Shredder starts by itself or won't auto-start — clean the sensors

What this error means

Straight from Fellowes support: the auto-start sensors (two small 'glass bead' sensors in the paper-entry throat) get coated with paper dust or oil and falsely detect paper — making the shredder run continuously with nothing in it. The same grime in reverse makes it ignore real paper. Fellowes' fix and their confidence level, quoted: a cotton swab dampened with rubbing alcohol, several passes — 'almost all of the time, this procedure will solve the problem.'

Symptoms

• Shredder running with no paper in it
• Ignores inserted paper until you jiggle it
• Recently oiled (excess oil coats sensors)

Try this first (safe DIY steps)

1. Power off and unplug
2. Find the two small clear sensors in the throat of the paper entry
3. Wipe with a rubbing-alcohol-dampened cotton swab, several passes
4. Let dry fully, power on, test

Safety: power off before any physical intervention. Never bypass covers or interlocks — fuser areas run hot enough to burn.

When to call a technician

If clean sensors don't fix it, the sensor circuit has failed — economical only on commercial units.