How to Test the Reverse Safety Systems of Your Genie Garage Door Opener

Published on: October 26, 2021

NOTE: The travel limits and force setting must be completed before performing the contact reverse test.  Check your Genie garage door opener owner’s manual here for details.  Watch this video for information on setting travel limits and force control programming.

There are two types of safety reversing systems built into every Genie garage door opener. The first type of reversal system is the contact reversing system.  This system automatically reverses a closing door when contact from an obstruction has occurred.  Your Genie garage door opener should reverse when the door contacts a 1 ½ inch high object on the floor at the center of the  door way.

To test the contact reversing system, you will need a 2” x 4” board.

Step 1:

With your garage door open, lay the 2” x 4” board flat on the floor in the center of the garage door opening.

Step 2:

Close your garage door with your wall control

Step 3:

When the garage door hits the 2” x 4”, the garage door should reverse within 2 seconds.  The long LED light on your Genie garage door powerhead should flash RED with the reversal of the door.

Step 4:

Remove the 2” x 4” board and operate the opener with the wall control again.  This cycle will clear the flashing red LEDs. 

If the garage door does not reverse when it has contacted the board, you must lower your close-force settings.  Refer to the “contact reverse” section in your owner’s manual.  If you lower the force setting and the opener still does not reverse, reach out to your Genie Professional Dealer or contact our Genie Customer Service at 1-800-354-3643.  You may need to replace your garage door opener if it fails to pass this contact reversal test.

 

The second type of reversal system is the non-contact reversal system.  This system is also known as Safe-T-Beams. Safe-T-Beams place an invisible infrared beam across the opening of the garage door.  This system only affects the downward travel of the door.  This feature prevents the door from closing or reverses the door if an object is detected between the beams.  This system can be overridden with constant pressure of the wall console only.  Safe-T-Beams feature self-diagnostic LEDs which alert you to operation issues.

To test the non-contact reversal system, you will need an item to obstruct the beams, such as a ball.

Step 1:

Close the garage door opener by using the wall console or the remote.

Step 2:

Roll the ball through the door while the door is closing.

Step 3:

The garage door should stop moving downward when the ball passes through the beams, then reverse and open. 

If your door fails to pass this test, check out this article here.  You can also seek out the expertise of your Genie Professional Dealer or contact Genie customer service at 1-800-354-3643.  You may also need to replace your Safe-T-Beams. 

 

It is recommended to complete the contact reverse test monthly to ensure your garage door and opener are running at their peak safety, performance, and efficiency levels.