Genie Excelerator Garage Door Opener

Jim Thompson · Oct 18, 2003

My Genie Excelerator Garage Door Opener has two operating speeds, slow
closing, and too-damn-fast opening...

Some kind of stepper motor driving a screw.

Anyone know how to modify to slow down the opening speed?

Thanks!

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona Voice

480)460-2350 | |
| E-mail Address at Website Fax

Martin Riddle · Oct 19, 2003

"Jim Thompson" <invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:rsj3pvs0i1en9nog1lo0435ihskj430pnj@4ax.com...

My Genie Excelerator Garage Door Opener has two operating speeds, slow
closing, and too-damn-fast opening...

Some kind of stepper motor driving a screw.

Anyone know how to modify to slow down the opening speed?

Thanks!

...Jim Thompson

Maybe, try to change the crystal to the u- controller if it has one. But it may screw up the remote
timing. You might also be out of luck if it has an internal oscilator or resonator.
JAN Crystals in Fla can cut a crystal for a reasonable cost.

Cheers

Oppie · Oct 19, 2003

"Jim Thompson" <invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:rsj3pvs0i1en9nog1lo0435ihskj430pnj@4ax.com...
| My Genie Excelerator Garage Door Opener has two operating speeds, slow
| closing, and too-damn-fast opening...
|
| Some kind of stepper motor driving a screw.
|
| Anyone know how to modify to slow down the opening speed?
|
| Thanks!
|
| ...Jim Thompson

Jim,
Are you certain that the motor is a stepper? Usually, it is a two speed
reversible induction motor. This all goes with the obstruction safety
sensing. Keep those grand-kids safe.
Oppie
_________________

Jim Thompson · Oct 19, 2003

On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 11:06:17 -0400, "Oppie" <oppie1@cloud9.net> wrote:

"Jim Thompson" <invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:rsj3pvs0i1en9nog1lo0435ihskj430pnj@4ax.com...
| My Genie Excelerator Garage Door Opener has two operating speeds, slow
| closing, and too-damn-fast opening...
|
| Some kind of stepper motor driving a screw.
|
| Anyone know how to modify to slow down the opening speed?
|
| Thanks!
|
| ...Jim Thompson

Jim,
Are you certain that the motor is a stepper? Usually, it is a two speed
reversible induction motor. This all goes with the obstruction safety
sensing. Keep those grand-kids safe.
Oppie
_________________

Oppie, I'm not sure at all. I'd be happy with an opening speed as
slow as the closing speed.

Motor has two lead wires, an opto interrupter wheel, a "motor drive
board" and a "controller" board (from illustration in the install
manual).

Surely, there *must* be a simple hack to slow it down?

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona Voice

480)460-2350 | |
| E-mail Address at Website Fax

Oppie · Oct 19, 2003

"Jim Thompson" <invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:3oa5pvopp5muhfmfiruq80fjro01e5jmrh@4ax.com...
|
| Oppie, I'm not sure at all. I'd be happy with an opening speed as
| slow as the closing speed.
|
| Motor has two lead wires, an opto interrupter wheel, a "motor drive
| board" and a "controller" board (from illustration in the install
| manual).
|
| Surely, there *must* be a simple hack to slow it down?
|
| ...Jim Thompson

with only two wires and variable speed, it could be either a DC motor or an
induction motor. Does the motor have any brush connections to confirm if it
is a DC unit? either way, the opto interrupter wheel is giving speed and/or
stall feedback to the speed controller which is most likely a triac phase
control.
Things were easier to hack when all the controls were analog or even
discrete logic. The main control now is most likely in a single chip micro
which makes trying to understand it a bit more difficult. PIC master Sphero
could probably code you something <g>.
Still, you have to consider how any modifications bear on the safety
controls.
Oppie

BFoelsch · Oct 19, 2003

Well, if the motor has only two wires, and is reversible, that rules out
induction, which would require at least three wires to be reversible, as
would a stepper.

If it really has only two wires, it most probably is a small dc PM unit!

"Oppie" <oppie1@cloud9.net> wrote in message
news:vp5cfd3696uld3@corp.supernews.com...

"Jim Thompson" <invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:3oa5pvopp5muhfmfiruq80fjro01e5jmrh@4ax.com...
|
| Oppie, I'm not sure at all. I'd be happy with an opening speed as
| slow as the closing speed.
|
| Motor has two lead wires, an opto interrupter wheel, a "motor drive
| board" and a "controller" board (from illustration in the install
| manual).
|
| Surely, there *must* be a simple hack to slow it down?
|
| ...Jim Thompson

with only two wires and variable speed, it could be either a DC motor or
an
induction motor. Does the motor have any brush connections to confirm if
it
is a DC unit? either way, the opto interrupter wheel is giving speed
and/or
stall feedback to the speed controller which is most likely a triac phase
control.
Things were easier to hack when all the controls were analog or even
discrete logic. The main control now is most likely in a single chip micro
which makes trying to understand it a bit more difficult. PIC master
Sphero
could probably code you something <g>.
Still, you have to consider how any modifications bear on the safety
controls.
Oppie

Fred Bloggs · Oct 19, 2003

Jim Thompson wrote:

On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 11:06:17 -0400, "Oppie" <oppie1@cloud9.net> wrote:

"Jim Thompson" <invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:rsj3pvs0i1en9nog1lo0435ihskj430pnj@4ax.com...
| My Genie Excelerator Garage Door Opener has two operating speeds, slow
| closing, and too-damn-fast opening...
|
| Some kind of stepper motor driving a screw.
|
| Anyone know how to modify to slow down the opening speed?
|
| Thanks!
|
| ...Jim Thompson

Jim,
Are you certain that the motor is a stepper? Usually, it is a two speed
reversible induction motor. This all goes with the obstruction safety
sensing. Keep those grand-kids safe.
Oppie
_________________

Oppie, I'm not sure at all. I'd be happy with an opening speed as
slow as the closing speed.

Motor has two lead wires, an opto interrupter wheel, a "motor drive
board" and a "controller" board (from illustration in the install
manual).

Surely, there *must* be a simple hack to slow it down?

...Jim Thompson

It's a DC motor:http://www.geniecompany.com/Products/exceleratorfaq.htm
Looks like it does an initialization cycle at 5-1/2"/sec ( vs 14"/sec
normally) on power loss- maybe blip the power off after each down cycle
will do it-or find the internal controller RESET. The very name of the
product should have been some kind of hint- or did a stork leave it on
your back steps

Jim Thompson · Oct 19, 2003

On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 16:28:23 GMT, Fred Bloggs <nospam@nospam.com>
wrote:

Jim Thompson wrote:
On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 11:06:17 -0400, "Oppie" <oppie1@cloud9.net> wrote:

"Jim Thompson" <invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:rsj3pvs0i1en9nog1lo0435ihskj430pnj@4ax.com...
| My Genie Excelerator Garage Door Opener has two operating speeds, slow
| closing, and too-damn-fast opening...
|
| Some kind of stepper motor driving a screw.
|
| Anyone know how to modify to slow down the opening speed?
|
| Thanks!
|
| ...Jim Thompson

Jim,
Are you certain that the motor is a stepper? Usually, it is a two speed
reversible induction motor. This all goes with the obstruction safety
sensing. Keep those grand-kids safe.
Oppie
_________________

Oppie, I'm not sure at all. I'd be happy with an opening speed as
slow as the closing speed.

Motor has two lead wires, an opto interrupter wheel, a "motor drive
board" and a "controller" board (from illustration in the install
manual).

Surely, there *must* be a simple hack to slow it down?

...Jim Thompson

It's a DC motor:http://www.geniecompany.com/Products/exceleratorfaq.htm
Looks like it does an initialization cycle at 5-1/2"/sec ( vs 14"/sec
normally) on power loss- maybe blip the power off after each down cycle
will do it-or find the internal controller RESET. The very name of the
product should have been some kind of hint- or did a stork leave it on
your back steps

It was a foolish purchase error :-(

But, as usual with you Fred, an *excellent* observation... it *does*
operate slowly after a power loss, so I'll go looking for a reset
mechanism. Thanks!

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona Voice

480)460-2350 | |
| E-mail Address at Website Fax

Oppie · Oct 20, 2003

"BFoelsch" <BFoelsch@snet.ditch.this.net> wrote in message
news:jPadnRxNRZVuKg-iU-KYuQ@giganews.com...
| If it really has only two wires, it most probably is a small dc PM unit!

what was I thinking? I've been taking sinus meds and am presently a bit
loopy. Pollen and mold spores have hit a new high in the New York area. For
those of us with allergies, we <momentarily> long for the dry heat of
Arizona.
There are linear drives that run a motor in a single direction and control
speed and direction with a slide lever. see http://www.amacoil.com Neat
trick to use a solid rod and use a set of angled bearings pressed tightly
against it to do a variable translation.
Oppie

Jim Thompson · Oct 20, 2003

On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 20:13:45 -0400, "Oppie" <oppie1@cloud9.net> wrote:

"BFoelsch" <BFoelsch@snet.ditch.this.net> wrote in message
news:jPadnRxNRZVuKg-iU-KYuQ@giganews.com...
| If it really has only two wires, it most probably is a small dc PM unit!

what was I thinking? I've been taking sinus meds and am presently a bit
loopy. Pollen and mold spores have hit a new high in the New York area. For
those of us with allergies, we <momentarily> long for the dry heat of
Arizona.
There are linear drives that run a motor in a single direction and control
speed and direction with a slide lever. see http://www.amacoil.com Neat
trick to use a solid rod and use a set of angled bearings pressed tightly
against it to do a variable translation.
Oppie

480)460-2350 | |
| E-mail Address at Website Fax

Oct 20, 2003

Jim Thompson wrote:

My Genie Excelerator Garage Door Opener has two operating speeds, slow
closing, and too-damn-fast opening...

Some kind of stepper motor driving a screw.

Anyone know how to modify to slow down the opening speed?

Thanks!

Now that Fred has determined why the thing goes faster

when opening than closing, can you tell us why "high speed"
opening is a bad thing?

Jim Thompson · Oct 20, 2003

On Mon, 20 Oct 2003 03:45:05 GMT, ehsjr@bellatlantic.net wrote:

Jim Thompson wrote:

My Genie Excelerator Garage Door Opener has two operating speeds, slow
closing, and too-damn-fast opening...

Some kind of stepper motor driving a screw.

Anyone know how to modify to slow down the opening speed?

Thanks!

Now that Fred has determined why the thing goes faster
when opening than closing, can you tell us why "high speed"
opening is a bad thing?

480)460-2350 | |
| E-mail Address at Website Fax

Jim Thompson · Oct 20, 2003

On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 16:28:23 GMT, Fred Bloggs <nospam@nospam.com>
wrote:

Jim Thompson wrote:
On Sun, 19 Oct 2003 11:06:17 -0400, "Oppie" <oppie1@cloud9.net> wrote:

"Jim Thompson" <invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:rsj3pvs0i1en9nog1lo0435ihskj430pnj@4ax.com...
| My Genie Excelerator Garage Door Opener has two operating speeds, slow
| closing, and too-damn-fast opening...
|
| Some kind of stepper motor driving a screw.
|
| Anyone know how to modify to slow down the opening speed?
|
| Thanks!
|
| ...Jim Thompson

Jim,
Are you certain that the motor is a stepper? Usually, it is a two speed
reversible induction motor. This all goes with the obstruction safety
sensing. Keep those grand-kids safe.
Oppie
_________________

Oppie, I'm not sure at all. I'd be happy with an opening speed as
slow as the closing speed.

Motor has two lead wires, an opto interrupter wheel, a "motor drive
board" and a "controller" board (from illustration in the install
manual).

Surely, there *must* be a simple hack to slow it down?

...Jim Thompson

It's a DC motor:http://www.geniecompany.com/Products/exceleratorfaq.htm
Looks like it does an initialization cycle at 5-1/2"/sec ( vs 14"/sec
normally) on power loss- maybe blip the power off after each down cycle
will do it-or find the internal controller RESET. The very name of the
product should have been some kind of hint- or did a stork leave it on
your back steps

480)460-2350 | |
| E-mail Address at Website Fax

Oppie · Oct 20, 2003

"Jim Thompson" <invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:14n8pvkhb0advncnk9vtfo8jcuo290ui4g@4ax.com...

Surprise! Surprise! Genie actually responded with a drawing showing
which resistor on the board sets the speed option. (No schematics,
just the board location.)

...Jim Thompson

How did you impress upon them that you actually are an electronics guru in
order to get the information? Usually releasing any technical info is
totally contrary to any business SOP. Perhaps you threatened to put the
genie back in the bottle... or was it the other way around? <beg>
OPPIE

Jim Thompson · Oct 20, 2003

On Mon, 20 Oct 2003 22:23:40 GMT, "Oppie" <boppie@-nospam-ludl.com>
wrote:

"Jim Thompson" <invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:14n8pvkhb0advncnk9vtfo8jcuo290ui4g@4ax.com...

Surprise! Surprise! Genie actually responded with a drawing showing
which resistor on the board sets the speed option. (No schematics,
just the board location.)

...Jim Thompson

How did you impress upon them that you actually are an electronics guru in
order to get the information? Usually releasing any technical info is
totally contrary to any business SOP. Perhaps you threatened to put the
genie back in the bottle... or was it the other way around? <beg
OPPIE

I just said "I'm an EE" and "It's systematically trying to destroy
itself and the door"

480)460-2350 | |
| E-mail Address at Website Fax

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