Doityourself has a wonderful explanation.
Sensor problems on garage door.
Knowing how a garage door sensor works allows a homeowner to be watchful for what might affect it.
The first is an obstruction in the path of the door and therefore in the path of the sensor.
Stand a stepladder at the area of the garage door opener unit.
The transmitters remotes will not work to close the garage door.
Unplug the power cord from the outlet at the ceiling.
First you should check the safety sensors.
If your garage door faces south and the door will not go down.
Sensor power reconnect the sensor to its power supply a common cause of a malfunctioning garage door sensor is.
Inspect the double strand insulated.
When the device detects any person or object in the path of a closing garage door it signals the motor to stop the downward action and switch the motion into reverse to stop the obstacle being crushed.
Safety sensor issue to prevent the garage door from injuring someone in the door or damaging an item in the way of the door all models of liftmaster garage door openers come installed with a safety sensor.
You will find that the door will only move an inch or so in the close direction and reverse.
It may be that your safety sensor is being blinded by the light of the sun.
If you do not see a solid illumination or your garage door is not working the problem is most likely due to the sensors being out of line.
Verify if there isn t a block between them.
Low voltage circuits raise the garage door using the control button on the garage wall or the remote control unit from a vehicle.
Then look to see if the rollers are in working order.
Safety sensors are the electronic eyes near the base of the door track on both sides.
If your garage door reverses anytime you open or close it there could be a problem with your safety sensor incorrect force settings or there is an obstruction on the doorway.
My liftmaster garage door stopped closing the normal way.
Two types of accidental obstructions can cause the safety sensor to prevent a garage door from closing.
They need to have a clear line of sight between them in order for the door to work properly.
Sensor path make sure nothing is obstructing the sensor beam 1.
The problem is either due to a blocked path between the sensors dirty eyes loose wires at the sensors or at the motor head or just bad sensors.
Sensor path make sure nothing is obstructing the sensor beam in general garage door sensors block the door from.