[Amps] SB200 and Genie garage door opener

[Dave Haupt]

Don't automatically assume that the problem is coming from the garage door opener's RF section.

I actually burned out two garage door openers - both Genie.  While transmitting, the door would open up, cruise right past the stop switch and jam.  The motor, rather than stopping due to the excess torque that was detected, continued to run.

It did not matter what band or antenna I used, either.

The SB-220 that I was using had no RF prevention measures on the power line - no ferrites, no bypass caps, nothing.  So, any RF inside the chassis was free to flow right onto the 240VAC house wiring.  That was part of how it entered the Genie.

I put a serious AC line filter on the garage door opener, and put #43 ferrites on the wiring to the limit switches as well as to the IR door sensors, and bypass caps at those wires as they entered the motor unit.  That cured the problem.

While I had the garage door opener apart, I noted the compete absence of any kind of component that would prevent RF fields from activating it.

Good luck,

Dave W8NF


>From: "Francis Sanita" <fsanita at cfl.rr.com>
>To: "AMPS" <amps at contesting.com>
>Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2009 7:08 AM
>Subject: [Amps] RF ?


>I have a question I would like to put out for discussion.
>
> After using my SB 200 I notice that my Genie garage door opener will
> not work. The opener has a control board that searches for new
> frequency codes as a security feature. The control board apparently
> shuts down and I must unplug the opener and re plug to reset it.
>
> I have not eliminated this issue to any particular band and no other
> equipment in my shack affects the garage door opener ( not even my
> 30L-1). The door issue does not occur when the amp is not used and can
> run smoothly until the amp is put into use again so I feel the amp is
> the cause.
>
> Before I start tearing things apart - has anyone experienced similar
> issues or have suggestions as to how to proceed.
>
> Thank you.
>
> Frank Sanita AA4FS
> Palm Coast, Fl 32164
> fsanita at cfl.rr.com
>