Garage door opener - need to install one - what is recommended?

[Dan_69GTX]

Wasn't planning on it just yet, but I need to do it very soon. My Dad is now unable to open the garage door to get the mower out, which he uses to go down the driveway and get the mail....so.....

Garage door is roll up, 12'w x 8'h.
- What HP would you recommend?
- What brand/model is good - or what is known bad.
- I see there are various styles - pros and cons of each?

Never installed or had one before. Already wired an outlet to that ceiling area and will need to run a wire for the wall mounted button. Want to do that before I insulate and put up the wall.

Looking for something without the camera, wifi, etc crap. Just the basics...

Thanks!

 

[BigPapa]

LiftMaster.

 

[ScottLewis]

Basis openers start at about $100 and will do what you need. Unless the door is very heavy you don't need high power. Another concern is sound level. Is the door opening going to wake someone up? Belt operated are quieter but come at a price. For a single car metal door, the 1/4 or 1/3HP models will work fine. A double door MAY need 1/3HP as might a wood door. Balance springs help balance the load lifting.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

It is a new door - vinyl I think.
No concern for noise - shop is 50' from the house.

I see the Liftmaster is under the Chamberlain group, which also has the "Chamberlain" brand garage door openers. Any idea what the difference is between the 2?

 

[ScottLewis]

A couple of years ago, I bought a Chamberlain from Amazon to install for my S-I-L. Turned out there was a beam there that prevented the standard opener installation so I had to use another type that mounted at the end of the shaft. I still have the new opener sitting on the floor of my shop, unused. The different names/models primarily signify different features. It's as a good a brand as any. Don't pay for all the bells and whistles if you don't need them. Instruction with the openers are pretty clear, Just follow the steps and think it through.

 

[Jim W]

I have installed several garage door openers on several different garage doors types. I have found over the years to focus on certain features for a garage door opener.
The first feature is sound abatement I like the belt driven door opener over a chain drive. I never had a belt fail on any opener I have used or installed. Next I would purchase a battery back-up model. This way the garage door will be able to be open from your vehicle in case of a power failure when you arrive home, and you can't get in. The next feature I would get is at least a 1/2HP motor in the door opener. Better to have a little more HP than being marginal!

 

[SnoKing]

We bought a new home in 1981 when DW and I got married. House had two garage doors and a beam running across the garage just past the doors when up. What to do?

So what I did was go to Boeing surplus and get a aluminum spar/beam about the size of a 2x4 and about twelve or fourteen feet long. I mounted this on the inside of the two doors at the top spaced out to clear the tracks. With carriage bolts at the center of each door and at the inter edges. At the bottom of the doors it put a short 2x2 spaced out to clear the tracks tying the doors together, to keep the two door moving parallel with each other. I bought the extension kit for the opener motor/drive so it could be behind the beam. The beam had a post in the center between the stalls. I plate'd the post to beam connection on both sides with plywood and proceeded to bore a hole through the beam for the opener to pass through. The traveler when the doors were up was recessed into the beam. We lived there 22 years and it work flawlessly.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

Hmmm I like the idea of the shaft mounted opener- nothing on the ceiling to avoid with the tractor...

Called a jackshaft opener.....Thanks for that info!!!

 

[Dan_69GTX]

Good thought on the battery backup - not needed since we have a whole house generator. I agree - can never have too much HP!

 

[AH64ID]

Since it's a roll-up you will have to use a shaft mounted opener.

I have the LiftMaster 8500 in my shop with a 12'Wx14'H insulated door. It doesn't have any issues with it.

The light is wireless so it just needs a plug and can be put anywhere.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

FYI - going to post future updates here:
https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/new-shop-progress-updates-questions.269978/