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ChickenGuard Light Sensor Reads 0 or Backwards? Check LDR vs Photo Diode
A ChickenGuard door that opens at night, closes in daylight or shows LUX values that move the wrong direction can have the wrong light-sensor type selected. Most units use the LDR setting.
Quick answer
Take a LUX reading first. If it stays at 0, is very low in bright daylight or rises as it gets darker, enter the advanced menu and check Light Sense Type. ChickenGuard says most units should be set to LDR rather than Photo Diode.
What a normal LUX reading should do
ChickenGuard uses a 0 to 260 scale where lower values mean darker conditions and higher values mean brighter conditions. The exact number varies by location, but the direction should make sense.
1. Take a live reading in daylight
Open LUX Adjustment and use Read. If the value is stuck at 0 or looks inverted, continue with the sensor-type check.
2. Open the advanced menu
Use the long menu-button press documented for your model and locate Light Sense Type.
3. Select LDR on most units
ChickenGuard says most door openers use an LDR sensor. If Photo Diode is selected incorrectly, the readings can be reversed.
4. Retest the LUX value
After returning to the normal menu, take another reading. ChickenGuard notes that a daylight reading around 180 to 260 is a useful sign that the sensor is behaving normally.
5. If you see “Err” rather than a number
That is a different configuration issue. Use our ChickenGuard LUX “Err” guide.
6. Tune open and close thresholds only after readings make sense
Do not compensate for a reversed sensor by using extreme thresholds. Fix the sensor type first, then adjust the opening and closing values.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my ChickenGuard close during the day?
A reversed or incorrect light reading can make the controller believe it is dark.
Is a reading of 0 always a broken sensor?
No. ChickenGuard specifically recommends checking the Light Sense Type before assuming hardware failure.
Sources checked
We checked ChickenGuard’s current wrong-time and Light Sensor Help guidance.