Garage Mod

Aren't one of the reason they are mounted that low is to protect kids from closure of the door? You don't have to worry about the door hitting the car but it may not detect a small child running through the beam with them mounted that high.

 

I think its a great idea! I don't have kids or critters to worry about and I've got some marks on the drive that I can back up to and know the door will clear. Still, I kinda hold my breath everytime I close the door when the 308 is outside. Next project: Move those sensors up!
Thanks

 

I placed them at the level of the bumper. Best to have them at the level of the part of the car that sticks out most, that way you know that the garage door will always clear it.

 

might be able to wire two sensors on each door wired in series....?
rgds,
Vincenzo

 

do you have 2 sensors? place 1 high and 1 low.

 

FWIW, the sensors in many states are set at 2" according to building codes

http://law.justia.com/california/codes/2009/hsc/19890-19891.html

 

For me it resulted in the untimely demise of Kris' favorite cat... bad subject!

 

Bad idea raising them up like that and not having them near ground level. For all the reasons stated, like little kids, dogs, cats, etc. The two sets of sensors would make sense. The other alternative is to leave them 2" off the ground, as they are supposed to be, putting a soft rubber gasket on the bottom of the door if you don't have one, and setting the sensor on the opener to sense an obstruction more easily. It should return if it hits something like an outstretched arm, so hitting the car should reverse it before it can do any damage. Just a thought.

p.s. Remember, if you have relocated the sensors up high and someone's kid does get hit by the door, your homeowner's insurance may deny coverage because you modified the installation and made it unsafe. Carriers look for any excuse to deny coverage. If I were you, I'd put them back where they belong and find an alternative way of protecting the car.

 

Absolutely!

You are asking for trouble.

A much better idea is to simply pay attention when you close the door to avoid hitting the car, it works every time.

 

Whatever, it's your wallet that's at risk, not mine. But do keep in mind Murphy's Law. Somehow, that simple little law of nature seems to bite lots of people in the bottom. Forewarned, and all that good stuff.

 

I'd love to see the stats at just how many kids were killed by garage doors before these temperamental, expensive nuisances became mandatory.

I bet a total of: Zero.

Fine idea if you want them, but to be required is horsesh*t.

 

www.cpsc.gov/volstd/garage/gdoupdate.pdf (Oct 7, 2003)

Between March 1982 and November 1996, there were 62 deaths and 49 injuries to
children under 15 years of age associated with automatic garage doors and garage door openers.
There were also 75 consumer complaints associated with potential entrapment hazards reported
to CPSC during this period.

Between December 1, 1996 and June 30, 2003, there were 23 entrapment incidents
involving death or injury with children under 15 years of age reported to CPSC.

 

If door hits top of car, it is very slight tap with no damage, at least the way my doors are set up with monitors 2" from floor. Damage only would occur if it taps the top of the roof and the driver tries to keep driving the car in or out. Net, if it taps the roof, just stay stopped. It should not damage anything.

 

This all depends on how the opener is adjusted. Most openers have adjustments for the resistance required to stop the door from opening/closing. Take a look at the adjustment screws on the unit.

 

Interesting, thanks Tillman.


There were ~4.4 deaths per year in 1982-1996 and after the regulation, ~5.8 deaths per year 1996-2003.


Gov't regulation in action.

 

I placed them on the bumper. Better to have them in the car that sticks most, that way you know the garage door will always be clear.

 

Ditto That's why the sensors for all my doors are mounted up on the ceiling --- where they belong.... The neighborhood "stray" cats are at their own risk --- at least then they'll stop crapping in my flower beds and killing my chipmunks !

 

I've got a comment about this, but it is probably in bad taste --- so, I better keep it to myself

 

So there have been a few injuries and even deaths. My question is HOW are they happening? A garage door is not a fast moving object, and it makes a lot of noise on the way down. It's not exactly going to sneak up on you. Are these deaths occurring in like 9 month olds that just happen to crawl underneath the door or something? Who lets their 9 month old crawl around the garage unattended? I can't imagine a 4 or 5 year old not being able to get out of the way in time. Maybe they are just letting it close on them on purpose "just to see what will happen"?

 

Nathan, that's why they call them "accidents." Plus, just read some of the Darwin Award stories. People do incredibly stupid things and end up getting themselves killed or seriously injured. Having raised a couple of kids, and having watched them and their friends play, it is not inconceivable that someone is going to see who can make it under a closing garage door, and who won't.

Those safety devices were designed for a reason, and it was not just to prevent the door from closing on your car. IMHO, the sensors should be mounted where they are supposed to be, not 3 or 4 feet off the floor.

And frankly, if you are really worried about being sure you pulled the car in properly, put a tire stop on the floor where the car is supposed to be, and you'll put it in the right spot every time. They even sell fancy ones at major auto parts stores or on line. Or hang a string from the ceiling that just touches the windshield right in front of the driver's nose. You'll get it right every time.

 

We (all of us who over the age of 35 and talking here now) managed to survive our treacherous childhoods --- without seat belt laws, child seats, GFC outlets in bathrooms & kitchens, smoke alarms in homes, "backup beepers" on large trucks, child-proof caps on medicine bottles, and safety sensors on garage doors ---- amazing isn't it?!

I'm not against safety devices, but some things get taken way too far in this country.

 

I have used a tennis ball hanging from a string to help judge clearance issues for many years and proves to be fool proof.Just rig it so when the car is in position the tennis ball is just touching the windshield.

 

First complaint I got from a recent home inspector was, "Garage door safety devices do not work properly."

When I advised him the door was installed, including the opener, in 1984, before such regulations existed, he advised his buyer to demand an allowance for it.

I dunno, I've never shut the garage door on my car, but I guess it could happen. Pulling out, hit the button on the remote by mistake and whammo!!

Squished car, or at least a scratched one.

Come to think of it. . . this may have happened to my wife. She's managed to hit the garage in almost every conceivable way, so maybe that's how that dent got in the roof of the Mercedes wagon.

In Soviet Russia you don't hit garage, garage hits you!


DM