Bypass safety switch

[Bluehealer]

How do you bypass a safety switch on a garage door opener, I dont care about it may be illegal or that may be unsafe, I bought the damn thing I want the sensors disabled PERIOD!!!!!

 

[Old Man Roger]

My garage guy mounted them on the mounting bracket for the motor. He just aimed the light at the reflector.

 

[BCreekDave]

Simplest way may be to remove one side and pull it over face to face with the other side and tap them together. If anyone gets hurt, you are probably on your own as your homeowners insurance will probably abandon you.


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[Lucky13driver]

I did the same as Old Man Roger. I mounted them facing each other above the opener motor. We don't have children and the only time the garage doors are open I'm eather parking a car or working in the garage. I hate big brother telling me how to live my life.

 

[Bruce 993 SEA]

I mounted the sensor and reflector facing each other above the spring with enough wire to mount them in the normal place if someone in the future wanted them. In the old house they were a pain but they are not a big deal here.

The way the openers are designed, your have to have the sensors in place. You do not need to have them 12 inches of the ground.

 

[like2wheel]

I mounted the sensor and reflector facing each other above the spring with enough wire to mount them in the normal place if someone in the future wanted them. In the old house they were a pain but they are not a big deal here.

The way the openers are designed, your have to have the sensors in place. You do not need to have them 12 inches of the ground.

I did the same thing the year my son was born. He made it to college without getting cut in half. I did test the door on my foot, & adjusted it so it didn't need much pressure to reverse it

However, I did drop the door on my bumper a couple times while trying to park shallow to leave room behind to unload something large from back of my SUV. So when I needed a new opener, I mounted those sensors at bumper height & now I know that if the door closes, I have just enough clearance. I mean by a couple inches.

I find that more helpful than inconvenient, wished i'd done it sooner.
But ymmv.

 

[NUTTSGT]

My garage guy mounted them on the mounting bracket for the motor. He just aimed the light at the reflector.

I've seen that done before.

 

[JRC3]

I did the same as Old Man Roger. I mounted them facing each other above the opener motor.

Me too.

 

[logical]

To each their own, but I've had garage openers in 3 different houses since 1987 and never had the sensors cause a problem. I don't recall them ever saving me from being crushed either. They are just there, operating as designed.

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[finn]

Mine work fine also.

Not sure why anyone with the least bit of mechanical aptitude can’t make them work as designed.

 

[LifeLongWNYer]

I also find problems with the sensors, and since I work alone, I chose to disable them. However, instead of mounting them face to face, to "fake them out" into allowing the garage door to close, I left them mounted properly, disconnected the wires leading to the light source and the eye, and put a jumper where the wirs from the eye connect to the operator.

If I do want to "recommission" the safety sensors, I can do it in about a minute.



.

 

[Old Man Roger]

Mine work fine also.

Not sure why anyone with the least bit of mechanical aptitude can’t make them work as designed.

I used to keep pipe in the corner and it constantly hit the reflector.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

My have worked fine for 25 years, my dad's, uncle's, father in laws and others for god knows how long.

I don't get what the isuue is.

Tommy

 

[teamextreme]

The issue is sunlight. If your door is oriented is such a position that the sensor is hit by early morning or late afternoon sun, the door won't close. I've had to take a remote and stand with it while blocking the sun for the door to close. Doesn't happen that often, but it's annoying. I've heard of people fabbing some type of sun shield for the sensor.

 

[58Yeoman]

The issue is sunlight. If your door is oriented is such a position that the sensor is hit by early morning or late afternoon sun, the door won't close. I've had to take a remote and stand with it while blocking the sun for the door to close. Doesn't happen that often, but it's annoying. I've heard of people fabbing some type of sun shield for the sensor.

I've seen where people use paper towel core to make a shield.

 

[Jackfre]

My garage guy mounted them on the mounting bracket for the motor. He just aimed the light at the reflector.

While I understand the need for customer service, and am happy you got what you wanted, your garage guy is an idiot. In all the contractor seminars I've done over the years I always ask the question, "How many of your business decisions are based upon your fear of the trial lawyers association?" Sadly, the answer is about 100%.

 

[tipsy]

Pretty sure the installation instructions direct you to switch sides with the sensors if sunlight is an issue.

 

[GMCGarage]

How do you bypass a safety switch on a garage door opener, I dont care about it may be illegal or that may be unsafe, I bought the damn thing I want the sensors disabled PERIOD!!!!!

Im not sure anyone would actually tell you how to do it in a reply due to liability, I spent 30 seconds on google and found many different ways for different openers

 

[nes999]

On our new commercial doors they have those eye sensors. The tech left the eye install up to us but instructed us very clearly how not to do it.

He said do not mount it above your motor facing eachother leaving a small gap. If they touch they won't read proper.

Here is a picture I just mocked up for you. This is unsafe do not do this. It'll bypass the safety.

 

[nadogail]

Quick & Dirty solution, but still covering your liability, would be to make a sunshade from a piece of ABS pipe. Black ABS looks more professional than White PVC or a cardboard tube.

The pro fix would be to reverse the position of the sensors to keep the sun from blinding them.

 

[TTTTTT]

Pretty sure the installation instructions direct you to switch sides with the sensors if sunlight is an issue.

Just finished putting one in. The above is what the manual says if sunlight is a problem. My sensors lines up perfectly the first time with no adjustments needed. I have grandkids. Could not live with myself if something happened. You know kids you can't watch them constantly.


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[58Yeoman]

I really don't understand the problem with the sensors. Is it because you don't want big brother telling you what to do? Do you also snap your seat belts behind your back so you can stick it to the man? Geez.

 

[driz]

Funny. I disconnect almost every safety switch I find and for very good reasons. Yet that’s one I just left on there since day 1. I guess I just haven’t had it piss me off enough yet.
I saw the opposite effect when I worked at the border with their radiation sensors. The early models electric eyes had no shield worked fine never a problem. Then they upgraded and put vehicle sensors in that were in a little gunbarrel thing for whatever reason. Damned things were always getting plugged with blowing snow. Stupid malfunction alarm would ring all the time. We’d go out and dig it out with a finger and it would skim right over or fill that tube in a few minutes. Of course GSA just never could figure out the obvious to fix the foolish things, typical. Not their problem.


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[Ironcrow]

I really don't understand the problem with the sensors.

When I go out to walk the dog and put out the trash can I can't push the button on the wall, crab the trash, with the dog on his leash, and simultaneously dive under the descending door, while jumping over the blasted electronic beam. Something has to give. That's the beam.

 

[La Petite Tools]

When I go out to walk the dog and put out the trash can I can't push the button on the wall, crab the trash, with the dog on his leash, and simultaneously dive under the descending door, while jumping over the blasted electronic beam. Something has to give. That's the beam.

Couldn't you mount a keypad on the trim on the outside of the garage door?

 

[Nermal43]

When I go out to walk the dog and put out the trash can I can't push the button on the wall, crab the trash, with the dog on his leash, and simultaneously dive under the descending door, while jumping over the blasted electronic beam. Something has to give. That's the beam.

This is what I use my keypad for. Single push to close. Of course that doesn't always keep Baxter (see my avitar) from wagging his tail over the sensor and reopening the door one in a while. Still better than a squished dog or kid.

 

[csi123]

The issue is sunlight. If your door is oriented is such a position that the sensor is hit by early morning or late afternoon sun, the door won't close.

You can simply swap the sensors and the wiring at the opener to solve that issue. Only the receiver is sensitive to sunlight.

 

[finn]

When I go out to walk the dog and put out the trash can I can't push the button on the wall, crab the trash, with the dog on his leash, and simultaneously dive under the descending door, while jumping over the blasted electronic beam. Something has to give. That's the beam.

I stand outside and reach into the garage. The jamb is, what, six or seven inches thick? I mounted a switch on the wall about four inches from the track.

My arms are probably somewhere around thirty inches, so the reach isn’t difficult at all.

Like I said, anyone with the least bit of mechanical aptitude can figure out a better solution than disconnecting or bypassing the safety beams.

 

[Bad00SS]

I've had all kinds of problems with them. they are the worst thing ever if you don't have kids. I taped them up by the motor. No way anyone is getting crushed other than kids. if your a single guy there is no need for them stupid things. garage doors without them like my grandpas house has had a door opener since the 1950s prolly and nobody ever got crushed lol.

 

[nes999]

It clearly cant be that dangerous if all these commercial buildings dont have sensors. OSHA is up our *** about everything, if it was dangerous they'd add it to the long list of fines.

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[XRlifer]

I stand outside and reach into the garage. The jamb is, what, six or seven inches thick? I mounted a switch on the wall about four inches from the track.

My arms are probably somewhere around thirty inches, so the reach isn’t difficult at all.

Like I said, anyone with the least bit of mechanical aptitude can figure out a better solution than disconnecting or bypassing the safety beams.

I've been doing this ^ ^ for years.

 

[nes999]

Different set of safeties and different openers on commercial doors. And, when I do facility inspections on commercial facilities, I do red tag the doors if they have residential type springs and openers, and no safeties. OSHA inspectors may also.



The safeties are there for more than just kids. A small, but very real probability is that the springs will break and the door will slam down. Doesn't matter who or what is under it, it's a hazard then.



It's just like seat belts and guards on saws, crotchety old men can find all kind of silly reasons they don't want them, but more rational people use them as intended.



Okay, public service announcement over, you all can go back to chasing the kids off your lawns.

I can see where you're coming from. Having see a door slam down at work it isnt something you want to be under.

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[henrysgarage]

How do the safeties stop the door from coming down if the spring breaks?

 

[maxpower_hd]

I did the same as Old Man Roger. I mounted them facing each other above the opener motor. We don't have children and the only time the garage doors are open I'm eather parking a car or working in the garage. I hate big brother telling me how to live my life.

I mounted mine facing each other but above head height so I could walk under the door after I hit the button. BTW the door still goes up if it hits something. At least mine does.

 

[driz]

Different set of safeties and different openers on commercial doors. And, when I do facility inspections on commercial facilities, I do red tag the doors if they have residential type springs and openers, and no safeties. OSHA inspectors may also.



The safeties are there for more than just kids. A small, but very real probability is that the springs will break and the door will slam down. Doesn't matter who or what is under it, it's a hazard then.



It's just like seat belts and guards on saws, crotchety old men can find all kind of silly reasons they don't want them, but more rational people use them as intended.



Okay, public service announcement over, you all can go back to chasing the kids off your lawns.

Uhhh lets see over all considering everything in life I ever did like airplanes, motorcycles , army ,prisons and police work and I never got really hurt, ILL TAKE THOSE ODDS. Or in more polite terms I fond those odds an acceptable risk.


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[99LeCouch]

Would hate to see one of my dogs crushed under a garage door if they spook and run back in as its closing. I also saw the old garage door opener bend the door before it reversed. The new openers had the sensors installed as designed.

 

[teamextreme]

You can simply swap the sensors and the wiring at the opener to solve that issue. Only the receiver is sensitive to sunlight.

Good to know, but since the wires are integral to the sensors I would have to either cut and splice the wire (not a huge deal), or re-route wire that is stapled and secured above an insulated, dry-walled ceiling (not possible). If your door's reverse sensor is adjusted properly, your kid/dog whatever won't be killed by a door anyway. They might get a bruise or scrape and more importantly might learn a lesson, but they won't die. Having said that, my sensors are still in place because the issue has only happened a couple times, not enough to annoy me enough to remove them. I don't go in/out my door that often and it only happens at certain times of the year when the sun is at the right angle.

 

[ratdoggy]

When I go out to walk the dog and put out the trash can I can't push the button on the wall, crab the trash, with the dog on his leash, and simultaneously dive under the descending door, while jumping over the blasted electronic beam. Something has to give. That's the beam.

My control in the garage gives you 10-15 seconds to get out of the garage before closing...
But I also put a doorbell button inside next to the door I hit when I'm out of the garage in case the battery dies in the controller

 

[kbs2244]

The install manuals I haven have a "how to disable" page for commercial installs.
It is just a remove a jumper on the logic board thing.
(You cannot just short the wires. They have been there before you on that one.)
All kinds of "DO NOT" "DANGER" warnings.

But before I knew that I had installed mine looking at each other through a TP tube.
I tucked it up by the motor with some zip ties.

 

[firebirdparts]

Different set of safeties and different openers on commercial doors. And, when I do facility inspections on commercial facilities, I do red tag the doors if they have residential type springs and openers, and no safeties. OSHA inspectors may also.

The safeties are there for more than just kids. A small, but very real probability is that the springs will break and the door will slam down. Doesn't matter who or what is under it, it's a hazard then.

It's just like seat belts and guards on saws, crotchety old men can find all kind of silly reasons they don't want them, but more rational people use them as intended.

Okay, public service announcement over, you all can go back to chasing the kids off your lawns.

For somebody that’s totally clueless, you did a nice job wordsmithing. I liked the superiority particularly well.