Should garage door sensor lights always be on?

Yes, the lights on your garage door sensors should always be on whenever your garage door opener has power. They are a critical safety device required by federal law since 1993 to prevent the door from closing on people, pets, or objects. Because of this safety function, they are designed to be powered continuously as long as the opener motor unit is plugged in. The sending sensor should show a steady amber, yellow, or orange light at all times, indicating it is sending the infrared beam. The receiving sensor should show a steady green light at all times when it is properly aligned and unobstructed. If the door is open or closed, those lights should still be on. If you notice the lights are off completely, they are only on when the door is moving, or they flicker intermittently, you have a wiring issue, a power issue at the opener, or a failing sensor. The only time they should be intentionally off is when you have unplugged the opener for service. If the lights are off and the opener still has power, the opener will not allow the door to close using the remote and will only allow it to close if you hold down the wall button continuously.

Yes, when your garage door opener has power, the garage door sensor lights should always be on in some form. These are active safety devices required by federal law since 1993, and they must be energized whenever the opener is plugged in. The sending sensor light, usually amber or yellow, should be solid continuously as long as it has power, regardless of whether the door is open or closed. The receiving sensor light, usually green, should also be on continuously when it is aligned and unobstructed. If the door is open, the lights should still be on. If the green light is blinking, it indicates a misalignment or obstruction, but it is still technically on. The only time both lights should be completely off is when the opener itself has no power, the low-voltage wiring is disconnected or shorted, or the logic board has failed. If you unplug your opener, the lights will go off. Some people think they should turn off when the door is closed, but they stay on 24 hours a day as a safety standby, drawing very little power.