Electric Garage Door OPener Sorted!

[Yorkie]

In another unrelated post I mentioned thus:

"I've been side-tracked by a domestic project - the electric remote garage door operator has decided to give up the ghost. It's worked faultlessly since I installed it about ten years ago to replace one that had packed up. Yesterday the remotes wouldn't work, but it works when the  wall mounted directly wired push button switch is pressed. I've tried reprogramming the remotes to no avail, and basically, the upshot is that the 'logic board'  - quite a complex thing with SMDs and ICs on a double-sided PCB, has developed a fault. A new board is available at £100 or so, but a complete new garage door opener can be had for £200 or so. Hence, it's a high risk strategy to fit a new board if something like the motor packs in err too long".

Had another look at the PCB and noted that it has a 330uF 35V electrolytic on it, which looked as though it was bulging at the top. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, so I removed it (a bit tricky on a PTH PCB), and replaced it. More in hope than expectations, I re-programmed the remote (not as impressive a task as it sounds - just press and hold the button on the remote till a light on the motor unit stops flashing), and bingo - the blighter works fine!

So, saved myself £200 + and the hassle of removing what was otherwise a perfectly serviceable unit, and fitting a new one.

Got my happy face on now!

[Radio Fixer]

Nice to have success with a simple cheap component change.

Gary

[Keithstv]

When we moved in to our present house there was only one remote control for our garage door. I bought a second remote from the company that installed it for £45. However both the remotes ate batteries. When new we could open the door from the house, the garage is a separate building, but after a week or so you had to be right next to the garage to open the door. I bought a UHF receiver/decoder and two remotes from CPC for under £45 and interfaced them to the opener. This worked well and I even bought a third remote as I was always misplacing my controller. This was until 2 years ago when the door failed to open although by giving it a helping hand it would open. Closing was no problem. I called out the company that had installed it and it turns out that one of the springs had broken. It appears that when closing energy is stored in the springs which is then used to help the door opening. The end result was a new door followed by a new opener as the existing one wasn't powerful enough to operate the new door.  Cost a little bit more than a replacement capacitor!!

On the old door I had fitted a system to indicate whether the door was open or closed in the form of a flashing LED in the garage window, red for open and green for closed. I now have to devise an alternative interface for the new door. Still it keeps me busy.

Keith