Garage doors are common doors in the home, chances are you have one, especially if you have kids and pets. Your garage door sensor stops the door’s closing operation once it senses motion or hindrance. However, your sensor can be faulty, and the door will be stuck halfway or totally.

You can wire your garage door without sensors by installing the opener, connecting the wires, and testing the work. A garage door without a sensor either runs manually or closes without attention to objects in its path. The manual operation of the door is not ideal, especially for houses with kids, aged, disabled people, or pets.

If you are looking for a guide on how to wire your garage door without a sensor, you have come to the right blog. This article will explain a step-by-step guide to wiring your garage door opener without a sensor.

How To Wire Garage Doors Without Sensor

Are Sensors Required On Garage Doors?

Yes. Sensors are an important safety device for garage doors. A garage door without a sensor can cause home accidents. In most advanced countries, all garage doors must have a sensor. There are other garage door safety devices, but the sensor is more popular. 

Considering the garage door’s weight (between 150 to 400 pounds), it is hazardous to install your garage door without a sensor because it can crush anything it falls on, including kids and pets. 

Is There A Way To Bypass Garage Door Sensors?

Yes, bypassing your garage door sensors is possible. You can do that by turning on the manual mode on your door opener, removing the sensors, long pressing the garage door button, or taking out the sensor. Misalignment, dirt, or obstacle on the door’s path are some of the reasons to bypass your sensors.  

Basically, homeowners install garage doors for security purposes. However, a faulty sensor will hinder the garage door’s smooth operation, resulting in a malfunctioning door. A malfunctioning door can distort your schedule and come in between your activities. It can also be dangerous. 

Bypassing a garage door sensor is an easy task, but you must know that it is hazardous and not safe. Bypassing the garage door sensor is not similar to fixing or repairing it. You must consider your safety and make it a temporary solution.

To bypass your garage door sensor, you must first be certain that the sensor is the problem. Some sensors with LED lights will blink and make beeping sounds, when they are faulty. Before bypassing, troubleshoot the sensors to check for any possible problems by:

• Checking If The Sensor Is Still In Place

A sensor that has gone out of position will not work well. This may be the problem with your sensor, and you may not need to bypass it. The sensors can be found at the base of the garage door and are tightened with wingnuts. 

 If the sensors are loosened, tighten them until it gets back in position. 

• Cleaning The Sensor

Dirt on the lenses of your sensor will hinder it from functioning. Pick a clean cloth and clean the dirt or dust so the sensor can work again. If it is still not working, check the next point.

• Checking Wiring Connections 

If the sensors’ wires are destroyed or loosed, the sensor’s functionality will be affected. To fix this, put off the power supply and change the wires. I advise that you call an electrician to fix it. 

• Clearing All Obstructions From Its Path

Another troubleshooting idea is to ensure that all items or obstacles are cleared. Your garage door will not close if the sensor senses any objects. You have to do this before bypassing. 

If, after a thorough check, the door is not closing, you can proceed to bypass it. There are several ways you can bypass garage door sensors. 

Way One: Turning On The Manual Mode

The first way to bypass your garage door sensor is to turn on the manual mode on the door opener. This will mean that door operations – opening and closing, will be done manually. 

Look for a red-like rope – the release or emergency cord, on the garage door motor and drag it down. By that, you have detached the door from the automatic Opener and can now open and close the door manually. 

Caution: Before starting this process, ensure that your door is closed but if it is stuck mid-way or totally, get a partner to hold the door because you are about to get a bang once you detach the door from the Opener.

Way Two: Remove The sensors

Another way to bypass the sensor is to locate it and remove it. The sensor is often a small plastic; it comes with LED lights. Loosen the screws on the sensors to remove them.

Warning: Ensure you put off the power supply before removing the sensors.  

Way Three: Long Press The Garage Door Button

Even though there is no item on your door’s path, the sensor can still sense that there is still an obstruction. Hence, it will not close. You must long-press the garage door (wall) button until it closes. Do not release the button until the door closes.

After this, you need to call a technician to fix the door sensor, as pressing the door button is a temporary fix and may be inconvenient. 

Way Four: Reconnecting the Sensors

In this method, you will have to cut the sensor wires on both sides and take them out. After that, reconnect the sensors directly to the motor house, and let them face each other. This way, your sensors are properly positioned to work well.

Note: Reconnecting and realigning the sensor will cause the door to close continually. That halting function will be altered when someone or an item gets in the way.

How to disable garage door sensors

Will The Garage Door Work Without Sensors?

Yes, garage doors will work without sensors. However, it is illegal and risky to use garage doors without sensors. Sensors are safety features on your garage doors. Choosing to use your garage door without a sensor is dangerous and can result in a fatal accident. 

Sensors are responsible for stopping the door from closing whenever an object or a person crosses the door’s path. They are an ideal safety option, particularly if there are children or pets in your home. 

How To Wire Garage Door Without Sensors: Step By Step

Before you start wiring, you have to get wires that will be compatible with your opener. Know your kind of sensor, whether it is photoelectric or inductive. A photoelectric sensor will require an 18 or 20-gauge wire, while an inductive sensor will require a 16 or 14-gauge wire. 

Below are the steps to wire your garage door without sensors

Step One: Install The Garage Door Opener

To begin wiring, mount your door opener on the ceiling. Follow the directions on the manual or body of the opener to do a proper installation. 

Step Two: Wire The Door Opener

Use only wires that are compatible with the opener for wiring. Ensure that wires are correctly wired. Then link the wires to the connector on the Opener.

Lastly, test the Opener to be sure it is working. If it is not working due to a wrong connection, you can hire the services of a professional door repairer. 

How To Wire An Old Garage Door Opener without A Sensor

If your sensor is misbehaving, you have the option of rewiring your garage door opener without the sensor. The procedure may appear tiresome, but it is a task you can carry out, especially if you are a determined DIYer.

Here are the steps to rewire your door opener without a sensor: 

Step One: Take out the former Opener

Unscrew and loosen every nut holding the old opener in place. Tag all the wires for easy identification during rewiring. 

Step Two: Mount The New Opener

Fix the new opener to the ceiling. You can follow the directions on the opener or guide for proper installation. 

Step Three: Wire the Opener Again

Connect the tagged wires to the corresponding terminal. The new wires should fit with the old ones. You can use a voltmeter to test the wires to know which is suitable. To keep the cables in place, use electrical tape. Tighten all nuts and test for power.

Step Four: Test Your work

After connecting, put on the power and test the door to see if it is functioning well; good job! If it still issues, you can seek the service of a professional. 

Generally, you should not try to wire your Opener if you don’t have prior knowledge or experience. I advise that you consult your Opener’s manufacturer. 

Is It Safe To Wire Garage Door Without Sensors?

It is not safe to wire garage doors without sensors. Wiring your garage doors without sensors is illegal and punishable by law. Your garage door sensor is located on both sides at the bottom. It is risky to install your garage door without a sensor. 

Considering the door’s weight, anybody or any item it falls on can be severely wounded. Protect your home by wiring your garage door with a sensor. 

Conclusion

A stuck garage door can be annoying, especially if you have meetings and appointments to catch up. This article has explained several ways to bypass your door sensor and a detailed guide on wiring your opener without a sensor.