Replace a Craftsman Garage Door Opener Sensor
Like all garage door openers, Craftsman door openers have a photo eye sensor system. This helps prevent the door from closing when there is an obstruction in the door's path. There is an invisible beam between each sensor that stops the door from closing if the beam is broken. Over time, sensors become faulty and the door will not operate until you replace them. Replacing a Craftsman garage door opener sensor requires a new sensor kit available through Sears. The sensors have the wire built into them, so you cannot reuse the existing sensor wire. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Remove Existing Sensors
1. Place a step ladder under the rear of the Sears Craftsman garage door opener motor. Unplug the opener power cord from the outlet in the ceiling and remove the lens cover from the right side of the motor head.
2. Find the sensor wire connection on the right side of the opener head. There are two white wires and two black wires that insert into the multi-colored terminal block. Press the tab under the terminal block and pull the wires free from the opener.
3. Pull the wires off the ceiling and front garage wall with your hands, if you have exposed wires. The low-voltage wire simply staples into the wall and ceiling and will pull off quickly by hand. If the wires are inside the ceiling and wall, cut the ends of the wires flush with the ceiling and stuff them into the hole.
4. Turn the wing nuts securing the existing sensors to the bracket counterclockwise by hand and remove them from the sensor. Pull each sensor off the brackets and discard. If the brackets are not bent, do not replace the brackets. If they are bent, remove the bolt holding the bracket to the track with a wrench and remove the brackets.
Install New Sensors
5. Install the replacement brackets in the same position the old brackets were on the track or wall, using the same holes. Tighten the brackets bolt or lag screw with a wrench.
6. Insert the securing bolt into each sensor. The bolt has a square under the head that fits into a square notch in the sensor to prevent the bolt from turning when securing it to the bracket. Insert the bolt and bracket of the sensor with the orange LED light on left side bracket. Thread a wing nut onto the end of the bolt and tighten with your fingers to secure it to the bracket. Install the sensor with the green LED light onto the right side bracket in the same manner.
7. Attach the wire from the end of each sensor to the front garage wall with a staple gun. Ensure the wire is between the staple and you do not puncture the wire. Run the wire straight up to the ceiling and over the center of the door opening. Continue stapling the wire to the ceiling from the front of the opening straight back to the garage door opener motor head.
8. Strip 1/4 inch of insulation off the ends of the wire with a pair of wire strippers. Twist the two black wire ends together and insert them into the the gray slot on the terminal block. Twist the two white wire ends together and insert them into the white block next to the gray block.
9. Plug the power cord into the outlet. Check the lights on both sensors to ensure they are illuminating. If not, loosen the green LED sensor and adjust it up or down until it illuminates continuously. Place the lens cover back onto the opener and push until it snaps into place.
Tags: each sensor, door opener, garage door opener, right side, terminal block