DIY & Home Improvement

Beartracks

(13,564 posts) Sat Oct 19, 2024, 03:14 PM Oct 19

Garage door opener: pop & smoke

So there I was, working my garage door up and down a few times to spread around the white lithium I'd used on all the hinges and along the track, when there's a : OP:: and then smoke whisps out of the motor as it buzzes and tries to keep moving, and liquid drips out of the housing. I thought at first somehow the grease had tracked in, but no -- this sounds the likely scenario:

"When a capacitor goes wrong, it usually makes a loud pop sound like a miniature bang. In such an instance, smoke and acid from the capacitor spill all over the logic board, causing more damage to the circuitry."

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and presume this means I am in the market for a new opener? As opposed to, say, fixing this one...

I just hope I don't have to install a new track. That's kind of a pain.
Edit to add: Oh, crap. Never mind. I remember the track with the whole motor. Dangit. At least holes are already drilled.

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17 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Garage door opener: pop & smoke (Original Post) Beartracks Oct 19 OP

The magic smoke got out ?? Oh no, that means it has to be returned to the factory to be refilled ! eppur_se_muova Oct 19 #1

There was intermittent dripping onto the floor for a couple minutes. Beartracks Oct 19 #3

Hard to know if that was lubricant or electrolyte. In either case, I'd try to wipe that board. eppur_se_muova Oct 19 #5

The capacitor blew its top. Beartracks Oct 21 #13

That may look like good luck, but it could very well be good design. Hope it's as simple a fix as it looks ! eppur_se_muova Oct 21 #17

Sounds possible. Blown cap on power supply. Sure could be. bullimiami Oct 19 #2

I installed it in 2008. Genie brand. Beartracks Oct 19 #4

It's had a long successful life. bullimiami Oct 19 #6

Yep. Beartracks Oct 19 #8

Just to follow up... Beartracks Oct 21 #14

Genie does sell replacement boards, if it's not discontinued. eppur_se_muova Oct 19 #7

Hey, thanks for this info. Beartracks Oct 19 #9

It's probably the dielectric material in the capacitor. cloudbase Oct 19 #10

If so, would it be a solder -type replacement? Beartracks Oct 19 #11

Maybe. cloudbase Oct 19 #12

Just to follow up... Beartracks Oct 21 #15

Glad it's working out for you. cloudbase Oct 21 #16

eppur_se_muova

(37,388 posts)

1. The magic smoke got out ?? Oh no, that means it has to be returned to the factory to be refilled !

Reply to Beartracks (Original post)

Sat Oct 19, 2024, 03:27 PM

Oct 19

Seriously, I'm not sure how much "acid" is in a capacitor -- I would think that only results from the heat and reaction in air. But I would disconnect it and wipe off that board ASAP -- the residue may be something which accumulates water, and that could cause a short.

If it was just a ceramic capacitor (not unlikely in a high-power device) there may be only dust left, and an obvious burned spot on the board.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:E-cap-family-14-02-02.jpg

ETA: If you have the model number or the part number for the board, you may be able to find repair hints at a site like Ifixit.com. The older it is, the more likely someone has scanned and uploaded what you're looking for.

Beartracks

(13,564 posts)

3. There was intermittent dripping onto the floor for a couple minutes.

Reply to eppur_se_muova (Reply #1)

Sat Oct 19, 2024, 03:29 PM

Oct 19

eppur_se_muova

(37,388 posts)

5. Hard to know if that was lubricant or electrolyte. In either case, I'd try to wipe that board.

Reply to Beartracks (Reply #3)

Sat Oct 19, 2024, 03:32 PM

Oct 19

Or at least get a look at it and decide if it's unsalvagable.

Beartracks

(13,564 posts)

13. The capacitor blew its top.

Reply to eppur_se_muova (Reply #5)

Mon Oct 21, 2024, 01:29 PM

Oct 21

Fortunately, the way it was positioned, it all blew into the plastic housing, barely any on the wires, and none on the two circuit boards.

I've got replacement capacitor on the way. It just clamps in place with the wires clipped to the end. $29 and free shipping!

But I couldn't find how to replenish the magic smoke...

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eppur_se_muova

(37,388 posts)

17. That may look like good luck, but it could very well be good design. Hope it's as simple a fix as it looks !

Reply to Beartracks (Reply #13)

Mon Oct 21, 2024, 09:56 PM

Oct 21

bullimiami

(13,989 posts)

2. Sounds possible. Blown cap on power supply. Sure could be.

Reply to Beartracks (Original post)

Sat Oct 19, 2024, 03:29 PM

Oct 19

The liquid is curious.
Unless is was super old and had a potted transformer burn up.

If it were me I’d just replace it.

Beartracks

(13,564 posts)

4. I installed it in 2008. Genie brand.

Reply to bullimiami (Reply #2)

Sat Oct 19, 2024, 03:30 PM

Oct 19

bullimiami

(13,989 posts)

6. It's had a long successful life.

Reply to Beartracks (Reply #4)

Sat Oct 19, 2024, 03:33 PM

Oct 19

15 years opening at least a few times per day.

Internet says life of opener is 10-15 years.

Beartracks

(13,564 posts)

8. Yep.

Reply to bullimiami (Reply #6)

Sat Oct 19, 2024, 03:39 PM

Oct 19

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Beartracks

(13,564 posts)

14. Just to follow up...

Reply to bullimiami (Reply #6)

Mon Oct 21, 2024, 01:30 PM

Oct 21

The starting capacitor blew its top bigtime. Fortunately, the way it was positioned, it all blew into the plastic housing, barely any on the wires, and none on the two circuit boards.

I've got replacement capacitor on the way. It just clamps in place with the wires clipped to the end. $29 and free shipping!

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eppur_se_muova

(37,388 posts)

7. Genie does sell replacement boards, if it's not discontinued.

Reply to Beartracks (Reply #4)

Sat Oct 19, 2024, 03:36 PM

Oct 19

https://store.geniecompany.com/collections/circuit-board-1/circuit-board

If you feel like a DIY, info here:
https://www.aaaremotes.com/genie-parts-schematics/

If you can just get the model and part no., you may very well find it on eBay. Lots of old appliance parts there -- often unsold inventory, so like new.

Beartracks

(13,564 posts)

9. Hey, thanks for this info.

Reply to eppur_se_muova (Reply #7)

Sat Oct 19, 2024, 03:39 PM

Oct 19

cloudbase

(5,744 posts)

10. It's probably the dielectric material in the capacitor.

Reply to bullimiami (Reply #2)

Sat Oct 19, 2024, 04:17 PM

Oct 19

It's a waxy substance in electrolytic capacitors that melts when heated

If you can, look on the capacitor's casing. If there's a visible + and -, it's definitely an electrolytic. They're easy to replace, provided nothing else in the circuitry if fried.

Beartracks

(13,564 posts)

11. If so, would it be a solder -type replacement?

Reply to cloudbase (Reply #10)

Sat Oct 19, 2024, 04:39 PM

Oct 19

I haven't looked at anything yet. Still nursing a grudge against a simple task gone wrong.

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cloudbase

(5,744 posts)

12. Maybe.

Reply to Beartracks (Reply #11)

Sat Oct 19, 2024, 05:45 PM

Oct 19

I don't have the knowledge of each manufacturer's layout. When mine went out, the capacitor was not on the circuit board, but was attached by a metal band, with leads that plugged in to the circuit board. Given that the capacitor might be considered a replaceable item, my guess is that would be sound design, but then there's more money to be made selling complete boards. If you know what you're doing, you can replace it on the board, or mount it in a handy spot and solder leads to the capacitor and board.

Good luck.

Beartracks

(13,564 posts)

15. Just to follow up...

Reply to cloudbase (Reply #12)

Mon Oct 21, 2024, 01:31 PM

Oct 21

cloudbase

(5,744 posts)

16. Glad it's working out for you.

Reply to Beartracks (Reply #15)

Mon Oct 21, 2024, 01:46 PM

Oct 21

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