Brendan Hughes

Had a great, if slightly spooky, night last night. Our house is on a steep hillside overlooking the village in the valley. The entire village's power was cut off for 2 hours, 20.30 - 22.30. As we looked out over the valley there were no lights, but you could see everything clearly as the full moon was rising. And then the sea mist came in and blocked out the valley, so we could only see the houses in the street below us - the rest, and the other side of the valley, ceased to exist. Only the moon shone through.

We were waiting for zombie axe murderers to come plodding down the street, but it didn't happen.

Anyway - I have an up-and-over electric garage door. Are there any common techniques for opening one in a power cut? (My axe is inside ) It was already fitted when I moved in, and there are no instructions.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

There should be a a cord (normally with a red ****) hanging from the top by the door where the unit pulls the door open...pull that and it should release it and will open like a normal poor mans garage door

That's providing you can get in your garage to pull it

Brendan Hughes

Ta Ali. Haven't seen one . The worst thing is, the garage is built on the steep hill, with the driveway going down to it. Due to the construction, if I want to get in the side windows, I'd have to get a long ladder, as they are 10ft off the ground.

And you can guess where I keep my long ladder, can't you?

DaveMiddleton

My garage has an over-ride key which when opened allows the disengagement of the door closing mechanism. Thus you can get in during a power failure.

Spoon

My 2 doors have both, a key and a red dangly inside.

Brendan Hughes

Dave, Spoon, where are your override keyholes located? (Sorry if a dumb question to ask on a public BBS).

Mine's an upanover with the traditional little T-handle bottom centre with a key slot. Don't think I have the key for it, but even if I did, I don't think it would link to the electronic mechanism in any way (unless something remarkably logical like mechanically engaging a pivot in the mechanism).

Must look more closely tonight.

Spoon

Brendan- The key hole is directly below the door handle, just like any lock really.

The thing to note is that the locking mechanism isn't always fitted, so although you see a keyhole it doesn't necessarily mean you have the locking bars fitted behind the door.

Nate

iTrader: (2)

Alternatively , you can fit an 'emergency overide' key hole, best place is near the top of your door. If you don't have a rear entrance to your garage door, and you have a GDO fitted, one should have been fitted when it was installed (unless a cowboy fitted it) .

Nate.

PS PM me if you still have trouble.

Brendan Hughes

Erm... not exactly trouble, as it hasn't happened since - just no solution! And no obvious one possible.

Will PM you, thanks for the offer.

MJW

There should be a manual override for it. I have an electric roller shutter which has a manual crank in the event of power failure (though it takes bloody ages to do it).
Is there any way of fitting an Uninterruptable Power Supply unit to it or something like that ? Or even a 240v generator !!

Brendan Hughes

Now this thread has been resurrected, I've thought of a comparatively simple solution. Will go home and look to see if it's possible.