Garage door openers are a fast and safe way to access the garage area, but only when they include the proper safety features. Manufacturers now supply safety sensors with the garage door opener system so the door cannot accidentally crush a person or property; the sensors cut off the closing circuit to the system and forces the door to open if it detects an obstruction. Installing the sensors as part of the garage door opener installation requires attention to wiring and adjustments to the devices themselves.
Push the safety sensor, with attached carriage bolt, against its supplied bracket and hand secure the two parts together with a wing nut. Repeat this connection with the second safety sensor.
Press the bracket's clip onto the garage door's track near the ground. Slide the bracket along the track so that it is approximately 6 inches above the ground. The sensor should be facing the opposite side of the garage doorway.
Repeat Step 2 for the second bracket and sensor combination.
Locate the ends of the wiring extending from the safety sensors. Each sensor should have one white and one black and white wire. Pull the wires apart so they are all separated from one another. Strip 7/16 inch of insulation off the tips of each wire with a wire stripper.
Press the safety sensor's wiring against the garage's interior wall. Secure it to the wall with insulated staples and a staple gun. Do not pierce the wires with the staples. Repeat with the second safety sensor.
Run the sensors' wiring up along the wall and garage ceiling until it meets the overhead opener motor. Secure the wire against the wall at 12-inch intervals with the insulated staples and staple gun.
Access the overhead motor with a ladder. Ask a friend to hold the ladder for added safety.
Hand twist the two white wires together. Locate the white terminal on the overhead motor. Press the terminal's tab with a flat head screwdriver to open the connection. Push the white wires into the terminal and release the tab. Repeat with the black and white wires and step down from the ladder.
Observe the two safety sensors. Their lights should be blinking to indicate that they are not aligned.
Hand loosen one wing nut on one safety sensor. Slightly adjust the sensor's position on the track until the lights on each sensor become solid. It may be necessary to adjust both sensors repeatedly until they are properly aligned. Hand tighten the wing nuts when the sensors are aligned.
Activate the garage door opener and observe its functions. The door should open and close normally with aligned safety sensors.
Things You Will Need
- 2 safety sensors with attached carriage bolts
- 2 brackets
- 2 wing nuts
- Wire stripper
- Insulated staples
- Staple gun
- Flat-head screwdriver
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