Messing with electronics

The previous owners weren't kind enough to leave behind any garage door openers.  While the existing garage-door opener was a decent unit, it was using an older (insecure) RF code.  Newer garage door openers use Intellicode.  I went ahead and bought an upgrade kit that included a pair of remotes for less than the cost of buying just the remotes at the local hardware store. 

The kit was fairly easy to install.  It worked like a charm on the first try.

One thing I didn't like about the kit is that it suggests simply changing the old code for security - of course that doesn't work because anybody with a transmitter could still find the right code using an automated trial-and-error attack.  Instead, I opened up the garage door opener and removed the entire radio control daughterboard.

I also went ahead and installed an extra button by the doorway to control the lights on the garage door opener, for those times when you need the extra illumination but don't want to open the garage door.

On a slightly more irritating note, I made some snail-like progress on the furnace.  I spent over a week waiting for a replacement transformer.  It arrived in the mail today.  I even got the whole thing working - briefly.  Proud of myself, I went to grab the camera and photograph the flames... but faster than a digital camera can click, the unit shut off.

The good news is that the problem appears limited to the electronic controls.  I was able to trace the problem to a likely source: a relay in the ignition control module (black box on the upper-right of this PCB).  It was making relay "click of death" sounds and sparking internally, which is always a good hint that something is awry.  But before I could experiment any further, my new transformer blew out.  At least now I know what is probably causing the problem.  $30 in backup parts are on-order (including several transformers and replacement relays in case further problems arise).  This is still a lot cheaper than the $200+ parts and $200+ labor that it'd cost to have the thing serviced by a pro.  But having heat sure would be nice....