philip@qubix.UUCP (Philip Wang) (12/26/84)
In early December, I put out a request about garage door opener. Here is
the summary. Thank you for all of you who responsed (and who tried to
response).
I got total 5 messages. 3 of them said "Sears", others said "Genie". The
reasons are safety feature(s) and reliability. After shopping around, I
bought "Stanley" (Sorry! I bought the one wasn't recommanded. But please
read my reason. Thanks.) model 3205. It is a new model and also top-of-
the-line. It has:
1. 1/2 HP.
2. Chain and cable drive.
3. Three safety features (quote from owner's manual)
1. REVERSE MECHANISM. It will automatically reverse the door
should it come in contact with an object while it is closing.
This same mechanism will stop the door if it contacts and
obstacle during the open cycle.
2. SAFE-T-CYCLE. This electronic safety system is provided
which will reverse the door in 30 seconds after it leaves the
full open position, during closing. This unique feature
provides automatic reversing in the event other systems should
fail and the door does not fully close due to it coming in
contact with an object.
3. SAFE-T-SIGNAL. It will automatically flash the opener's
lights anytime one of the above mentioned safety features is
activated. The next press of the transmitter button or push-
button will stop the lights from flashing.
4. The operation sequence is OPEN-STOP-CLOSE-STOP-OPEN... at any
position. You don't need to fully open or close it before
reverse the direction of the motion.
(also quote from owner's manual) The opener can be stopped during
any portion of the opening or closing cycle by pressing either of
the buttons. The next actuation will re-start the opener and door
in motion in the opposite direction.
The price is the lowest for that horse power. It is only $144.97 + tax.
It was on sale when I got it. Stanley also gives a "digital keyless entry"
(~$30+) if you buy it in this year. The closest is Sears' 1/2 HP model,
$159 + tax. (It is NOT the top-of-the-line. It is a special model. It is
the top-of- the-line minus working light and vacation features.)
Because I didn't install yet, I can't tell what it really likes. I just can
quote from owner's manual. Sorry about that.
The followings are the responses that I got. I removed all sender's name.
#################################################
Philip,
We've had a 1/3hp Sears Opener since 12/31/83 and are pretty happy with it.
It has a full 30 day warranty on parts and labor and a one year warranty
on parts. We had a fifty dollar cirruit board go. They came to the house
and replaced it for twenty three dollars which I didn't think was too bad.
I know three other people who have owned Sears openers for between
six months and a couple of years and none of them have had any trouble.
I took a rather simplistic approach to buying mine. Since the difference
in price between bottom and top of the line was so little, I bought the
most powerful one they had with the idea that I'd have less trouble
with it. I got a chain drive because it required less clearance than
a screw drive, and that was important in my garage.
#################################################
Sears are good - installed about 4 of them, never any trouble.
Probably go for at least 1/3 hp unless you have a very small door.
Helps when it gets cold or the door sticks, etc..
Never had a screw drive - only disadvantage of chain is that they need
occasional greasing and tightening.
#################################################
buy a Genie! do not buy a Stanley.
You want a screw drive, 1/3 hp. Sale price $159 - $179.
Both the Stanley $ Genie are comparable, EXCEPT the cycle of operation. The
Genie's cycles go: open, stop, close, stop. The Stanley's go: open, stop,
open, stop, UNTIL THE DOOR IS FULLY OPEN, then close, stop, open, etc.
Thus, with the Stanley, you have to open the door FULLY whenever you change
your mind and wish to change the door's direction. Believe me, I've had
both-- the simple cycle on the Genie is MUCH more desirable. Other than
that, the two are very close. Maybe the Genie is SLIGHTLY quieter, but the
difference is minimal.
#################################################
I have a Sears Craftsman 1/2 hp garage opener, and I am very pleased with its
performance. On sale it was ~$140. It has force adjustments for door up
and down motion. Both of these features are extremly useful. If an
obstacle gets in the way, the opener notices there is a problem and backs
itself up. Once I had the door locked while I tried to open it, I was
thankful that it also check upward tension as otherwise it would have done
major damage to the door.
Installation was simple, directions written clearly.
It also allows you to choose your own unique code through the setting of
dip switches it both the opener and remote switch. If you sould need extra
remote switches, they are sold at most Sears stores for about $25.
As far as size of the motor, I can only say that ours is probably more
powerful than we need for our 1 car garage.
#################################################
I can relate to you my experiences with finding a garage door
opener.
My first exposure to garage door openers was with Sears. I found
the chain drive to be hard to work with, so I did not select it
for my own installation (my father had two of them). When I
finally decided to buy one, I decide on the Genie screw drive, 1/3
hp model no. ???. This I used on a single garage door, but I know
a similar 1/3 hp unit will also do well on a double door. A
friend of mine has had one for about 5 years with no problems.
The reason I liked the Genie was because of the reversing
mechanism (I, at the time, had a 2-year old daughter, now she is
four). On the Genie, it reverses IMMEDIATELY upon stopping before
its appointed travel. That is, it has a sensor that says "I
haven't received a signal that it is ok to stop, so I had better
reverse". The Sears and the Stanley both reversed only if the
motor kept running for about 15 seconds (the Genie does this
also). 15 seconds seemed like a long time to wait while someone
is choking to death under a door. :-) Also, you can set the
Genie to be as sensitive as you want for its reversing mechanism.
If I had to do it again, I would get a Genie. They have (sob)
also come down in price over the last couple of years, so yo0u
should be able to get a real nice one for about $150.
Good luck.
--
Philip Wang @ QUBIX Graphic Systems, Inc., San Jose, CA.
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