Photo Eye Sun Shield

[OurTown]

Every day now for about 20 minutes the sun triggers one of our door photo eyes keeping it open. I was thinking of a short piece of PVC pipe but I'm trying to figure out how to attach it without looking like a cobble job. Ideally Banner would make a tube with a M30 X 1.5 female thread to replace the nut but they said they don't. Anyone have a solution? I'm sure this is somewhat common.

 

[OurTown]

The issue also occurs on the entrance end sometimes as this is a glass building. On that end I raised the receiver 6" from level and lowered the sender 6". It might have helped some but it also needs a shield. I'll reposition them on the exit end also to help with the sun shield as the angle should help.

 

[Greg Pack]

Coleman sells a eye shield for the banner multi channel eyes. I don't know what size it is offhand but It's big enough to be 30mm. It appears to just be a piece of HDPE plastic with threads internally cut.

What is you just swapped transmitter and receiver sides?

 

[washnshine]

What is you just swapped transmitter and receiver sides?

Thats what I did on my personal garage door at my house.

 

[OurTown]

Coleman sells a eye shield for the banner multi channel eyes. I don't know what size it is offhand but It's big enough to be 30mm. It appears to just be a piece of HDPE plastic with threads internally cut.

What is you just swapped transmitter and receiver sides?

I'll look into the Coleman shields. Swapping them was my first thought but it's going to be a project. They do not have quick disconnects and I will need to install a junction box on the one side. Also on the exit end I might have the same problem but in the morning instead of afternoon.

 

[Blanco]

You're going to need more than a junction box. Likely re wire depending on what wire was used and the set up. The emitter is 2 wires and the receiver is 4. The eyes should not be level. Do what you did and offset them. Keep the receiver as the higher one pointed down.

Assuming you have air lift doors. I always wire them with the limit switch off on the cams. Meaning the eyes won't work unless the door is up about a foot let's say. If a door is closed and someone or the sun triggers an eye it won't open.

 

[soapy]

In the past I have fixed a flat piece of metal to provide shade on a photo eye. You could also use a smaller plastic tube and glue it on with epoxy around the photo eye.

 

[OurTown]

Coleman sells a eye shield for the banner multi channel eyes. I don't know what size it is offhand but It's big enough to be 30mm. It appears to just be a piece of HDPE plastic with threads internal threads.

I called them and the Coleman parts guy said they don't have anything like that. Maybe he didn't understand what I was talking about.

 

[Waxman]

theres s bunch to choose from on amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Protector-Compatible-Chamberlin-41A5034-Liftmaster/dp/B0D6GW2QFR/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa?crid=DED0RZJL1AQU&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.PaBsuNBp7CPWL-BYTYIskkF4_9h5-TUXu7dxPdCrekHWlaeIc2tZ8QtFNU3DHW3NryeZQ6iBMFyGg4EshEReLVENl-6ghXGBC8M-LAFQwnhcVyI5dlk6pFOZRr-SqllvYOBiI75BTBo_1kmqtjZnjERakzBn-8ThLaRu7LY2RarO-ia-u8K1-Ug6jlbmdXK939NqLEEqfThmuTNP0VqP_A.jcGkwBLW4uy8L-CAc1vFIAQPE-L4kM9xOqmyuGrroKU&dib_tag=se&keywords=garage+door+photo+eye+sun+shield&qid=1738261526&sprefix=garage+door+photo+eye+sun+shield%2Caps%2C166&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1

 

[OurTown]

theres s bunch to choose from on amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Protector-Compatible-Chamberlin-41A5034-Liftmaster/dp/B0D6GW2QFR/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa?crid=DED0RZJL1AQU&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.PaBsuNBp7CPWL-BYTYIskkF4_9h5-TUXu7dxPdCrekHWlaeIc2tZ8QtFNU3DHW3NryeZQ6iBMFyGg4EshEReLVENl-6ghXGBC8M-LAFQwnhcVyI5dlk6pFOZRr-SqllvYOBiI75BTBo_1kmqtjZnjERakzBn-8ThLaRu7LY2RarO-ia-u8K1-Ug6jlbmdXK939NqLEEqfThmuTNP0VqP_A.jcGkwBLW4uy8L-CAc1vFIAQPE-L4kM9xOqmyuGrroKU&dib_tag=se&keywords=garage+door+photo+eye+sun+shield&qid=1738261526&sprefix=garage+door+photo+eye+sun+shield%2Caps%2C166&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1

I looked there and Google but didn't see anything that would work.

 

[xbowhunter86]

Would and 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 Fernco be close enough in size for a 30 mm eye.

I was having the same issue on a couple of my doors. They have 18mm eyes so I used a dishwasher drain coupling on them which is basically just a small Fernco. It fit perfect on them so will see how it does overtime.

 

[OurTown]

Would and 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 Fernco be close enough in size for a 30 mm eye.

I was having the same issue on a couple of my doors. They have 18mm eyes so I used a dishwasher drain coupling on them which is basically just a small Fernco. It fit perfect on them so will see how it does overtime.

I think they would be way too big as the OD of 1 1/4" PVC pipe is over 1 5/8". Along those lines, I did think about putting a piece of 1" ID hose on it. The nut would need to come off to get enough threads for the hose to grip.

 

[Roz]

Someone would do well to design and 3D print a solution as many carwashes have the same issue. I have six doors that could use such a protector. A great project for a young person with 3D printing skills....

 

[Ryko CS]

Just install the photoeyes at different heights (one at 2', and the other at 4'). You will need to angle them towards each-other for detection, but if the receiver is mounted where it's angled downward, it won't detect the sunlight.

 

[Roz]

We tried that idea a long time ago. Does not solve the Sun issue.

 

[Ryko CS]

Ryko also had a deflector we used on the 1/2" photoeyes we used with the ThrustPro dryers. The deflector is about 1.7" long, and a 7/8" ID. It is PN 18804-000. Looks like it's still available.

 

[Greg Pack]

View attachment IMG_3536.jpeg

 

[OurTown]

Just install the photoeyes at different heights (one at 2', and the other at 4'). You will need to angle them towards each-other for detection, but if the receiver is mounted where it's angled downward, it won't detect the sunlight.

I tried that on the entrance end but only 1' difference and not 2'. Maybe that would help more but the 1' difference didn't seem to do anything.

 

[OurTown]

View attachment 12625

That is exactly the type of thing that should work. Do you have a part number that I could call about the specs for? Do you know what model photo eye it is attached to?

 

[washnshine]

That piece on a receiver angled downward should be pretty much Sun- proof.