You just can't teach an old garage-door opener new tricks. Or even one new trick. No matter that the new trick is part of a new federal law.Beginning in January, all new garage-door openers manufactured in the United States must be equipped with either a photoelectric eye or a sensing edge as standard safety equipment.Unfortunately, neither of the new devices can be incorporated into the older openers, meaning that anyone who wants the extra safety they offer must buy a new unit.The Consumer Product Safety Commission, a federal agency, says that more than 50 children died in accidents caused by automatic garage-door openers from 1982 through 1992. Most of the children were struck and pinned by garage doors whose auto-reverse features malfunctioned and failed to send the doors back up when the children were hit."Many of the accidents were a result of children attempting to exit under a closing door," said Daniel Restelli, an engineer for the Underwriters Laboratories, a non-profit organization based in Northbrook, Ill., that evaluates products for safety and whose standards were incorporated into the Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act, as the new law is called.
Many accidents, he said, involved garage-door openers manufactured before 1982, when the UL established voluntary standards that included an automatic-reversal feature. Restelli said the photoelectric eye and the sensing edge could do the job more accurately and without significantly increasing the price of the equipment.How the sensor worksThe photoelectric eye, which most new models carry, is mounted on the door jamb rather than on the door. It sends an infrared beam across the doorway and causes the door to open if the beam is broken by anything crossing the threshold.The sensing edge, on the bottom of the door, consists of two or more long electrical conductors enclosed in a waterproof sheath. The conductors, which are separated, touch when they come in contact with an object, and they then put the door into reverse.Though the sensing edge must actually hit something or someone before it reverses the door, very little pressure is needed to make it switch.Both devices are about equal in safety and effectiveness, said Hal Walls, president of the Door Operator and Remote Control Manufacturers' Association in Cleveland.Some of the leading manufacturers are Chamberlain, Genie, Stanley, Raynor, Moore-O-Matic and Challenger, and they all make comparable equipment.
Most openers operate by a cable-and-chain mechanism, which pulls the door up with chain-and-sprocket wheel similar to those found on bicycles. Genie and Moore-O-Matic make models with worm-screw drives, in which a screw rotates inside a threaded shaft to move the door.Manufacturers of the worm-screw device say these machines are quieter and less likely to break because there are fewer moving parts. "From a technical viewpoint, there is no engineering basis why one would perform any better than the other," Walls said.What to look forOther features to consider when choosing a garage-door opener are horsepower, number of lights, number of remote-control units and whether or not to get a vacation lock.A vacation lock, on a wall panel inside the garage, deactivates the garage door's motor so that it cannot be opened with the remote control. "Hiding your remote has the same effect," Walls said. "The vacation lock is not that popular an option, and we regard it as a marginally useful thing."One popular option, he said, is an electronic opener that can be mounted on the outside of the garage.
Anyone who needs access to the house via the garage can just punch a simple code into the key pad.Garage-door openers typically have either a one-half horsepower or one-third horsepower motor, though there are some one-fourth horsepower models. The one-third horsepower model efficiently opens and closes most doors; the one-half models have additional features and longer motor warranties. (Types and lengths of warranties can vary considerably among manufacturers.)Walls said: "Half a horsepower is more than enough for almost any conceivable consumer application, even a rather imbalanced, heavy wooden door. In most applications, one-third horsepower will do fine."But the most important issue is safety. A garage door is the largest moving object in a typical home. The one thing we try and encourage as an industry is to test a door's safety devices once a month." Basic models retail between $120 to $200, without installation. In general, installation costs from $89 to $125.The electric eye and the sensing edge have raised the prices of units by about 10 percent and increased the time it takes to install one by about 25 minutes.
The reason why the new devices cannot be added to an old opener is that the electronic eye and sensing device must be part of a new circuitry that monitors whether they are working properly. New Owner Demolishes O.j. Simpson MansionDark meaning of bubble-gum Pumped Up Kicks is tough to chewHandshakes For All, Including Simpson, As Fung Ends Testimony Pain relievers: What are the differences?Nicole Simpson's Grisly Death Described To Jury10 reasons why you want the jobHow do I align my safety reversing sensors? The LEDs on both the sending and receiving sensors will glow steadily when the wiring connections and alignment are correct. The amber LED on the sending sensor will glow regardless of alignment or obstruction. If the green LED on the receiving sensor is off, dim, or flickering (and the invisible light beam path is not obstructed), alignment is required. Note: On the older safety sensors both LED lights are green. The receiving sensor is the sensor that the green light goes out when you pass your hand in front of the sensor.
The sending sensor stays solid. NOTE: If you are unable to get the door closed and the safety sensors are the issue, the garage door can be closed by pressing and holding the door control push bar until down travel is completed. Answers others found helpful How to test or troubleshoot the safety reversing sensors How can I tell the difference between the sending and receiving safety sensors? Safety Reversing Sensors Installation Instructions How should I position my safety reversing sensors when I am installing two garage door openers? How do I install my safety reversing sensors in a pre-wired garage? Safety beam sensors for garage doors Safety beam sensors for garage door openers and gates were mandatory in the late 80's and early 90's when it became a law. We have all of the replacement safety beam sensors currently made listed here for your convenience. Allister Safety Beam Photo Eyes Allstar 108994 Safety Beam Photo Eyes Kit