How to Adjust the Timing of the Garage Door Opener Light

Most automatic garage door lights are adjustable, so you can determine how long the light stays on for your convenience. Here's how to do it.

Adjusting the Light Timer on an Older Unit

1. Place the stepladder under the garage door opener power unit and climb up so that you have a clear view of the back end of the power unit housing.

2. Find the two dials on the back of the power unit. Each dial has a recessed adjustment screw in the center of the dial. One dial controls the time and travel distance of the door. The other controls the light.

3. Insert the blade of the screwdriver into the appropriate slot. A clockwise turn will increase the time the light stays on, while a counter-clockwise turn will decrease the time. The range on most light units is from 90 to 240 seconds.

Adjusting the Light Timer on a Newer Digital Unit

1. Locate the garage door opener control panel, usually mounted on the inside wall of the garage.

2. Look for the "Settings" button, which is usually a letter or a number. Refer to your owner's manual for the location and designation of this button.

3. Press and hold the "Settings" button until the LED, which designates the lights, blinks rapidly. Continue holding the "Settings" button until the LED, which designates the time, flashes and the time in seconds appears on the LED screen.

4. Release the "Settings" button and press the "+" or "-" button to increase or decrease the length of time the light stays on. Maximum time is four or five minutes and minimum time is one-and-a-half to two minutes, depending on the make and model of the unit.

5. Lock in the new setting by pressing the "Settings" button again. This stores the information into the controller's circuitry.