How To Wire A Sensor For A Genie Garage Door

Garage door openers include a photo-electric sensor system to help prevent damage to the door or opener. The sensor emits an infrared beam that when broken, causes the opener to stop closing the door and reverses the movement back to the open position. Wiring a sensor for a Genie garage door opener is much like any other opener. However, Genie uses clips to secure the wires to the opener rail rather than stapling the wires to the ceiling.

Step 1

Unroll the low-voltage wires on each side of the door from the sensor back toward the Genie power head. Each low-voltage wire includes two strands encased in wire insulation.

Step 2

Staple the wire to the wall 6 inches above the sensor, leaving 3 inches of the end of the wire hanging past the sensor. Ensure that the wire is in the center of the insulated staple before hammering the staple into the wall. Do not pierce the wire with the staple or mash the staple into the wire. It just needs to hold the wire.

Step 3

Stretch the wire up the wall until you come to the top corner of the opening. Staple the wire secure and stretch it over to the point that the opener rail attaches to the top of the garage door. Place a staple over the wire to secure it to the wall. Repeat for the opposite side.

Step 4

Place the wire on top of the solid sides of the opener rail. Push a wire clip over the wires and rail at the front of the rail. The wire clips are pieces of angled plastic that fit snugly over the top of the opener rail. Stretch the wires halfway across the top of the rail and attach another wire clip. Continue stretching the wire over the top of the opener and place another wire clip 4 inches from the end of the rail. Push additional wire clips evenly across the top of the rail in between the previous ones.

Step 5

Separate the two strands at the end of the wire at the sensor with a utility knife. Gently slide the blade in between the two strands and separate the last 2 inches of the end.

Step 6

Strip 1/2 inch of insulation off each wire with wire strippers. Loosen the two wire terminal screws on the sensor one full turn with a Phillips-head screwdriver. Insert each wire end in between the flat plate under the screws, and tighten the screws to secure the wires. Repeat for the opposite side.

Step 7

Position a step ladder under the rear of the Genie door opener power head. Unplug the power cord from the outlet in the ceiling. Find the terminal screws on the back of the opener head.

Step 8

Loosen the second and third terminal screws from the top one full turn with the screwdriver. Cut the excess ends of the wires off with the wire strippers so that you have only 6 inches of wire overhanging the opener power head. Separate the ends just as you did at the sensors and strip off 1/2 inch of insulation from each wire.

Step 9

Bend the ends of the wire into small hooks. Slide the two wires with the black stripe on one of the terminal screws and tighten the screw. Slide the remaining two solid white wires on the remaining terminal screw and tighten the screw. Plug the opener power cord into the ceiling outlet.