Garage Doors Open When Power Flickers?

[Stinger]

I've got three garage doors on my property, two of which occasionally open when the power flickers (not when it actually goes out for a while). Like I said though, it doesn't happen every time it flickers so it's difficult to diagnose.

My question is, what would cause this and more importantly, how do I fix it without unplugging the openers or disabling them in some way?

It's pretty unnerving when your garage doors open in the middle of the night or you come home and figure out they've been open most of the day

I can report back with exactly what type of openers they are if necessary but I assume it's not since all three are different brands and two of them open.

 

[cowboyjosh]

I can honestly say this is a new one for me. Post back with the make and model of your openers. First thing I'd do is call the manufacturer, they might have heard of this and have a fix.

 

[Stinger]

I thought it was a fluke as well until it happened to me for a second time (while I was in the house to confirm the power flickered). I was even more baffled when my sister reported her old opener used to do the same thing on occasion.

Genie Pro Max 1/2hp Model PMX500IC/B
Stanley SecureCODE Screwdrive Model SD351 A06

I also have an old Craftsman opener on the detached garage/shop but it doesn't have this problem.

I'm not the only person to ever have this problem as I've found others searching Google:
http://forum.doityourself.com/garages-carports/385908-garage-door-opens-after-power-outage.html
http://forum.doityourself.com/garag...e-door-opens-during-lightning-power-loss.html
http://www.myhomeimprovement.com/?page=prev_ques&qid=6808&m=0
http://www.homerepairforum.com/foru...arage-door-opens-after-power-outage-help.html
http://www.electro-tech-online.com/...95189-strange-problem-garage-door-opener.html

 

[rodm1]

Are the lights getting brighter or dimmer?

 

[Gary S]

That isn't totally unexpected with anything containing electronics. Electronic devices are very intolerant of power fluctuations, and the more modern the electronics is, the less tolerant it becomes. Old analog electronics handled power fluctuations up to the point that it blew out. New digital electronics will go ******* with even minor power changes long before it reaches the point of blowing up.
You might try putting a cheap UPS on the openers to stabilize the power to them.

 

[mrbreezeet1]

Are the lights getting brighter or dimmer?

Thinking loose neutral?
Thanks, Tony

 

[kbs2244]

I second the idea of a UPS as the quick fix.

 

[rsanter]

I was thinking power filter or better yet UPS

with the right size UPS your garage door opener will still work when the power goes out

bob

 

[LEVE]

Can you duplicate the problem by turning on/off only the GDO circuit? It may be something else radiating into the antennas telling the GDO to open when circuits flicker.

 

[nehog]

Possibly even one of the surge protector strips might help...

 

[Stinger]

Are the lights getting brighter or dimmer?

Brighter and dimmer when? They aren't flickering randomly at any point that I've noticed.

 

[Stinger]

Can you duplicate the problem by turning on/off only the GDO circuit? It may be something else radiating into the antennas telling the GDO to open when circuits flicker.

I don't know, I haven't shut off the circuit yet (because I haven't lived in this house too long and the panel isn't labeled so I haven't figured out which to turn off yet This is on the list though. Same goes for unplugging them.

 

[Stinger]

You might try putting a cheap UPS on the openers to stabilize the power to them.

Looks like the "cheap" Uninterrupted Power Supplies are about $45 so that would be $90 for two of them unless I ran an extension cord from both of them to the UPS. Maybe I'll try a surge protector first since they are dirt cheap.

 

[cowboyjosh]

now, is the power flickering the result of the utility company? I have seen houses where the power flickers and it turns out to be that the main breaker is failing; just something to put out there. Call the GDO manufacturer see if they won't send out a new control board or something, you shouldn't have to buy a UPS or a surge protector (surge protector will do nothing to fix this problem BTW) to keep your GDO from cycling because the power flickers.

 

[Stinger]

The power flickers because there is lightning or high winds that effect electrical service. It is typically followed by a loss of power at some point afterwards for at least a short time.

 

[cowboyjosh]

The power flickers because there is lightning or high winds that effect electrical service. It is typically followed by a loss of power at some point afterwards for at least a short time.

Cool, wanted to confirm, nothing was amiss with your wiring in your house / building. If the openers are reasonably new, I'd bug the **** out of the manufacturer for a fix; the glass half empty part of me thinks that I'd bug up my *** if I had to buy something like a UPS for my garage door opener to behave when the power flickers.

The glass half full part of me says, on the other hand with a UPS when the powers out, you might get a few cycles out of the GDO; much like the Lift Masters with backup batteries.

 

[Kingcreek]

New life for an old thread...
Left home 7:30am wife was driving and closed the 18 year old Raynor garage door opener for the attached garage using the car visor and I watched to make sure it was down as I activated the alarm system. Came home 5 hours later to an open overhead door! For some reason the PIR sensor in the garage didn't alert but that's a different problem. House door was locked and nothing disturbed. I was legally carrying a 9mm while my wife waited for me to check the house. Clocks were flashing and wireless phones were low and recharging. House was cool and boiler running so power was full out for awhile.
I suspect a relay or receiver going bad.
Any thoughts? Thanks

 

[Kingcreek]

Just saw this.
Hmmm...
http://www.myfoxny.com/story/28540300/powerful-space-storm-hits-earth

 

[Falcon67]

Haha, that may be why my weather app shows my location about 5 miles off.

 

[12ozd]

Electric garage doors at work do the same thing.
Have to flip the breaker at night when leaving.
Every morning, turn breaker on, doors open.
They will activate w/ power surges as well.
Don't park under the doors...at all.
Would like to find an answer, garage door company wants to replace all of the openers.

 

[Kingcreek]

Called the local guy that installed them 18 years ago. They said if it happens again call them and they'll put in a new control board but I coulnt get it to happen again by switching power off and on. I suspect a surge kicked the relay or something. We have had lightning strikes in the past maybe some residual weakness. The 2 doors and openers are identical and it's never happened on the other side. Maybe 3 or 4 times this side but wasn't sure it got closed or a cat didn't walk under it or something but this time we both knew it was down when we left.

 

[terihenry]

My garage door was opening when there was a storm with a lot of lightning. I have a Genie opener. I called Genie and was told that the motherboard was bad and would need to buy a new opener. That was cheaper than replacing the motherboard. This didn't seem right to me, so I called back a few days later and talked to a different person. She told me to put the opener on a surge protector and it would probably fix the problem. I put a cheap, nothing fancy, surge protector on top of the opener and plugged it into the socket in the ceiling and the garage opener into the surge protecter. That was seven years ago and I haven't had any problems with it opening by itself, during a storm, since then.

 

[westom]

My question is, what would cause this and more importantly, how do I fix it without unplugging the openers or disabling them in some way?

Electronics (must) have a voltage supervisor that locks out electronics when AC voltage drops too low for too long. And keeps electronics locked out until voltage has remains sufficient and stable for long enough. A defective design (and I have been retained to fix a few) might be missing this essential function.

Furthermore, a design must maintain its internal voltages even when AC drops out for some time. Which even occurs when a UPS switches from AC power to battery power.

Is a weak or compromised design in your units? Failing electrolytic capacitors? Half a diode bridge failed? Just a few in a long list of (tens of) suspects that could explain that behavior.

You have zero reasons to believe a surge protector will solve anything. By learning a protectors spec numbers, then obvious is that should not / will not solve anything.

So is its low voltage signal wires that connect to switches? Or the radio controller? What have you done to isolate this problem to specific inputs? Always define the problem long before fixing or replacing anything.

 

[brap]

Reopening an ancient thread because it is still relevant.
Went out to the garage a couple of mornings ago and an overhead door is open.this was the day after a big windstorm and power outage. Somebody had been in there during the night and made off with a bunch of tools. Fortunately only about $500 worth, could’ve been a whole lot worse. I assumed they had used a code generator to open the door, especially given that it is an old school craftsman opener with dip switches to set your codes, so is relatively easy to hack.

I plugged both my garage door opener‘s into an extension cord so I could disable them at night. That worked fine for about a week.
Today When I plugged in the cord the door opened! I found I can make the door cycle by the right combination of powering down back on off and on again. I read that LED lights can cause radio frequency interference which could mess with the receiver, so I replaced the led opener lights with regular incandescent trouble light bulbs, no better.
Tried a surge protector - same.
Looks like it’s time for a new opener or two.

 

[mobetta]

I had a liftmaster door control(wall button unit) fail and it would just decide to open the freakin door whenever it wanted..

 

[nadogail]

I have found that Garage Door Openers from other companies do not have the same high level of Customer Service that I have received from Geni.

I will not willingly use any other brand for my rental properties.

 

[Noltz]

The easiest solution seems to be swapping the openers out for battery backup units. The control boards are not directly exposed to line voltage. I'm pricing out the Liftmaster 8500W unit for my house next (not for random opening, but to clear the over head area and provide access even if the power is out.

 

[zooeyhall]

Old thread, but seems to be a common problem.
I have the Overhead Door "Python" openers. They will open sometimes when the power flickers. It seems to be entirely random---sometimes it will do it, and then again it won't. It can happen if the power is off for a second or two, or if off for a longer time. Again it's entirely random---will do it sometimes, and then again it won't.
Bottom line: your doors will open (perhaps in the middle of the night), and pushing the control buttons won't help. The only way to get them to operate is to unplug briefly.
And oh yes---I've tried the suggestions for backup UPS's. I've got both my doors on decent APC UPS backups, and it still does it. So that should eliminate any issues with the line power supply.
They are apparently picking up some signal. Oh and BTW---I live out in the country, and there isn't another garage opener within a mile of me. So it isn't a problem with someone else's opener control.
I called both the place I got these from (they are about 12 years old), and simply told that they are out of warranty and just best to replace them.
Called Genie tech support, and I could tell they've had received plenty of calls about this problem with their openers before.
Their advice? "Out of warranty---just replace them".
It's a very bad issue to have. In my case, they were open all day while I was at work. It was winter and zero F outside. My garage heater ran through half a tank of propane that day.

 

[zooeyhall]

Old thread, but seems to be a common problem.
I have the Overhead Door "Python" openers. They will open sometimes when the power flickers. It seems to be entirely random---sometimes it will do it, and then again it won't. It can happen if the power is off for a second or two, or if off for a longer time. Again it's entirely random---will do it sometimes, and then again it won't.
Bottom line: your doors will open (perhaps in the middle of the night), and pushing the control buttons won't help. The only way to get them to operate is to unplug briefly.
And oh yes---I've tried the suggestions for backup UPS's. I've got both my doors on decent APC UPS backups, and it still does it. So that should eliminate any issues with the line power supply.
They are apparently picking up some signal. Oh and BTW---I live out in the country, and there isn't another garage opener within a mile of me. So it isn't a problem with someone else's opener control.
I called both the place I got these from (they are about 12 years old), and simply told that they are out of warranty and just best to replace them.
Called Genie tech support, and I could tell they've had received plenty of calls about this problem with their openers before.
Their advice? "Out of warranty---just replace them".
It's a very bad issue to have. In my case, they were open all day while I was at work. It was winter and zero F outside. My garage heater ran through half a tank of propane that day.

Update on this. As mentioned in my previous post, I installed UPS supplies but still had the issue. One door in particular.

I replaced the circuit board on the "problem" door. Was able to get the control board on Amazon for about $80. It was quite easy to install (just needed to unplug 2 plugs on the board, and detach and reattach the low voltage wires).

It's been several months now, and have had power flickers and a couple of storms. So far, it seems to have fixed the issue.

 

[Lassen Forge]

We had something similar with our automatic opener in Oakland - turned out the power would flicker, the safety interrupt eye beam on the closer circuit (which we found out later was always active) would read it as someone broke the beam, so it opened the door to keep from "crushing a kid". First time it happened we were driving up to our house, and watched the garage door opening... without any command from the remote. Second time the neighbors saw the door open itself right after a power flicker... moved the eye beam up a foot (probably violated some code or the other) and still happened, so we ended up putting a hard disconnect to the opener circuit.

I only wonder had some lowlife which occasionally walked by been at the wrong place at the right time, and magically watched the keys to the kingdom mystically open for them...