Garage door sensors tripped by sunlight

[HIVOLTJ]

Stupid problem that happens certain times of year. My detached garage faces the south. At certain times in the morning (end of summer & fall is when I leave to go to work) The sunlight coming from the east shines directly on the left door beam sensor and the door won't close automatically. I have to get out of the car, manually hold the button down until it closes and then walk to the car.

It's a stupid problem to have. I would just bypass the damn sensors but I have pets and a kid that I don't want to get squished in the door. I tried varying lengths of toilet paper roll as a "shroud" for that sensor but the sunlight is at such a low angle it doesn't help. I could hang a shield from the eastern eve of the roof, but that would look awful stupid.

I'm wondering if there is a timed temporary bypass button I could wire in, push it on the way to the car and it would bypass the sensors for a few minutes?

That's the best idea I've got.

It's in my long term plan to build my 2-car detached garage into a 4-car, that's the main reason I joined, but that will come later.

 

[gpflepsen]

Swap the sensors side-to-side. I have the same problem. I haven't done this yet, but I'm assuming the sensors are Emitter ---> Collector, and the sun is hitting the collector and overpowering the emitter's signal.

 

[upndown]

^^^+1^^^ Has worked for me many times..

 

[Homewrecker]

Man, I thought I was the only one having this issue. I thought I was crazy thinking that the sun was causing this. I was close to ripping the whole damn opener off it's mount because I was so annoyed at not being able to close the damn door.

 

[Steves32]

Put a toilet paper center roll around the sensor making it see only the other sensor. A kind of visor....

My son's door did this. I moved the sensor a few inches further back & taped a TP tube over it. Fixed for free.

 

[Matt M PA]

The opener in my attached garage used to do that too. For better or worse...the new one doesn't.

Anyhow...I fixed the old one by cutting a small piece of PVC pipe (like the toilet paper roll idea) over one of the sensors for it to look through.

 

[gpflepsen]

I just started leaving to work at a different time, problem solved! :joke:

 

[JoeFin]

Put a toilet paper center roll around the sensor making it see only the other sensor. A kind of visor.....

you beat me to it

 

[Shadowdog500]

Swap the sensors side-to-side. I have the same problem. I haven't done this yet, but I'm assuming the sensors are Emitter ---> Collector, and the sun is hitting the collector and overpowering the emitter's signal.

+1 on this. The install manual on my opener specifically pointed this out.

Chris

 

[signcrafter]

We used to have the same problem. I just installed a new opener and when reading the installation instructions it says you need to put one of the sensors on a specific side, one sensor is the transmitter and one is the receiver like mentioned above. I don't remember which one goes where but a google search will probably tell you. You'll have to figure out which sensor is which and might have to swap them. If that doesn't work then you can mover them back, mine are attached to the rails but you can take them off the rails and mover them further away from the opening and screw them to the wall so the sun can't get to them. If that doesn't work then the toilet paper cover is a good alternative.

 

[bazzateer]

you beat me to it

The OP beat you both to it in post #1

 

[HIVOLTJ]

Put a toilet paper center roll around the sensor making it see only the other sensor. A kind of visor....

I used a pill bottle and aluminum tape.

Already tried, it would have to be so long that I would clip it with my car pulling in

Man, I thought I was the only one having this issue. I thought I was crazy thinking that the sun was causing this. I was close to ripping the whole damn opener off it's mount because I was so annoyed at not being able to close the damn door.

It is annoying, especially when you're running late!

We used to have the same problem. I just installed a new opener and when reading the installation instructions it says you need to put one of the sensors on a specific side, one sensor is the transmitter and one is the receiver like mentioned above. I don't remember which one goes where but a google search will probably tell you. You'll have to figure out which sensor is which and might have to swap them. If that doesn't work then you can mover them back, mine are attached to the rails but you can take them off the rails and mover them further away from the opening and screw them to the wall so the sun can't get to them. If that doesn't work then the toilet paper cover is a good alternative.

Damn, never even thought of that but it makes sense! Hasn't been a problem lately as it's been overcast, but I will try that tonight and report back the next time it's a sunny day!

 

[e-tek]

Welcome to gj.

The real "welcome" is everything that came after the second post

 

[e-tek]

Already tried, it would have to be so long that I would clip it with my car pulling in
!

Seriously? Is the sun setting on the horizon when this is happening?


J/k.......I'm just in that kind of mood I guess

 

[BMW Rider]

Swap the sensors side-to-side. I have the same problem. I haven't done this yet, but I'm assuming the sensors are Emitter ---> Collector, and the sun is hitting the collector and overpowering the emitter's signal.

I had this problem too and went with the tube shade method since the door faces north and depending on the time of year it can be affected in the morning in one direction or in the afternoon from the other. I used a length of PVC pipe to make the shade and have not had a problem since.

 

[Responder]

I used a pill bottle painted black on the sensors. No more issues

 

[Milton Shaw]

Years ago we had sensors on an alarm system at work. Every sunny Sunday afternoon at about 2:00 the alarm would start going off. It took several trips to finally see the reflections off windshields on the interstate was hitting the sensor and tripping the alarm. We had the company swap senor and emitter and they worked Ok from then on. Sunday was the only day we were closed so we didn't notice the problem on other days.

 

[41ratrod]

turn your garage so the sun won't shine on it.