How to Bypass Garage Door Sensors: The Easiest Way to Disable it
Garage doors are huge and it is quite difficult to open or close it manually. And if you have to use your garage frequently, then it becomes even harder and irritating. Garage door sensors prevent the door from closing if they feel any sensations near or between the doors. Sensors are a critical safety feature. But because of the same quality, they can also become a problem for the automatic garage doors.
When you see that your sensors are constantly blinking or the door doesn’t close, then there are chances that the sensors have become faulty. Fortunately, it is easy to set most of the doors to a manual mode by disabling sensors. You can also disconnect the sensors altogether if you don’t mind preventing your garage door from working. This article will throw some light on how to disable garage door sensors.
How to Bypass Garage Door Sensors
Step 1: Stop the Power Supply
The first rule of bypassing garage door sensors is not related to sensors. It is related to safety. Never take your safety for granted, no matter how small work is! Here also, cut off the power supply by severing the garage door plug from the wall. If you use an automatic door, then it will stop working once you disconnect the sensor. So, now the question is, how to trick garage door sensors? Well, if your garage door switches or buttons are not working properly, there is no other way than opening/closing it manually.
Step 2: Find the Sensors and Remove them
If you check the garage door, you will find that both sides of the garage door have sensors. You can quickly track them down as they are basically the small plastic pieces that come with LED lights. Such pieces serve as the sensors and help you to open or close the garage door automatically. You will find wing nuts on each side of the sensors. You need to remove the screws by rotating them counterclockwise using your hands. The sensors will come out from the brackets. You don’t need a tool for that.
Step 3: Cut the wires and Install the New Sensors
Use a wire cutter and cut the White and Black cord about one inch. This process will help you to disconnect your safety sensors from the garage door. After that, you can reattach new sensors. Once you start the process, you will find the metal wiring inside the casting. You can expose it by stripping the ends of the wires that you need to cut. You will soon find the black cable in the new sensor. Then, you have to twist the black cable and attach it to the wire that you have cut down earlier. Repeat the same process with the white cable/wire.
Getting rid of garage door sensors is an easy and quick task to perform. After completing all these steps, secure the sensors in the brackets and tighten the wingnuts to hold them and secure them in place.
Will Garage Door Work Without Sensors?
Thinking about the other ideas, you can also disable garage door sensors on your own by setting the door on manual mode. For that, first of all, make sure that the door is closed. Open doors may cause a certain amount of crashing if the door spring is damaged. If the door is already open and is stuck, then you can also prop the door up with 2x4s. If you don’t have it, you can use any other sturdy item like a shelf in its place.
This way you can avoid any accidents that may cause by the falling of the door. The 2x4s or any sturdy item are used to prop up the door can prevent it from slamming shut, even when the door spring is damaged. After that pull down the red cord that is usually located next to the garage door motor. It will disconnect the trolley from the automatic opening system and then you will be able to open or close the garage door manually.
Remove the 2x4s and do the opening or closing process manually. You may need someone’s help if you need to close the door manually. Pull the cord towards the garage door motor to open the door. Once you get rid of 2x4s, lower the garage door to the closed position. Be slow and stay careful. If you are not confident or face some troubles doing this process alone, ask your friend to help you.
The Bottom Lines
It is essential to clean the sensors from time to time. Sometimes, dust or some other particles may obstruct the lens in your sensor and cause issues. You can reduce or remove the dirt and debris from the sensors with a microfibre towel so that the sensors start working properly. It is advisable not to use rough cotton or wool rag. Make sure that nothing will scratch the delicate surface of the lens.
People also ask
Can you disconnect garage door sensors?
Yes, you can. To do this, you have to disconnect the opener. Once you do that, the sensors will be disconnected.
Are sensors required on garage doors?
Yes, sensors serve as safety mechanisms and have been mandated by the U.S. Federal Law. So, by not using sensors you are not just jeopardizing your safety, you are also breaking the law.
Should both sensors on the garage door be green?
Yes. Green LED indicates that the sensors are working fine. If you see red lights, it means that the sensors are misaligned.
Do I have to hold my garage door button to close?
Not really. If everything’s working fine, just a press of the button will be enough. If there are loose wires or restrictions on the sensors, you will see a problem with the closing.
Are garage door safety sensors universal?
Yes, they work in the same manner.
Do garage door openers have a reset button?
Yes, but it won’t be prominent. Reset buttons are usually located beside the LED.
How long do garage sensors last?
They can last for 3-5 years.
Why does my garage door not close and light flashes?
If the sensors are misaligned or if something’s blocking their path, you will notice light flashes. The door will also not be able to close properly.
How do you test a garage door sensor?
Check the LED lights. If you see either of them blinking, there’s an alignment problem.
Why does my garage door open intermittently?
This may be because the logic board is facing problems such as radio frequency interference.
