Why Does My Desk Stop and Reverse Direction Unexpectedly?
When the desk stops and reverses on its own, it has triggered the anti-collision protection. The system detected resistance above its threshold and reversed to protect against crushing or motor damage.
Why the Anti-Collision Reverses
The anti-collision system measures motor load during movement. When resistance rises above the programmed threshold (22, 33, or 55 lbs depending on your setting), the desk stops and reverses slightly to avoid injury or motor damage. This is a safety feature, not a fault.
Common Causes of False Triggers
- Cable snag:the most common cause — a cable pulling taut as the desk rises creates enough resistance to trigger the sensor
- Furniture contact:a chair back, shelf, or other item in the path of the rising or lowering tabletop
- Items under the desk:a bag, power strip, or loose item that the frame contacts during lowering
- Sensitivity too low:if sensitivity is set to 22 lbs, even minor cable tension can trigger it
- Hardware loose:a crossbeam that has worked loose creates friction in the leg columns, which reads as resistance
Fix in Order
- Clear the path — remove anything the desk might be contacting
- Fix cable routing — ensure all cables have sufficient slack for full height travel
- Tighten hardware — check crossbeam and leg bolts are snug
- Increase sensitivity threshold slightly — from 22 to 33 lbs if false triggers continue after addressing cable routing