Adjustable Opener Reinforcement Bracket

Having trouble attaching the garage door operator arm to the top section of the garage door? Is the top section starting to crack from the stress of the garage door operator? Then a reinforcement bracket may be the answer. An adjustable opener reinforcement bracket works great for attaching the garage door opener arm to the top section of the garage door. The added strength of the bracket helps keep the top sections of steel doors from cracking over extended use.

Adjustable Garage Door Opener Reinforcement Bracket

They can be adjusted to fit section heights of 18" up to 24". They're only 2" wide so in most cases the bracket can be mounted between windows if need be. With the use of the reinforcement bracket the mounting bracket that's supplied by the opener manufacturer can be eliminated.

Prolong the life of your garage door and your garage door opener by installing an opener reinforcing bracket to your garage door. You can view or purchase the bracket at the Garage Door Zone Store.

 Orig. published 08/26/09 Updated 06/22/19

Magnetic House Numbers For Your Garage

Magnetic House Numbers

Do you have a steel garage door but don't want to drill holes in it to put your house numbers on? Do you live in a development where all the condos or homes look similar? Using magnetic house numbers is a perfect solution!

No drilling. No glue. No worries about rust.

5" Black Vinyl Numbers with a hammered look help to distinguish your home from the others around you and also help emergency personnel and delivery people find your home or try the 5" Brass Vinyl Numbers for a sharp look.

5" Brass Vinyl Magnetic Numbers

 

 

Shop today at the Garage Door Zone and get your individual magnetic house numbers.

Marantec Digital 382 Remote Replaces M3-2312 Remote

At the end of 2016 Marantec introduced the new Digital 382 2-button Remote. Marantec discontinued the M3-2312 2-button remote.

Digital 382 Remote

Here is the new Marantec Digital 382 2-button Remote.
It functions and programs the same as the old M3-2312
Remote. It is slightly thinner and has two buttons that can
be programmed to two different Marantec operators. It also
has a red LED light on the front that glows when either

old M3-2312 Remote

button is pushed. It also has a visor clip on the back of
the remote.

One minor difference between the Digital 382 Remote
and the M3-2312 Remote is that the new remote doesn't
have the small hole near the bottom of the remote that
the M3-2312 Remote did. Not a big deal but some
homeowners would use that hole to attach the remote
to a keychain. We recommend that you purchase the
M3-3313 Remote if you wish to put the remote on a
keychain.

The remote works on the current 315MHz frequency that the Marantec operators use (which is the same frequency the M3-2312 used).

The Digital 382 2-button Marantec Remote is now available and can be purchased at the Garage Door Zone Store.

The New Genie LED Light Bulb For Your Garage Door Operator

A few years ago we had a blog post explaining how LED and low energy fluorescent bulbs could cause interference with your garage door operator remotes. The problem with most of those bulbs is that they aren't made for garage door operators and they are cheaply made. The rattling and movement of the operator can cause the internal components of those bulbs to break. When they break they will still light up but they can also transmit a frequency that blocks the radio signal being sent from the remote.

Genie has solved those problems with the new LEDB1-R Garage Door Opener LED Light Bulb. The bulb is specifically made for garage door operators and will work in almost any operator. Here are some of the specifics of the LEDB1-R:

• Brightness - 800 lumens (equivalent to 60 watts)
• Estimated Yearly Energy Cost - $1.07 per year (based on 3hrs day / .11/kWh)
• Life - 22.8 years (based on 3 hours/day)
• Light Appearance - warm (3000 k)
• Energy Used - 10 watts
• Mercury Free

The bulb puts out the equivalent to 60 watts which is plenty for most garages. It is also vibration resistant and tested to withstand temperatures up to -22F. This LED bulb is made for garage door operators will probably outlast the operator itself with a life expectancy of 22.8 years! Most garage door operators have a life expectancy of 10-15 years.

Do you want a light bulb that's made for your operator and you'll probably never have to replace again (at least until you have to replace the operator itself)? The Genie LEDB1-R LED Light Bulb is the answer. You can purchase and find out more about the bulb here at the Garage Door Zone.

Ryobi Garage Door Opener - More Than Just A Garage Door Operator

The Ryobi Garage Door Opener Module System

More Than Just A Garage Door Operator 

Ryobi, a manufacturer of power tools, is stepping into the garage door operator market with a their new #GD200 Garage Door Opener. They have thought outside the box on what a garage door opener can do for the consumer by offering modules that can be added to the operator. The modules include everything from a retractable extension cord cord to a bluetooth speaker.

First lets take a look at the operator itself. It claims to have a 2 h.p. motor. Without being able to find any specs (as of this writing the opener is not being sold yet - it goes on sale at Home Depot 04/15/16) I am not able to confirm the horsepower. My guess is that the opener is equipped with a DC motor (as opposed to an AC). DC motors are rated in Newtons of pulling force instead of horsepower. Since most people don't know what Newtons are manufacturers will show what the equivalent is in horsepower. So if they are claiming a 2 h.p. motor then that would be the equivalent of 2000 Newtons. Again, I'm just assuming at this point that it is a DC motor. Either way this is a lot of motor for a garage door operator. A 1/2 h.p. or 3/4 h.p motor is plenty for a garage door operator so 2 h.p. might be overkill.  I guess you can never have too much though. By the way, the springs on a garage door are supposed to do all the heavy lifting and the motor just puts the door in motion. The operator should actually only be lifting 40 - 50 lbs. while the springs lift the remaining 70 - 150 lbs. (depending on how big your door is).

The operator comes with two (2) 2-button remotes, a wireless keyless entry, a wall control station and photo-electric safety sensors. These are all pretty common accessories but the fact that they include a second remote and keyless entry is nice.  

Here are a few more of the features of the garage door operator:

• Steel reinforced belt driver for longer life
• Lithium-Ion battery backup ready with over 100 openings using a Ryobi One+ P108 4AH battery (sold separately)
• 3-piece rail
• Intelliport technology charges your Ryobi One+ batteries, protects the cells, maintains battery life and conserves energy
• Control your door remotely with the Ryobi garage door opener app; download for free in the iOS app store and Google play
• Lifetime LED light to illuminate the darkest garages
• Wi-Fi and homelink compatible
• Ryobi lifetime warranty on the motor and belt
• Download the Ryobi Garage Door App for personalized settings

A couple of the features above that Ryobi has put in and you will find other brands starting to use is the LED light feature and the built-in WiFi. With LED lighting you'll never have to change a light bulb again (plus it comes on with motion control). With the WiFi you can connect your smartphone to your garage door operator and control it anywhere with a free app that can be downloaded in the iOS app store & Google play.
 
They Ryobi Modules - this is where Ryobi sets itself apart from any other garage door operator currently on the market. You can add one or several different modules to the operator depending on what your needs are. Here are the different modules that can be added to the operator: 

• Garage retractable cord reel
• Bluetooth speaker
• Fan accessory
• Laser park assist
• Carbon monoxide module
• Lithium-ion battery backup

If your garage is more than just a place to park your car then maybe the Ryobi operator with add on modules is for you. For some people the garage doubles as a workshop or maybe it's been turned into a 3-season space to hang out in. Being able to add some music to your workshop (garage) by adding a bluetooth speaker module to the garage door operator is pretty cool. And speaking of cool, if you have a workbench close to the powerhead of the operator why not add a fan module to keep you cool while you're working. The retractable cord reel is a good idea. I don't know how many times I've spent looking for an extension cord. If I only had one connected to my garage door operator.

Even if you don't use the garage for anything else but parking and storing the mower there are a couple of other modules that will come in handy. The lithium-ion battery backup is actually a battery that's used in the cordless Ryobi tools. Attach the battery to the operator and it will charge the battery for your tools. And when you're not using it the battery is acting as a backup to the garage door operator in case there is a power failure. The laser park assist makes sure you park in the same place every time and avoid crunching the bikes while the carbon monoxide module will warn you if the levels are too high. It also measures the temperature and humidity.

THE FINAL VERDICT: the jury is still out. On paper this seems like it could be a very cool operator. If it is indeed a DC motor and has a belt drive system then it should be very quiet. A 2 h.p. motor - it's got power. The base unit comes with 2 remotes, a keyless entry and has built-in WiFi - great value. Add in the modules available to upgrade the unit with battery backup, bluetooth speaker and more.

Without being able to actually test the Ryobi operator we can't give it our full endorsement but overall it looks like it could give the competition a run for its money and consumers a different kind of operator with all the bells & whistles. We hope to be able to test one of the operators in the future and if we do we'll be sure to update our post here and give our honest opinion. If any of our readers happen to purchase & install a Ryobi operator please post your experience with the operator here. We would love to hear from you.

When is the operator available?.....April 15, 2015

What does it cost?.....$ 248.00

Where is it available?....exclusively through Home Depot (view it here)    

Find out more about the Ryobi operator here on the Ryobi website 

Hacked Toy Opens Garage Doors

Hacked Toy Opens Garage Doors

Samy Kamkar, a security researcher, hacked a Mattel toy to scan every possible garage door opener combination and open them in seconds. No need to panic and unplug your operator though. It only works on fixed code receivers and the hacker would also need to know what frequency the receiver was.

If your operator is from approximately 1995 to present then you most likely don't have a fixed code receiver on your opener. Check yours by opening the battery compartment on your remote. If you see DIP switches (that can be moved to + or -) then you have a fixed code otherwise you don't. Operators made over the past 20 years have used a rolling code type of security so this hacked toy would not work on them.

Fixed code was mostly used in the 1970's and 1980's but is still in use today on thousands of garage door openers. I wouldn't be too worried though since Kamkar disabled the code used to hack the toy so someone couldn't copy it. The hacker would also need to know if your garage door opener had a fixed code receiver and the frequency of the receiver.

It's an interesting story and good to be aware of but not something anyone should panic over. There's one way burglars get into garages more than any other way...people leave the garage door open! So if you really want to be safe then close the garage door. Even if you are just working in the yard or in the house it only takes a dishonest person seconds to steal your stuff. If you do have a fixed code receiver on your operator and you're still worried about it then either buy a new garage door operator or upgrade the radio receiver & remote with a secure rolling code receiver like the Liftmaster 365LM Receiver and 371LM Remote.

Click Here to read the full story on Wired.com

Raynor Replaces The Pilot Opener With The Pilot II

Raynor has discontinued the Pilot 1/2 h.p. residential operator and introduced the new Pilot II 1/2 h.p. residential operator. The operator itself looks the same as the old model and is still a 1/2 h.p. chain drive unit but the big difference is that it is now equipped with the MyQ technology. The opener comes packaged with two (2) 893RGX 3-button remotes and one (1) 877 Keyless Entry.

With the new MyQ technology you'll be able to open and close your garage door with your smartphone or computer by adding the 828LM Internet Gateway accessory to the opener. You can also add the 829LM Garage Door Monitor so you can tell if your garage door is open or closed from the comfort of your bedroom (or any room you choose to put the monitor).

With the introduction of the Pilot II opener Raynor now has six residential garage door operators with MyQ technology built into the logic boards: Prodigy II, Ultra II, Admiral II, Aviator II, Pilot II and Corporal II. The Raynor Airman operator is the only operator in the Raynor residential lineup that is not MyQ compatible unless an 888LM MyQ Wall Station is added to the unit.

All of the residential operators currently in the Raynor line up (including the Airman model) can use the 893RGX remote and the 877 Keyless Entry.

67359 Cover for Marantec M3-631 Keyless Entry Discontinued

Marantec has decided to discontinue the replacement part #67359 cover (lid) for their M3-631 Keyless Entry as of January 2015.
 

The M3-631 keyless entry was discontinued in 2013 and replaced with the M13-631 Wireless Keyless Entry.

Raynor 6080404 R170 / R270 Garage Door Opener Logic Board Discontinued

Raynor Manufacturing has discontinued the replacement logic board (part #6080404) for their model R170 and R270 garage door operators. Other replacement parts have been discontinued in the past year or two such as the light covers and PEC-R4 photo-eyes. Other parts will follow as Raynor's stock of replacement parts is depleted.

6080404 R170/R270 Logic Board

Click Here to purchase the R170/R270 replacement logic board. We have a few left in stock but once they are gone we will not be able to get anymore. If you click on the link and it takes you to our homepage then unfortunately we no longer have any in stock.

Raynor Introduces New Airman Operator

Raynor Manufacturing has introduced a new garage door operator to their lineup - The Airman.

The operator has a 1/2 h.p. belt drive motor, rolling code Security+ radio equipment, sensing technology to allow your door to stop closing if it comes in contact with a person or object, Posilock to ensure the door is locked when it's closed, Protector System photo-eyes that will reverse the opener if any object breaks the invisible light beam, 100-watt lighting, one (1) 371RGD remote control and a multi-function wall control.

Optional accessories are available for the unit. A keyless entry can be added to the outside jamb of the garage so you can enter your garage by entering a four digit code. A mini 3-button remote is also available which can be attached to  a key chain and control up to three openers. The opener can also be upgraded to the new MyQ Security+2.0 technology that allows you to operate your garage door opener from anywhere with your smartphone or computer by adding the 828LMPKG Internet Gateway & Wall Station Package.

The Raynor Airman operator offers a 4 year motor warranty, 10 year belt warranty and a 1 year parts warranty.

395LM Control Your Lights With A Garage Door Remote

Have you ever come home at night to a dark house? Ever wish you could turn the lamp off from your bed? Do you hate crawling under the Christmas tree to plug in the lights? Well, here's an easy solution to all of those problems....the 395LM Remote Light Control Package.

The 395LM Remote Light Control Package is easy to use. It includes the control module and one remote control. Just plug the control module into an outlet, program the remote to the module and plug in the appliance you want to control....a lamp, radio, fan or even your Christmas tree. 

Make your life a little easier and get a Remote Light Control package today! 

Notice: Liftmaster MyQ App - Maintenance Outage 04/10/14

Liftmaster Plans a Maintenance Outage For MyQ App

If you have a Liftmaster or Raynor garage door operator that is equipped with the 828LM Internet Gateway and use the MyQ app to open and close your garage door using your smart phone or computer be aware that Liftmaster is planning an outage and you won't be able to use the app. The outage is planned for Thursday April 10th at 2:30am (EST) and should last for 2-1/2 hours.

Here's the information from Liftmaster:

This week we will be performing a planned maintenance event to improve the overall performance of the MyQ app. We recently updated the MyQ Android app to deliver faster response times and to build on this, we are making additional upgrades to the rest of our service. The maintenance will be performed Thursday, April 10th during a 2.5 hour window beginning at 2:30 AM (EDT). During the maintenance window you will experience downtime on the LiftMaster MyQ App and should expect the following:

• You will not be able to open or close the garage door/gate or control lighting from the MyQ App or MyQ web page.
• You will not be able to accurately see the opened/closed status of your garage door or gate.
• You will not receive any alerts during this time.

Need a new Liftmaster or Raynor garage door opener remote? Go to the Garage Door Zone Store

The New M13-631 Marantec Wireless Keyless Entry

Marantec has recently introduced the new M13-631 Wireless Keyless Entry for their garage door operator lineup.

Marantec M13-631 Keyless

Over the past few years Marantec has been using the M3-631 Keyless Entry for all of their current openers but there were a few drawbacks to that keyless. Fortunately Marantec seems to have addressed some of those issues and made improvements in the new M13-631 Keyless Entry.

This keyless works like the old one in that you pick a 4-digit PIN number to operate the opener. That's where the similarities seem to end. Here is a list of some of the improvements with the new keyless entry:

• Holds 4 Different PINs - you can program it to work four separate Marantec openers or program one opener with four different PINs
• Improved Faceplate Numbers - the numbers are now raised, backlit and harder which means they should last longer from use
• Slide Up Cover - the cover over the numbers slides up instead of flipping up which will keep it from blowing in the wind & breaking like the old one
• Uses AAA Batteries - the unit includes (and uses) two AAA batteries. Easy to replace batteries and should last longer than 3volt batteries
• Low Battery Indicator - now you don't have to guess if the batteries are low. Keypad buttons flash when batteries need replaced.
• No Jumper Needed To Program - the old keyless needed a jumper to transfer the code from the remote to the keyless. Most people lost or misplaced the jumper so it wasn't convenient. With the new M13-613 Keyless you just hold a working remote up to the keyless & press the button on the remote to start the programming process.
• Programming Tip: install a new CR2032 3-volt battery in your remote before you try to program the keyless. With a strong battery the programming should work fine. With an older battery in the remote it may take 7 or 8 tries (or may not work at all). 
• Programming Instructions: you can find the M13-631 Keyless programming instructions here on our Manual Support Site

With a little thought it seems Marantec has improved the design and functionality with the new M13-631 Wireless Keyless Entry. Sleek new design, easy programming and durability. A great addition to go along with the following Marantec opener models: M55, M4500, M4700,  Q7500, Q7700, Q7900, M4500e, M4700e, M4900e, Synergy 270, Synergy 370, Synergy 380

Not sure if your opener is compatible? Look at the remote for your opener. If 315MHz is printed on the back of the remote then the M13-631 Keyless will work with your opener. You can also use the Contact Form on the left side of this page and we'll be happy to help you.

Want more information or ready to purchase? Go to the Garage Door Zone Store

Purchase the new M13-631 Keyless Entry

829LM Garage Door Opener Monitor

Now you can monitor your garage door from any room in your house. Simple installation and setup. Visit the Garage Door Zone Store to find more information or to purchase the 829LM Garage Door Monitor.

Raynor Garage Door Opener Monitor 829LM

Have you ever been laying in bed at night and wonder if you left the garage door open? Well, now you don't have to wonder because the 829LM Garage Door Monitor will show you if you door is open or closed. And if it's open you can close it by pressing a button on the monitor.

829LM Monitor

The 829LM Monitor works in conjunction with the 888LM Wall Station and with all Raynor residential operators EXCEPT the R-Series Openers (R110,R120,R130,R150,R160,R170) and Flitestar Openers. Here is a list of the Raynor openers the monitor works with: Aviator (1280RGD/2280RGD/3280RGD), Pilot (1265RGD/2265RGD/3265RGD), Prodigy (3800RGD), Ultra (2595RGD/3295RGD), Commander (2240RGD/3240RGD)
 

888LM Wall Station

Two products will need to be added to the operator for it to work: 888LM MyQ Wall Station - this replaces the existing wall station and is easily installed by removing the existing wall station and connecting the two wires to the new 888LM Wall Station. The second product to add is the 829LM Monitor which plugs into any household outlet and programmed to the 888LM Wall Station. That's all there is too it.

Visit the Garage Door Zone Store for more info or to purchase the 829LM Monitor Package

Raynor Pilot Opener - Choosing The Right Remote

893MAX Remote

Do you have a Raynor Pilot (1265RGD/2265RGD/3265RGD) garage door opener? Did you lose your remote? Not sure which remote will work with your opener? Many of the remotes on the market look the same and some claim they'll work with any opener so it can very confusing. There is actually a very simple answer: 890MAX Keychain Remote or 893MAX 3-Button Remote.

890MAX Remote

How can you tell if one of these remotes will work with your opener? Remove the light cover from the end of the powerhead and you will see the small program (learn) button used for programming the remote. If the button is red, green, amber or purple then the remote will work This includes all of the Pilot operators in addition to the other Raynor openers: Admiral, Admiral-II, Aviator, Endeavor, Corporal, Commander, Prodigy and Ultra.

The "MAX" series of remotes features Security+2.0 rolling code technology and can be programmed to three separate operators.You can find the 890MAX and 893MAX Remotes here at the Garage Door Zone web store.

Have a question? Leave a remark or email us at Store@GarageDoorZone.com and we'll do our best to help you.

Protect Your Garage Door Opener From Lightning Strikes

It's that time of year all across the country when thunderstorms and lightning will pop up unexpectedly. Most people are aware of the damage lightning can do to their t.v.'s, computers and phones but few ever think about their garage door operator.

Today's garage door openers are like the other newer electronics in your home and have electronic control boards that act as the "brains" of the operator. The control board (also known as circuit board or logic board) control all of the functions of the operator and radio receiver. Some makes of control boards seem to be more susceptible to power surges and lightning strikes than others but in the end it doesn't take much to destroy one of the control boards.

If your operator does take a direct hit (or even a close hit) from lightning you can almost guarantee that the control board is going to be fried. A new control board is going to cost anywhere from $70 - $120...all depending on the make and model of the opener. And that doesn't include the $70 - 100 labor charge if you call a service company to replace the board.

What can be done to protect the garage door operator? You can either unplug the operator every time there's a thunderstorm (which isn't very practical) or you can add a Surge Protector to the plug of the operator. For less than $10 you can buy a Surge Protector which will protect you're garage door opener and save you the time and money of having to replace a damaged control board. 

Operators with Battery Backup - Are They Worth It?

It's been around for a few years but garage door operators with battery backups seem to be getting more popular (at least from the manufacturers side of things). Most of the major garage door operator manufacturers either have a battery backup opener in their lineup or have one coming out soon. But are the consumers buying them? A few I guess but enough for the companies to keep them in production? That's a question we'll have to revisit in a couple of years.

Back on topic - is it worth it to buy a garage door operator with a battery backup? That depends. For me...no, it's not worth it. In the last five, no make that 10 years I can count on one hand how many times the power has gone out. And when it did go out it was usually in the middle of the night - no need for me to be opening the garage door. But even if I did have to open the door it wouldn't be a big deal. I think this is where people get talked into buying a battery backup unit - "Do you know what to do if the power goes out?" "Will you know how to open your garage door?" "Do you know how to lock your door if the opener isn't hooked up?" - These are all valid questions but it doesn't mean you need a battery backup. You just need to educate yourself a little bit about your garage door and opener.

So when would a battery backup opener be worth it? There's two reasons to have one: A) You don't mind spending the extra $75 - 100 for the convenience or B) You're older and/or you don't have the physical capabilities to disengage the opener and work the door manually. In these cases I do believe that the battery backup is worth it. Keep in mind that it is a battery and will eventually have to be replaced. The battery may last 5 - 7 years and cost $50 - 60. But you are receiving peace-of-mind that if there is a power outage you won't have to worry about getting out of the garage.

Before you buy an opener with a battery backup ask yourself one question - will I benefit from having a battery backup?

Decor For Your Door - Using Decorative Magnets on Your Garage Door

With the garage door being a large portion on the front of many homes a growing trend for homeowners is the use of decorative magnets for their garage doors. The magnets come in a variety of shapes, sizes and themes. The most popular themes are of course the holiday themed magnets. But there are also magnets to give your door a different look such as butterflies or flowers.

The decorations are easy to put on (just like sticking a magnet to the refrigerator) which make them great for kids who want to help decorate. Show your holiday spirit on Christmas, Halloween, St. Patrick's Day or the 4th of July. Or maybe surprise someone with Welcome Home, Congratulations or Happy Birthday decorations.

They probably aren't something that you want to leave on your door all the time but it can break up the monotony of that big white garage door every once in a while. I'm sure it will put a smile on a lot of faces.

New Garage Door Zone Forums

Check out the new Garage Door Zone Forums. We've done some upgrading over the past couple of weeks and the new Garage Door Zone Forums are up and running. Don't worry, if you still want to use the old forums they are still active and we don't plan on taking them down.

If you have a question about a garage door, garage door opener, remote programming or just want to chat then WWW.GarageDoorZoneForum.com is the place to go. Click on the link below to join us....

We are looking forward to seeing some familiar faces and adding some new faces to the Garage Door Zone Forums. See ya' on the forums.....