"SQLit" wrote in message
...

"Mike Dobony" wrote in message
...
I have just fought my last fight with diy garage door openers! The
motor
holds up, but the door refuses to open OR close when cold weather comes
in.
I have had the door checked several times and it is fine. I am now
looking
at the Allstar MVP opener or the Chamberlain LiftMaster opener, either
to
be
installed and maintained by a garage door company. If there are any
problems, let THEM take care of it. The Allstar is all metal gears, but
I
can not find any info about the Chamberlain. The Allstar is a full
roller
chain, no cable. The Chamberlain is the belt drive. The Allstar 20
year
warranty covers the entire drive train and only 2 years on the
electronics.
The Chamberlain's lifetime waranty covers only the motor and belt, and 5
years on everything else. The Allstar supposedly has a "shock-absorbing
door arm" to "soak up the sudden stops and starts of typical use,
protecing
the door and opener," however I see nothing in the manual about this
arm.
Anybody have any personal experience with either of these units?
Thanks.


Have you looked into the IDrive units? My next garage will have one of
them.


That is what DIED in less than a year. A local company refuses to install
them due to the persistant failure of the potmetal gears on the shaft. They
explode when cold and under a heavy load. Great idea, but lousy quality
materials and weak motor.

The belt driven ones are definitely quieter. Plan on a surge arrestor for
the electronics, I lost the last brain on one cause of a spike. The
instructions even say to install an arrestor for the opener.


Yup, didn't think of that. I already have a whole house protector on hte
box, but have extra on the computers and tv. Also the belt drive is a belt
from the motor to the gear box to absorb shock, not driving the trolly.