[aquaholic]

I have an old garage door opener on which I'd like to replace the safety sensors. There's nothing wrong with them it's just that I'd like to install the sensors that clip on the rails instead of mount to the wall. My kids are constantly kicking or running into the existing brackets with their bikes, etc.

I called a local garage door company and they told me that my opener is too old to replace the sensors on and I would be better off replacing the entire opener. I hate replacing things that aren't broken and I've looked on amazon and ebay and I see tons of sensors I just don't know how to determine which ones would work with my opener.

If you look at the picture, it looks like it's a Stanley GT200 opener with a date code of 95184. Interestingly, as I photographed the existing sensors I noticed that they aren't both the same ones. Not sure if they came that way or if the previous owner installed a different one, whatever the case, they work fine, I'd just like to install the ones that clip to the rails. Any ideas if this is possible to do? Thanks!

 

[joecaption]

I'd be having a little chat with the kids before I'd change them.
There's nothing wrong with the sensor so why not just order new bracket and use the same sensors?

 

[aquaholic]

I'd be having a little chat with the kids before I'd change them.
There's nothing wrong with the sensor so why not just order new bracket and use the same sensors?

I know what you mean it's just that I have an adjacent garage door with the clip on sensors and I never have any issues with those. I've had to have these things remounted easily 5-7 times in the last 5yrs and it's not just kids it's friends, contractors working on the house, etc. they're just in a really bad spot I guess is what it comes down to as well...

 

[al_smelter]

http://stanley.garage-door-opener-parts.com/repair_parts.asp


Stanley GT 200 retrofit sensors are really not too hard to get. The link gives several part numbers to play with. Cross them up and buy from whomever.

 

[gregzoll]

Tell the kids to stop running into them. If they are being pulled out of the drywall, they need to be mounted in wood. I would cut away the drywall, put in some 2x6's or 2x8's where they mount and do that.

If you use the clips, they will catch them just as easy and actually destroy the units. Maybe paint the brackets Safety Fluorescent Yellow, like Fire Trucks are. Each time they pull them down, charge them a Nickle or Dime out of their Ice Cream Truck or Candy store fund. After a while, they will find that it is cheaper to just watch out.

You can always put up the safety cones or have them do it in front of the garage opening and behind the sensor, so that they know where they are.

 

[al_smelter]

He's didn't ask for a life lesson on how to raise his kids; he asked a specific question regarding his garage door opener. Do you have input to his inquiry?