I was just wondering if anyone has installed a door opener recently? In the past I've installed a few but I don't recall them being this complex!! there are no fewer than 8 individual instruction manuals [1 for each electronic component] I really wish I had bought a baseline model it has to be simpler than this. Also i've just read in 1 booklet that the garage needs to be heated.I can't believe that they wouldn't tell you that before you buy it. Am I overreacting to new technology or has anyone else gone through this?

 

Heated???????????????Ah C'mon April Fools was at the beginning of the month.

 

Honest to god ! thats what it says.I thought it was because of the batt. but apparently the LCD will screw-up if it gets too cold.

 

Gee and I only have to worry about a couple wires and a button. Seems to open and close the door properly. Of course I did have to replace the 8V power regulator chip on the receiver board that failed on a hot day about 3 days out of warranty. I replaced it with a properly sized TO-220 regulator and it has lasted 25 years...

Always get the model without all the fancy crap...

Take it back and buy the good one!

 

That's my point! I had a clopay at my last house and had to replace a board once ,no big deal. This Chamberlain has so many extras it's nuts. The features may be great but I just wanted an opener,the guy at homdepo told me I needed this 1 because of the size of my dr.[ I'm sure it was just coincidence that it cost the most] Then I had to wait 3 wks. for extra parts. I do appreciate hi-tech. when it adds something but it seems like the builders add some of this cr_p just to justify a high price.

 

Damn, you got snookered by a con-artist sales person. Seems to happen thousands of times every minute here in the old USA!. Take your complaint to the Home Depot management. They will smile but they won't do anything tho... Hell I won't even buy those new refrigerators with built in computers and TV or washing machines with a microprocessor just because they are high priced crap that WILL break and cost $$$$$$ to fix. A garage door opener with a LCD & microprocessor? What a load of crapola. Just like all the new cars with TV etc etc etc. Just keep in mind the KISS principle when buying and if a clerk even points towards one of those fancy flashy doodads RUN!!!!!

 

The LCD is just a display right? (Why a door opener needs a display is somewhat beyond me)

Anyway, it shouldn't hurt it if you have it on when it's cold -- you just won't be able to read it.

ford2go

 

yeah,,,,, they saw me coming. but I do have to use the LCD to program this POS.It has a motion detecter that alerts me in the house if anyone gets in the shop,[but i already have an alarm and cameras if I ever get them set-up again.] it also seems to have 3 remote keypunch entry switchs ,and I still haven't figured out why I would need to open or close the door from inside my house???? I'm going to need a manual to learn how to use this thing !!!

 

Also, this opener has batt. backup if the power goes out,,BUT, they still put a release handle on the trolley so maybe they don't trust their own system.

 

God help you with that mess!

Hmmm, I have never needed a backup power supply and I only used the pull handle once in 25 years while doing some door maintenance other than testing it on install....

Mine is so old it doesn't even have an "idiot eye" on the door. Never had a problem from that omission either. Kids and animals have lived safely...

I have three pushbuttons to open mine. Two are integral with the RF receiver and the other is a surface mount doorbell switch I picked up for a buck or so. The original RF unit had two buttons on it for some obscure "safety" reason that was a real PITA in practice. I cut the traces on the PC board and rewired those so either button would work.

I did add another light fixture to help with garage illumination on the back side of the unit and wired in a pull chain switch for the lights also. With only the lights on the front blinding me I could not see the back of the garage. The light control relay had plenty of capacity for the additional bulb and it has lasted 25 years. The modern one probably couldn't stand the addition of another night light bulb.

Now that I have said so many nice things about the 25 yr old unit it will probably quit tomorrow...

 

Hey, if it does quit I'll givya a really good deal on one {never been used}

 

Go with a basic Genie opener;12 years no problems.I put a Genie X-celerator on my other garage door............. replaced the circuit bds twice in 5 years.

 

My door is automatic- if I pull up on the handle real hard, it automatically opens!