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Merlin Photo Safety Beam Obstruction or Misalignment

Opener will not run from remote or wall button, courtesy light flashes once, 7‑segment display shows code 1.

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Possible Causes

Photo eye sensors misaligned, Photo eye wiring damaged, Sunlight interference on receiver sensor, Dirty or blocked sensor lenses

How to Fix / Troubleshooting

Safety first: Disconnect power to the opener before touching wiring. Do not operate the door if the safety beams are bypassed or not working.

  • Check sensor LEDs: On Merlin openers with Safety Beam (IR) sensors, each sensor has an LED. One is the transmitter (solid LED), the other is the receiver (solid LED when aligned). If the receiver LED is off or flickering, alignment or wiring is suspect.
  • Clean the lenses: Wipe both sensor lenses with a soft, dry cloth to remove dust, cobwebs, or moisture.
  • Align the sensors: Loosen the wing nuts on the sensor brackets. Rotate and tilt the sensors until the receiver LED turns solid. Tighten the wing nuts while keeping the LED solid.
  • Check for obstructions: Remove any objects, bins, or tools blocking the beam path between the sensors.
  • Inspect wiring: Follow the low‑voltage cable from each sensor back to the opener head. Look for staples through the cable, cuts, or crushed sections. Repair with proper low‑voltage connectors or replace the cable if damaged.
  • Check terminal connections: At the opener, verify the sensor wires are firmly secured in the designated Safety Beam terminals (often marked "SB", "PHOTO", or with sensor icons). Tighten loose screws.
  • Test operation: Restore power and try closing the door with the remote. The door should close normally and the code should clear automatically.
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Repair Difficulty

Easy 2/5

Required Part

Merlin Safety Beam Sensor Kit
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