SOMMER Direct Drive Garage Door Opener 3/4 HP Review

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(More customer reviews)When my old Craftsman chain-drive garage door opener refused to adjust and tore the pulley off of its motor, I searched for something better while shopping online. I found the Sommer 3/4 hp direct-drive garage door opener. I like the new efficient design with very few moving parts. I was a bit skeptical because it's new to the USA (#1 in Europe) and there weren't many reviews of the product, though most reviews were very positive. Once set up, the opener is very quiet and gentle. It is now hard to hear the garage door opening. 2 remotes are included, as well as a wall station control. An outdoor keypad is optional. Installation took a bit longer than stated. The instructions are a bit lacking. Drawings show 2 sections of the C-rail (track) with the lettered stops facing each other on either side of the junction piece of the C-rail. Nowhere does it specifically say to slide the carriage (motor) onto the C-rail between the stops. Not hard to figure out but instructions should be clear. One drawing shows the J-arm piece with the single hole closest to the motor. The very next drawing shows just the opposite. You can watch an installation video on the company's website where it says the track comes preassembled. It does not. It ships in 2 packages, which UPS delivered on 2 different days. One package contains the track, the other has the motor, hardware, and controls. A pair of sturdy right-angle brackets for hanging the track would have been a welcome addition to the installation kit instead of the flimsy flat brackets included. The skinny remote control looks like it should slide over the buttons for opening the door to avoid activating the door while in a pocket. Overall, I am satisfied with it now that it is up. We'll see how it holds up this winter when the frost causes the concrete to heave in the garage. It is reassuring to know that everything is guaranteed for life. The Sommer opener costs about $100 more than a conventional belt, chain, or screw drive opener on sale, but looks like it is built to last.

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Revolutionary garage door opener. The Direct Drive is the only one of its kind which offers Europe's leading innovative technology. Unlike conventional garage door opener that use a noisy chain, belt or screw the Direct Drive has only one moving part with no moving chain or belt. The motor glides silently along the stationary chain that is embedded in a sturdy steel rail, creating the quietest garage door opener available. The spring-loaded chain will never sag down. The sensitive internal obstacle detection and the safety sensors constantly monitor every door movement and ensures the highest level of safety. The Direct Drive 3/4 HPS motor provides maximum lifting force. Direct Drive technology requires no maintenance and makes this garage door opener extremely durable and long lasting.- Lifetime warranty on the entire unit and two years on all accessoriesThe direct drive is stronger than a chain drive and quieter than a belt drive- System is very easy to assemble and to install- Includes two 2- button transmitters- Includes high quality photo eyes- Soft start and stop relieves stress from the opener and garage door- No lubrication required- Ideal for garages with adjacent living spaces- Made in Germany

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LiftMaster 3800 Residential Jackshaft Garage Door Opener Review

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(More customer reviews)I installed this LiftMaster 3800 opener in my garage over this past weekend. It took a couple of hours in total, not because the installation is terribly complicated but just because there's a lot of little things to do during the installation. The instructions are very thorough and accurate and the opener works extremely well.
When I got home last night, after using the opener for 3 days, I noticed that the light was no longer working. I checked the power to it, replaced the bulbs and attempted to reprogram it. Bottom line is that the light simply stopped responding to commands from the head unit and the wall-mounted control. Unlike conventional garage door openers the light is 'wireless' in that it receives commands to turn on and off remotely. You simply plug it into an outlet anywhere in the garage. This, evidently, was a scenario Chamberlain's customer service was not prepared for. Despite giving them my model number the representative could not come to grips with the fact that the light was not part of the motor assembly. After providing her the model number of the light itself we began to make progress. However, once we reached a point where there was no more troubleshooting to be done and the light still did not work there was an awkward silence. After about 10 minutes of this silence (though I could hear voices in the background) I asked if she was still there. She said yes and that she would need to talk to a supervisor. She did and the supervisor wanted me to 'hard wire' the wall mount to the motor assembly. She could not adequately explain to me what that meant. The wall control IS hard-wired to the motor, albeit with 30-feet of wire. All other functions of the wall control work so I knew that wasn't the problem. The motor assembly is 11-feet off the ground and I wasn't about to dig out the ladder, move the car and climb up there knowing full well that nothing I did to the motor assembly was going to fix that light. After multiple requests the supervisor refused to speak with me and they reluctantly agreed to replace the light. In total I had over an hour invested in that phone call.
Back to the review....I really wanted to ding the opener for my poor customer service experience. But that wouldn't be fair. With the exception of this light problem, I am so impressed with this opener that I need to give it 5 stars.
The opener is extremely quiet and smooth. I replaced a Craftsman chain-driven opener with this Liftmaster 3800 and the difference is like night and day. My bedroom is above my garage so it's important to have a quiet opener that is NOT mounted to the ceiling (which is obviously the bedroom floor). The door opens substantially faster than the conventional opener I replaced and slows to a graceful stop just before the preset travel limit. On the down cycle the door closes at the same rate as the old opener.
The standard package of features with the opener is outstanding. It comes with a nice, blue-backlit LCD wall controller that displays the time and temperature. The wall control gives you status messages and also contains a motion detector that turns on the lights when you enter the garage. You can also program new remotes using the wall control rather than having to climb up and hit the 'learn' button on the motor unit (though you could do that if you wanted to). The remote control that comes with the unit has nice, blue LEDs that illuminate when it senses that your hand is near it. This is great when you're fishing around your console in the dark for the remote. Last, the dead bolt feature is a nice added security option.
Installation is not complicated. The hardest part was installing the collar that connects the motor shaft to the torsion bar assembly. They use some sort of super-duper thread lock that makes it difficult to turn the bolts. They have Allen's heads so make sure you have a sturdy, hardened Allen's wrench. There is not a lot of room, either, so take the advice in the instructions and position the collar in a manner that allows you to get at all the bolts. The only tool required that the average handyman might not have is a 3/4" metal bit for drilling the dead bolt hole. That's a big bit and most drill bit sets only go up to 1/2".
Programming is simple if you follow the instructions. I easily programmed the door stops in a matter of minutes and it self-learns the force limits based on a full cycle of door operation. The opener is Homelink compatible and I programmed both my vehicles to operate the door without any trouble.
Last, a word to the wise, most accessories for the door start with the number "3". I ordered a keypad and keyfob remote for the door and both were incorrect. Just because a device says it's SECURITY + compatible doesn't mean it works with the 3800 opener. Make sure you get a device that works with SECURITY + and is also for openers with a PURPLE learn button.


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Wall-mount installation - mounts on the left or right side of door. No rails to hang, it simply mounts on the wall and attaches to the garage door torsion bar. Unit requires an electrical outlet within 6 feet. Patented absolute positioning technology - the newest technology in garage door openers. Liftmaster patented design allows the electronic limits to be extremely accurate, even after a power failure. Optional accessories: 475LM Battery Backup, 377lm Keyless Entry Pad, 379lm Fingerprint Keyless Entry,975lm Garage Door Parking Assist, 370lm Mini Remote. IMPORTANT NOTE: BEFORE PURCHASING, PLEASE VERIFY THE 3800 WILL FIT YOUR APPLICATION BY CONTACTING CHAMBERLAIN. TO RECEIVE IT AND THEN SHIP 33LB PACKAGE BACK TO SELLER IS INCONVENIENT.

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Chamberlain WD962KD Premium Whisper Drive 3/4-Horsepower Garage Door Opener with Standby Power Review

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(More customer reviews)I didn't know what to expect when I ordered this garage door opener. I did a lot of research and new that I was getting a good product, but I have never installed a garage door opener before.
I received the product in a timely fashion, but it sat for a week before I could get to it. I recruited my brother and father to help me install it. The install was very easy. I had to improvise a bit since the installation requires additional lumbar and hardware that doesn't come in the box. That is acceptable though, since every installation is different.
Besides that, it took me about four hours to install. The product is AMAZING! Quiet, fast, and safe. Everyone who hears it, comments about how quiet it is. The sensor on the control unit turns the lights on when I walk into the garage. No need to reach for the light switch.
This unit came with a battery (in case of a power failure), and I was able to use it the other day when the power was out. How about that! No one in my neighborhood could open their garage door, except ME!!
I would highly recommend this to anyone interested.

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Capable of operation during a power outage, the Chamberlain WD962KD Premium Whisper Drive Plus with EverCharge Standby Power System provides dependable, smooth performance year after year. Compatible with HomeLink, an in-vehicle remote control system, this convenient opener boasts advanced safety, security, and monitoring features, whisper-quiet opening and closing, and durable construction. As soon as you take the WD962KD out of its packaging, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.
Whisper-Quiet, Smooth Operation Year After YearThanks to Chamberlain's exclusive Motor Vibration Isolation System (MVIS)--which eliminates powerhead vibration for reduced noise--the WD962KD provides the ultimate in quiet performance. No more grating, squeaking, grinding, or jarring mechanical noises every time your garage door is opened or closed.
Compatible with HomeLink, an in-vehicle remote-control system, and winner of the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, the WD962KD is built to last. Its 3/4-horsepower motor offers steady operation and easy lifting year after year, while the enclosed gear case provides lubrication and protection for long life and smooth movement. Additionally, rugged steel construction guards against damaging wear and tear and the effects of temperature changes.
Fast, Easy Installation in Just 60 SecondsQuick and easy to install, this system arrives with three railing sections that assemble into one long piece. Clear, easy-to-read instructions guide you through the process step by step--in just one minute you'll have a completely assembled unit.
For added convenience, the WD962KD has a light that delivers 200 watts and has an adjustable time delay so you can enjoy illumination when you need it. It also comes with two three-button remote controls and a keyless entry pad for those times when your remote is not easily accessible.
Advanced Safety and Security Features Protect Against Accidents and TheftThe WD962KD is equipped with safety features that protect users from accidental closings, as well as from break-ins and theft. The included protector system features safety sensors with Rapid-Snap brackets that project an invisible light beam across the door opening and automatically reverse the door if anything interrupts the beam while the door is descending.
For added peace of mind, sensing technology will stop the door from closing if contact is made with a person or object and opener lights will turn on automatically if the infrared beam is broken.
To guard against unauthorized entry or use of your code, Security+ anti-burglary technology sends a new code every time you use your remote control. An added bonus, PosiLock theft protection ensures that once the door is closed, it stays locked.
The WD962KD motor is backed by a lifetime warranty; the belt is backed by a 10-year warranty.
What's in the BoxWD962KD with 3/4-horsepower motor and belt; two remote controls; soft-glow wall control; assembly instructions; and keyless entry pad.

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