The two laser units on the tracks for my garage door were damaged when
our garage flooded and then froze during the winter.
These are a safety feature but with no small children around, I don't
consider it necessary.
Is there any way of by-passing them? I tried twisting the wires to-
gether on each side. It didn't work. Then I joined the respective
wires  from one side to the other across the opening. That didn't work
either. The laser beam is essentially a switch, isn't it?
If I can't bypass it, do I have to order the manufacturer's
replacement equipment (which will take time) or is there something
"generic' I can use?
Tx
ds

On Thu, 7 May 2009 19:18:51 -0700 (PDT), DS <r...@surenet.net> wrote:

>The two laser units on the tracks for my garage door were damaged when
>our garage flooded and then froze during the winter.
>These are a safety feature but with no small children around, I don't
>consider it necessary.
>Is there any way of by-passing them? I tried twisting the wires to-
>gether on each side. It didn't work. Then I joined the respective
>wires  from one side to the other across the opening. That didn't work
>either. The laser beam is essentially a switch, isn't it?
>If I can't bypass it, do I have to order the manufacturer's
>replacement equipment (which will take time) or is there something
>"generic' I can use?
>Tx
>ds
 They CAN be bypassed.
Some work simply by disconnecting. You need to check the wiring
diagram that came with the opener.
IF you bypass it, make SURE the downforce limit is adjusted properly.

DS wrote:
> The two laser units on the tracks for my garage door were damaged when
> our garage flooded and then froze during the winter.
> These are a safety feature but with no small children around, I don't
> consider it necessary.
> Is there any way of by-passing them? I tried twisting the wires to-
> gether on each side. It didn't work. Then I joined the respective
> wires  from one side to the other across the opening. That didn't work
> either. The laser beam is essentially a switch, isn't it?
> If I can't bypass it, do I have to order the manufacturer's
> replacement equipment (which will take time) or is there something
> "generic' I can use?
> Tx
> ds

the sensors will be replaced for free if you contact the mfgr.  until 
then you'll just have to hold the button to lower the door.  raising 
will be normal.  When you get them back you can mount them 6" apart on 
the ceiling right above the unit, and they'll never be damaged again.

steve

DS wrote:
> The two laser units on the tracks for my garage door were damaged when
> our garage flooded and then froze during the winter.
> These are a safety feature but with no small children around, I don't
> consider it necessary.
> Is there any way of by-passing them? I tried twisting the wires to-
> gether on each side. It didn't work. Then I joined the respective
> wires  from one side to the other across the opening. That didn't work
> either. The laser beam is essentially a switch, isn't it?
> If I can't bypass it, do I have to order the manufacturer's
> replacement equipment (which will take time) or is there something
> "generic' I can use?

I doubt they're lasers but instead one is an LED transmitter and the
other is a phototransistor receiver, and you should be able to repair
them by opening them up, washing them thoroughly with alcohol, and
letting them dry for several hours in a warm place before putting them
back into service.  Sometimes the only problem caused by flooding is
silt build-up on the optical parts.  All but the oldest garage door
openers are designed to not allow the door to be closed if the signal
from the optical receiver can't be detected, so of course merely
cutting the wires or connecting them together won't work, and the
latter could damage the overhead unit.  Damage to the electronics in
the optical sensor and transmitter should be inexpensive to repair
since only generic parts are used in them, and I would expect any
parts related to them in the overhead unit to be the same, but it's
much more hazardous to work on it since some of the circuitry runs at
high voltage, and a careless person could easily get shocked (to
death), lose a finger, or even be scalped if the opener starts to move
unexpectedly.

Almost all openers are made by Chamberlain (Liftmaster, Sears
Craftsman) or Genie, and parts are readily available from them, opener
service companies, and retailers.

c...@snyder.on.ca wrote:
> On Thu, 7 May 2009 19:18:51 -0700 (PDT), DS <r...@surenet.net> wrote:
> 
>> The two laser units on the tracks for my garage door were damaged when
>> our garage flooded and then froze during the winter.
>> These are a safety feature but with no small children around, I don't
>> consider it necessary.
>> Is there any way of by-passing them? I tried twisting the wires to-
>> gether on each side. It didn't work. Then I joined the respective
>> wires  from one side to the other across the opening. That didn't work
>> either. The laser beam is essentially a switch, isn't it?
>> If I can't bypass it, do I have to order the manufacturer's
>> replacement equipment (which will take time) or is there something
>> "generic' I can use?
>> Tx
>> ds
>  They CAN be bypassed.
> Some work simply by disconnecting. You need to check the wiring
> diagram that came with the opener.
> IF you bypass it, make SURE the downforce limit is adjusted properly.

I've not encountered one that will work without them in the circuit 
wired properly.

s

On Thu, 07 May 2009 23:52:54 -0500, Steve Barker
<i...@hotmail.com> wrote:

>c...@snyder.on.ca wrote:
>> On Thu, 7 May 2009 19:18:51 -0700 (PDT), DS <r...@surenet.net> wrote:
>> 
>>> The two laser units on the tracks for my garage door were damaged when
>>> our garage flooded and then froze during the winter.
>>> These are a safety feature but with no small children around, I don't
>>> consider it necessary.
>>> Is there any way of by-passing them? I tried twisting the wires to-
>>> gether on each side. It didn't work. Then I joined the respective
>>> wires  from one side to the other across the opening. That didn't work
>>> either. The laser beam is essentially a switch, isn't it?
>>> If I can't bypass it, do I have to order the manufacturer's
>>> replacement equipment (which will take time) or is there something
>>> "generic' I can use?
>>> Tx
>>> ds
>>  They CAN be bypassed.
>> Some work simply by disconnecting. You need to check the wiring
>> diagram that came with the opener.
>> IF you bypass it, make SURE the downforce limit is adjusted properly.
>
>I've not encountered one that will work without them in the circuit 
>wired properly.
>
>s

I found out last week that Martin Garage Door company has developed an
opener without the need for the sensors.

"Exclusive Soft-Touch Reverse Technology™

While Closing:
• The door & opener system reverses with just a soft touch-
eliminating the need for troublesome photo eyes

While Opening:

• The door & opener system will stop with just a soft touch-
eliminating the appeal for children to ride the door while it opens "

http://www.martindoor.com/Garage-Doors-Openers/Garage-Door-Openers.aspx

On Thu, 7 May 2009 19:18:51 -0700 (PDT), DS <r...@surenet.net> wrote:

>The two laser units on the tracks for my garage door were damaged when
>our garage flooded and then froze during the winter.
>These are a safety feature but with no small children around, I don't
>consider it necessary.
>Is there any way of by-passing them? I tried twisting the wires to-
>gether on each side. It didn't work. Then I joined the respective
>wires  from one side to the other across the opening. That didn't work
>either. The laser beam is essentially a switch, isn't it?
>If I can't bypass it, do I have to order the manufacturer's
>replacement equipment (which will take time) or is there something
>"generic' I can use?
>Tx
>ds

	I like Steve's comment that they can be replaced for free.  

	I strongly urge you to get them working and fully functional
as they were designed.  Remember that while you may not have any young
children, other people do, including relatives and neighbors.  In
addition animals and adults with limited mobility can be injured by
these doors as might someone who you might sell you home to some time
later.  

	Not only could there be a preventable accident, but you could
be held responsible.  I don't know about your insurance, but if I were
an attorney for someone who was injured I would love to find out that
the owner had intentionally defeated the safety device that might have
saved that child's life. 

   Between March 82 and November 96, 62 children under 15 have been
reported killed by garage doors. 

s...@hotmail.com wrote:
> On Thu, 7 May 2009 19:18:51 -0700 (PDT), DS <r...@surenet.net> wrote:
> 
>> The two laser units on the tracks for my garage door were damaged when
>> our garage flooded and then froze during the winter.
>> These are a safety feature but with no small children around, I don't
>> consider it necessary.
>> Is there any way of by-passing them? I tried twisting the wires to-
>> gether on each side. It didn't work. Then I joined the respective
>> wires  from one side to the other across the opening. That didn't work
>> either. The laser beam is essentially a switch, isn't it?
>> If I can't bypass it, do I have to order the manufacturer's
>> replacement equipment (which will take time) or is there something
>> "generic' I can use?
>> Tx
>> ds
> 
> 	I like Steve's comment that they can be replaced for free.  
> 
> 	I strongly urge you to get them working and fully functional
> as they were designed.  Remember that while you may not have any young
> children, other people do, including relatives and neighbors.  In
> addition animals and adults with limited mobility can be injured by
> these doors as might someone who you might sell you home to some time
> later.  
> 
> 	Not only could there be a preventable accident, but you could
> be held responsible.  I don't know about your insurance, but if I were
> an attorney for someone who was injured I would love to find out that
> the owner had intentionally defeated the safety device that might have
> saved that child's life. 
> 
>    Between March 82 and November 96, 62 children under 15 have been
> reported killed by garage doors. 

There is something more dangerous to small children:

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/5006.html

Everything is deadly.

TDD

"The Daring Dufas"
>
> There is something more dangerous to small children:
>
> http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/5006.html
>
> Everything is deadly.

Another example of the dangers of dihydrogen monoxide poisoning.  We really 
need to regulate that poison more carefully to save the children.

Jon 

s...@hotmail.com wrote:
> 
>    Between March 82 and November 96, 62 children under 15 have been
> reported killed by garage doors. 

that number is a mere nothing.  We spend all this time, technology, 
money, political crap for 4.4 deaths a year.  I wonder how many kids are 
killed or maimed by pit bulls, or wolf dogs?  We don't do a dam thing 
about those.  In either event it all boils down to proper parental 
supervision.  if those 62 had been properly supervised, they'd still be 
alive.  Period.


s