There were 4 springs and 2 mid bearing supports installed on it an the opener still moaned and groaned. I would not want to be around that one if a couple of those springs let go, cause the only sense that will save you then will be your Spidey sense.
Worked on a home for a customer that had 2 double doors with t-111 and 1X3 trim nailed on them. There were 4 springs and 2 mid bearing supports installed on it an the opener still moaned and groaned. I would not want to be around that one if a couple of those springs let go, cause the only sense that will save you then will be your Spidey sense.
mmhouse
Well-known member
powerplant
Active member
- Joined
- Apr 20, 2011
- Messages
- 25
The company I work for had someone killed by a garage door. Not that it makes any difference, it was a very large industrial roll up garage door (in a building used to house D11 Cat / Dozers). Guy hit the close button, walked around the front of the Cat blade, tripped on something and fell just under the garage door as it was closing. The door crushed / suffocated him. Not sure the details but it's my guess that the sensing eye was dirty and didn't do it's job.
I just moved into a new house and found that all 3 garage doors re missing the sensors. Installing them is on my priority list, I did go set all the emergency retracts to function properly in the meantime. I found all of them set way too high and would have crushed my kids if they were stuck under the door for sure.
Another option if you don't want to use sensors (and it may have been posted already).... you can wire a control device to function as a dead man switch where the person closing the door needs to keep their finger on a button for the door to close. Obviously the switch needs to be in line of site of the door. I doubt this option is desirable though.
We now have a company policy that nobody travels under a moving garage door. That 2 properly functioning safety devices are present or the dead man switch method is used. Working at a coal fired powerplant sometimes the dead man switch method is the only option as coal dust tends to dirty up sensing eyes very quickly.
I just moved into a new house and found that all 3 garage doors re missing the sensors. Installing them is on my priority list, I did go set all the emergency retracts to function properly in the meantime. I found all of them set way too high and would have crushed my kids if they were stuck under the door for sure.
Another option if you don't want to use sensors (and it may have been posted already).... you can wire a control device to function as a dead man switch where the person closing the door needs to keep their finger on a button for the door to close. Obviously the switch needs to be in line of site of the door. I doubt this option is desirable though.
We now have a company policy that nobody travels under a moving garage door. That 2 properly functioning safety devices are present or the dead man switch method is used. Working at a coal fired powerplant sometimes the dead man switch method is the only option as coal dust tends to dirty up sensing eyes very quickly.
I doubt there even was a sensor- they work by interrupting line-of-sight, so they're more likely to fail-safe than to fail where they're a danger.
powerplant
Active member
- Joined
- Apr 20, 2011
- Messages
- 25
I know this thread is super old and my post count doesn't really reflect how long I have been lurking on this site. Being a safety manager, this stuff facinates me. Im a weird safety manager though as I support less government pushed safety. The govenment has never been to my house and doesn't know my situation but they still think they know what's best for me. If people want to be stupid and it doesn't affect me or anyone else I say go for it. Unfortunally when these stupid people hurt/kill themselves it probably affects my pocketbook as I have to pay higher taxes to cover cleaning up the dead bodies or to cover their doctor bill.
I see the term "common sense" thrown around a lot and I don't think there is or has ever been such thing. Basically we are all from different backgrounds and there are many things that are not "common" between any of us, what is "common sense" to me may not be to you. Back in the day it may be better stated that ignorance is bliss" rather than "we had more common sense". Remember... there is a big difference between ignorance and stupidity.
When people are hurt/killed certian people will always feel compelled to do something about it to try to prevent it from happening again even if there are already 20 devices/policies in place already. Many good things can come from this but there have been and will continue to be some real kneejerk reactions resulting in cumbersom equipment/policies that flat out dont work. Who wouldn't disagree that examples such as seatbelts, airbags, hardhats, safety glasses, hearing protection arent great things that have helped a lot of people. If you disagree there are statistics that say different.
I know I talk out of both sides of my mouth. Nobody likes an idiot, you can put 20 safety devices on a garage door and the idiots will still find a way to hurt themselves and point the finger at someone else. But.. when the statistics show that a safety device works... why not use it?
I'll get off my soapbox
I see the term "common sense" thrown around a lot and I don't think there is or has ever been such thing. Basically we are all from different backgrounds and there are many things that are not "common" between any of us, what is "common sense" to me may not be to you. Back in the day it may be better stated that ignorance is bliss" rather than "we had more common sense". Remember... there is a big difference between ignorance and stupidity.
When people are hurt/killed certian people will always feel compelled to do something about it to try to prevent it from happening again even if there are already 20 devices/policies in place already. Many good things can come from this but there have been and will continue to be some real kneejerk reactions resulting in cumbersom equipment/policies that flat out dont work. Who wouldn't disagree that examples such as seatbelts, airbags, hardhats, safety glasses, hearing protection arent great things that have helped a lot of people. If you disagree there are statistics that say different.
I know I talk out of both sides of my mouth. Nobody likes an idiot, you can put 20 safety devices on a garage door and the idiots will still find a way to hurt themselves and point the finger at someone else. But.. when the statistics show that a safety device works... why not use it?
I'll get off my soapbox
dirttracker18
Well-known member
Since this thread was brought back up, for those that advocate that the sensor will set the door to go back up,
If the eyes can fail so can the sensor. My feeling is that you may never have kids, animals, whatever at or near your shop but what about that one time that your buddy comes by with his kid and something happens.
I am just saying that I could never live with that happening. It's not like big brother uses the sensor eyes to see what is happening in your garage. The safety features are there because it makes the unit safer. Idoits or not.
For the record I also keep my emergency brakes in good working order on all my vehicles. Just saying.
If the eyes can fail so can the sensor. My feeling is that you may never have kids, animals, whatever at or near your shop but what about that one time that your buddy comes by with his kid and something happens.
I am just saying that I could never live with that happening. It's not like big brother uses the sensor eyes to see what is happening in your garage. The safety features are there because it makes the unit safer. Idoits or not.
For the record I also keep my emergency brakes in good working order on all my vehicles. Just saying.
Buckgnarly
Well-known member
So this got me to thinking of the dreaded "killer garage door" situations.....in terms of a chain "driven" door, is the max force not the door dropping from it's highest position?
That is, a chain "lowered/raised" unit cannot "crush" you as long as the chain itself does not break...the chain cannot transfer power to the ground as a door is lowered, it would only get slack. Obviously if the chain breaks the door can come down with a pretty good force, but it cannot be pushed down by a chain.
get it?....am I right?
This all goes out the door for a screw driven door however, so keep it to chains.....I am now quite sure I have wasted too much of my life discussing and thinking this!
That is, a chain "lowered/raised" unit cannot "crush" you as long as the chain itself does not break...the chain cannot transfer power to the ground as a door is lowered, it would only get slack. Obviously if the chain breaks the door can come down with a pretty good force, but it cannot be pushed down by a chain.
get it?....am I right?
This all goes out the door for a screw driven door however, so keep it to chains.....I am now quite sure I have wasted too much of my life discussing and thinking this!
eldirector
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 18, 2008
- Messages
- 608
So this got me to thinking of the dreaded "killer garage door" situations.....in terms of a chain "driven" door, is the max force not the door dropping from it's highest position?
That is, a chain "lowered/raised" unit cannot "crush" you as long as the chain itself does not break...the chain cannot transfer power to the ground as a door is lowered, it would only get slack. Obviously if the chain breaks the door can come down with a pretty good force, but it cannot be pushed down by a chain.
get it?....am I right?
This all goes out the door for a screw driven door however, so keep it to chains.....I am now quite sure I have wasted too much of my life discussing and thinking this!
Not a garage door expert, but from my own experience:
A chain drive door can and does "push down" just as hard as any other opener. It does not use the weight of the door to close it. The chain actually drives a trolley to moves the door up and down.
My detached garage has a door that is balanced really well with its spring. I can open by hand and leave it partially open in about any position. It does not close itself when you let go of it. My old chain-drive opener got WAY out of adjustment once (not sure what happened - I think it jumped the teeth on the gear drive), and it closed with enough force to tear the sheet metal door opener mounts off of the door. Yeah, the "auto-reverse" feature didn't kick in until WAY too late. That opener is long-gone, now!
dirttracker18
Well-known member
No, the chain is a circular unit in that it attaches to itself via a cable. It can "push" the door down. This is how your door close tightly when closed. You adjust the force to close the door tightly creating a better seal.
The door will not close on its own by wieght. If this was the case you would not be able to open it due to weight. The spring keeps the door in balance. Without an opener you must "pull" the door down to close it. Much like the closer "pushes" it down to close it.
Make more sense?
tyyost
Well-known member
^^^It doesn't indicate he was using a door with an opener. lots of commercial shops in my parts with manual openers, get hit with an older wooden door and the same thing will happen.
Buckgnarly
Well-known member
yup, looked at the chain tonight when I got home, makes sense now.
I'd like to say that every garage door since 1993 should have a torque sensor on the gear atop the operator that reverses the door should the force exceed that needed to lower the door.
On my garage door, I can stop it with one hand.
Also, these safety eyes seem to be a problem for a lot of people, not only are they a secondary measure after the torque sensor, but the transmitting unit loses power after about 5 years and cost $50 to replace, because it seems you have to buy the transmitter and receiver in a pair. This seems like another government endorsed racket.
So, I made a circuit that you can connect between terminal 2 and 3 on the garage operator and it will simulate the undisturbed beam safety eyes signal. The 555B is a 555 Timer, the main component, which cost $1-$2, the rest of the components, 5 resistors, 2 capacitors, 2 mosfets, and 1 diode, probably cost around $3-$4, so about $5 instead of $50 and the bypasser should last indefinitely.
Be sure to check all laws and neighborhood codes first, of course. This circuit is for educational purposes, solely.
On my garage door, I can stop it with one hand.
Also, these safety eyes seem to be a problem for a lot of people, not only are they a secondary measure after the torque sensor, but the transmitting unit loses power after about 5 years and cost $50 to replace, because it seems you have to buy the transmitter and receiver in a pair. This seems like another government endorsed racket.
So, I made a circuit that you can connect between terminal 2 and 3 on the garage operator and it will simulate the undisturbed beam safety eyes signal. The 555B is a 555 Timer, the main component, which cost $1-$2, the rest of the components, 5 resistors, 2 capacitors, 2 mosfets, and 1 diode, probably cost around $3-$4, so about $5 instead of $50 and the bypasser should last indefinitely.
Be sure to check all laws and neighborhood codes first, of course. This circuit is for educational purposes, solely.
Last edited:
camarotoolman
Banned
Mine got wet, forgot to put the door down during a heavy rain. Is there a fix, its a Sears? I've got some wagons to smash before I scrap them.
i just put an opener in and i can see why people do away with em, they are in the way and they stick out plus my one year old loves to play with em. i'll say if mine give me any ****, they are going up high and out of the way, with all the different ways to get hurt in this old world, a g-door isn't really to high on my list of things to worry about
Building code/CPSC law requires you to install safety sensors 4-6 inches off the floor on each side of your garage door. You must use eye sensors, constant pressure to close (holding the wall button down), or an pneumatic pressure sensing edge. Any three of these are acceptable.
You can mount the eyes above the opener pointed at each other - although this defeats the purpose and poses a serious threat to safety. Imagine crushing the family pet or worse - a small child. It simply is NOT worth the gamble.
I would first test the photo eyes themselves to make sure they work. Clean the lenses and make sure they are getting a good connection to both the opener and the back of the eye sensor. Most connection issues are in either of these two areas. Check for dirt, dust and sunlight issues hitting the lenses. Use the existing wire and buy a new set of photo eyes. Connect the new set to your existing wire with plastic plugs. If that doesn't work check the opener for issues and/or rewire.
Liftmaster:
You can mount the eyes above the opener pointed at each other - although this defeats the purpose and poses a serious threat to safety. Imagine crushing the family pet or worse - a small child. It simply is NOT worth the gamble.
I would first test the photo eyes themselves to make sure they work. Clean the lenses and make sure they are getting a good connection to both the opener and the back of the eye sensor. Most connection issues are in either of these two areas. Check for dirt, dust and sunlight issues hitting the lenses. Use the existing wire and buy a new set of photo eyes. Connect the new set to your existing wire with plastic plugs. If that doesn't work check the opener for issues and/or rewire.
Liftmaster:
I'd like to say that every garage door since 1993 should have a torque sensor on the gear atop the operator that reverses the door should the force exceed that needed to lower the door.
On my garage door, I can stop it with one hand.
Also, these safety eyes seem to be a problem for a lot of people, not only are they a secondary measure after the torque sensor, but the transmitting unit loses power after about 5 years and cost $50 to replace, because it seems you have to buy the transmitter and receiver in a pair. This seems like another government endorsed racket.
So, I made a circuit that you can connect between terminal 2 and 3 on the garage operator and it will simulate the undisturbed beam safety eyes signal. The 555B is a 555 Timer, the main component, which cost $1-$2, the rest of the components, 5 resistors, 2 capacitors, 2 mosfets, and 1 diode, probably cost around $3-$4, so about $5 instead of $50 and the bypasser should last indefinitely.
Be sure to check all laws and neighborhood codes first, of course. This circuit is for educational purposes, solely.
Hello all,
New guy here.
Did you mount components on a circuit board? Pictures?
Hi Guys, was reading your posts with great interest, i have a lift master system installed with no safety sensors(no law requirements in Northern Ireland for these) but i have a four year old son and my double door made a lovely job of his trike when the wife accidently hit the remote. Can an off the shelf system be retro fitted to a lift master. Has anyone a gsm remote fitted to a door lift ?.
6768rogues
Banned
My doors have the sensors directly wired into the printed circuit board such that they cannot be bypassed or jumpered out. Unless you can rewire the logic board, they cannot be eliminated. I mounted them on the ceiling an inch apart, no kids around here anymore. I regularly check the reversing function of the doors and they still reverse before crushing a roll of paper towels. That is good enough for me.
There are 2 different thing being talked about here.
They both do the same thing but it different ways.
The older “reversing sensors” are a resistance measuring circuit. If the force to move the door, up or down, is too great these reverse the direction of travel.
These sensors are adjustable for the amount of resistance needed to activate them.
The newer sensors are a “seeing eye” light beam. The idea is to mount them low so if anything is in the doorway the operator will not function in the first place or will reverse if in motion. The door does not need to touch anything and thus meet a certain resistance before reversing.
The complaints come from the newer style. They trigger any time some walks through an open door.
This can annoy people working because it turns on the opener light circuit when the door is open.
They also keep people from ducking in or out while a door is coming down.
With a well installed and maintained door the force sensors can be adjusted so they reverse when hitting a box of breakfast cereal. Without any damage to the box.
The problem is that not one door in a thousand is that well maintained. The easy fix for a door that has been painted and is now heavier and needs more force to move it is to tweak the force sensor when it should be the spring that is adjusted.
So we get the new style that is a work around for the correct way.
They both do the same thing but it different ways.
The older “reversing sensors” are a resistance measuring circuit. If the force to move the door, up or down, is too great these reverse the direction of travel.
These sensors are adjustable for the amount of resistance needed to activate them.
The newer sensors are a “seeing eye” light beam. The idea is to mount them low so if anything is in the doorway the operator will not function in the first place or will reverse if in motion. The door does not need to touch anything and thus meet a certain resistance before reversing.
The complaints come from the newer style. They trigger any time some walks through an open door.
This can annoy people working because it turns on the opener light circuit when the door is open.
They also keep people from ducking in or out while a door is coming down.
With a well installed and maintained door the force sensors can be adjusted so they reverse when hitting a box of breakfast cereal. Without any damage to the box.
The problem is that not one door in a thousand is that well maintained. The easy fix for a door that has been painted and is now heavier and needs more force to move it is to tweak the force sensor when it should be the spring that is adjusted.
So we get the new style that is a work around for the correct way.
djkeev
Well-known member
I agree, keep the safety of the electric eye. What I did was add a doorbell button just inside of the door frame. Upon exit, I stand outside of the beam and push the button, I then walk away. Never a problem unless there is something blocking the beam.
Dave
Dave
djkeev
Well-known member
It's on the inside wall, doorbell button = cheaper than door opener button, works just as well.