Battery backup garage door openers

[mike93lx]

Anyone have experiences with these?

I have a 3 year old chamberlain belt drive that is working great, but I need it to be able to run in an outage. Due to inrush I'd need a Ups large enough that I think i should just buy a new one with an integrated battery and sell the current one to a buddy that has a loud chain drive.

Its a 16' aluminum door. Not anything super heavy

Something like this
1.25-HP Ultra Quiet, Stealthdrive Belt Drive Garage Door Opener with Battery Back-Up https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074XG6BT6?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[DGersic]

I don‘t, but I’m curious why you need this. Power outages (here) are pretty rare, and don’t usually last very long. Is your power significantly unreliable? Even if I needed to open the overhead door during a power outage, the spring does most of the work, I’d just pop the release and pull the door up. Not an option for you?

Buying one, if you need it, also commits you to a maintenance and replacement schedule on the batteries.

 

[mike93lx]

I don‘t, but I’m curious why you need this. Power outages (here) are pretty rare, and don’t usually last very long. Is your power significantly unreliable? Even if I needed to open the overhead door during a power outage, the spring does most of the work, I’d just pop the release and pull the door up. Not an option for you?

Buying one, if you need it, also commits you to a maintenance and replacement schedule on the batteries.

We rarely lose power, but the garage is the best place to store the generator and my wife has some physical limitations that can make it difficult to do certain things and I want her to be able to run the generator if I am travelling. If I can make it so she can press a button instead of using the E release and lifting the door for a couple hundred bucks, that's an easy decision. The chances that this will ever be needed are slim, so this is more peace of mind than practical.

I also want to say that I can keep the center of the garage free of clutter, but that's easier said than done

To store the generator outdoors, I would need to build or buy something, which will cost more than this option, plus the garage is a much nicer place to keep it than a shed out on the driveway.

I'm between a UPS and replacing the GDO. I wish I could know for certain what size ups is needed to run it, but I'd probably go with a 1500va, so cost is comparable to just installing a new GDO

 

[DGersic]

We rarely lose power, but the garage is the best place to store the generator and my wife has some physical limitations that can make it difficult to do certain things and I want her to be able to run the generator if I am travelling. If I can make it so she can press a button instead of using the E release and lifting the door for a couple hundred bucks, that's an easy decision. The chances that this will ever be needed are slim, so this is more peace of mind than practical.

That makes sense. I’d probably just buy the UPS and be done with it if it’ll make you feel better about it.

 

[kbuhagiar]

Buying one, if you need it, also commits you to a maintenance and replacement schedule on the batteries.

And, in my limited experience a few years back, the batteries needed replacing about once a year, which i found to be completely unacceptable. I stopped replacing them after the third year.

I would hope - and expect - that the current crop of backup-battery-type openers perform better than that. We shall see, as I just installed two new Liftmaster 98022s in my new garage addition. So far, so good, but it's only been six months.

 

[HoosierMark]

Have you considered a way to vent the generator exhaust to the outside so it can just run inside. That would save her having to move it and also potential battery failur.

 

[mike93lx]

Have you considered a way to vent the generator exhaust to the outside so it can just run inside. That would save her having to move it and also potential battery failur.

Absolutely not. It's an attached garage

 

[Snapped-off]

You're steadfast against a standby home gen, but that seems to be the best overall solution for an easy hands-off approach.

 

[mike93lx]

You're steadfast against a standby home gen, but that seems to be the best overall solution for an easy hands-off approach.

I understand the benefits, but the cost is massively greater and it's not necessary. If something significant changes, it is always an option, though.

 

[PCustoms]

You're steadfast against a standby home gen, but that seems to be the best overall solution for an easy hands-off approach.

Yep

With all the work arounds a dedicated standby is probably cheaper too.

 

[mike93lx]

And, in my limited experience a few years back, the batteries needed replacing about once a year, which i found to be completely unacceptable. I stopped replacing them after the third year.

I would hope - and expect - that the current crop of backup-battery-type openers perform better than that. We shall see, as I just installed two new Liftmaster 98022s in my new garage addition. So far, so good, but it's only been six months.

I wonder if replacing the battery with LFP is doable

 

[mike93lx]

Yep

With all the work arounds a dedicated standby is probably cheaper too.

Not even remotely close, but I'd love to see your accounting to come up with that

 

[dcg9381]

I wonder if replacing the battery with LFP is doable

I'm on the fence on this. The "full charged" voltage on lead acid is lower than LFP. Course, we replace lead acid in campers and motorcycles all the time with LFP, but we're only getting about 80% capacity unless you adjust how it's charged. When you consider that LFP can "discharge deeper" it's probably a wash..

My UPS' need a battery every 2-3 years. Problem is that often you don't know they need a battery until the UPS goes active.

 

[mike93lx]

I'm on the fence on this. The "full charged" voltage on lead acid is lower than LFP. Course, we replace lead acid in campers and motorcycles all the time with LFP, but we're only getting about 80% capacity unless you adjust how it's charged. When you consider that LFP can "discharge deeper" it's probably a wash..

My UPS' need a battery every 2-3 years. Problem is that often you don't know they need a battery until the UPS goes active.

Thanks

 

[sz0k30]

Just replaced the battery in my 5 year old Chamberlain. And YES, in my garage I need the backup battery. Between the size of my garage, the vehicles, the workbench and other typical garage clutter, getting to the manual opener is just about impossible.

My opener beeped and the wall control unit showed a "replace battery" message.

 

[mike93lx]

Just replaced the battery in my 5 year old Chamberlain. And YES, in my garage I need the backup battery. Between the size of my garage, the vehicles, the workbench and other typical garage clutter, getting to the manual opener is just about impossible.

My opener beeped and the wall control unit showed a "replace battery" message.

Thanks. Any idea how many times you can cycle the door in an outage? I'd really only probably need 2, which I would expect it to do

 

[kbuhagiar]

Not even remotely close, but I'd love to see your accounting to come up with that

Yeah, me too...

My 20kW Briggs & Stratton dedicated standby cost a bit over $7K in 2018 with installation, and it was that cheap only because we had the great good fortune of locating it literally right next to BOTH the main power panel AND the propane riser.

I got estimates for the same setup at our 'new' place here in Escondido, but the trenching and concrete work required to bring the propane line and electrical to the proposed location contributed greatly to the cost. Plus - Southern California. Couldn't touch one for less than $18K. We decided to go with a battery backup (tied into our solar system array) instead. With California state credits and rebates it was about $10K installed.

 

[mike93lx]

Yeah, me too...

My 20kW Briggs & Stratton dedicated standby cost a bit over $7K in 2018 with installation, and it was that cheap only because we had the great good fortune of locating it literally right next to BOTH the main power panel AND the propane riser.

I got estimates for the same setup at our 'new' place here in Escondido, but the trenching and concrete work required to bring the propane line and electrical to the proposed location contributed greatly to the cost. Plus - Southern California. Couldn't touch one for less than $18K. We decided to go with a battery backup (tied into our solar system array) instead. With California state credits and rebates it was about $10K installed.

A 20k standby and ATS is about $7k today, without install. I also need a gas upgrade and a place to site it.

A 7k generator would be enough and all in, would run probably $8k. That's a far cry from a $1k upgrade to get an electric start generator, a $300 GDO and maybe a propane tank. But maybe I am missing something that I spent a few grand on?

 

[kbuhagiar]

A 20k standby and ATS is about $7k today, without install. I also need a gas upgrade and a place to site it.

A 7k generator would be enough and all in, would run probably $8k. That's a far cry from a $1k upgrade to get an electric start generator, a $300 GDO and maybe a propane tank. But maybe I am missing something that I spent a few grand on?

No, completely agree.

 

[sz0k30]

Thanks. Any idea how many times you can cycle the door in an outage? I'd really only probably need 2, which I would expect it to do

No clue.

 

[PCustoms]

A 20k standby and ATS is about $7k today, without install. I also need a gas upgrade and a place to site it.

A 7k generator would be enough and all in, would run probably $8k. That's a far cry from a $1k upgrade to get an electric start generator, a $300 GDO and maybe a propane tank. But maybe I am missing something that I spent a few grand on?

For some reason I thought you have been buying a bunch of other stuff, or possibly done a panel upgrade. Guess I was thinking of someone else

 

[mike93lx]

For some reason I thought you have been buying a bunch of other stuff, or possibly done a panel upgrade. Guess I was thinking of someone else

Nope. I was contemplating a battery backup system, but dismissed it due to the cost/runtime balance.

 

[PCustoms]

Nope. I was contemplating a battery backup system, but dismissed it due to the cost/runtime balance.

That's the thread I must have been thinking of

 

[bbrages]

I installed a Chamberlain with battery backup back in 2014. Just this year, it started beeping at me that the battery had gone bad. It was pretty easy to replace and I think a new battery was about $20 on Amazon. So that's a 10 year life in a Midwest uninsulated garage.

I don't have a lot of power outages. I might not have replaced the battery. But the beeping was driving me crazy!

 

[mike93lx]

I installed a Chamberlain with battery backup back in 2014. Just this year, it started beeping at me that the battery had gone bad. It was pretty easy to replace and I think a new battery was about $20 on Amazon. So that's a 10 year life in a Midwest uninsulated garage. I don't have a lot of power outages.

Wow, thats impressive.

I wonder how well it would have worked in recent years. Did you do any testing? Curious how good of a job it does in identifying that the battery is going bad

 

[bbrages]

I don't know if I ever opened the garage door with the power off.

The battery backup wasn't a big draw to me. I bought the model because I wanted the MyQ internet connectivity.

Chamberlain says that a charged battery should give you 20 opens and closes. But they also say the battery should have a 1-2 year life.

 

[Poolshark314]

I installed jackshaft openers in my detached garage with the built in battery backups and before I had the subpanel completely wired, so I was using them on an extension cord from the house. Whenever I had the extension cord unplugged, I used the doors 3-5 times open and closed without issue on battery. Not sure what the max is though. Hopefully belt driven could have similar performance for you

 

[DrinkMan]

The previous owners of our house installed a Chamberlain with battery back up on one of our garage doors. We purchased the house in 2013 and about 2 years later, we had to replace the battery. That battery is still working 9 years later. We have only used the door with the battery 3 times - including last week. It is slower with the battery but it worked just fine. I like it more than the manual over-ride pull cord because if the power goes out while we are out and we return, I can open the door with the remote. Very handy because bad weather is usually the cause of the outage and we don't have to get out of the car.

 

[Renegade1LI]

I installed one in a garage at one of my rentals, power always went out when it snowed. Really never used it other than testing but it worked well, a little slower but I liked you could use the remote. In three years from install to selling the house the battery was still good, I would buy one again, it's a nice feature.

 

[NWOhioChevyGuy]

I put the Genie jack shaft units in with Battery Backup's on my garage build.

Have needed it only once in the 3 years, but they work for what they are.

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, Your location is the critical information for a good answer. My home is fed by the same circuit that feeds carriers at the pier. We almost never see an outage.
Those who live in the more rural areas sometimes get their power cut in windy weather because of fire danger.
There will never be an answer that fits each and every situation.

 

[mike93lx]

IMHO, Your location is the critical information for a good answer. My home is fed by the same circuit that the carriers at the pier. We almost never see an outage.
Those who live in the more rural areas sometimes get their power cut in windy weather because of fire danger.
There will never be an answer that fits each and every situation.

How is my home location relevant to experiences with battery backup garage door openers?

I'm not looking for anyone to tell me what the likelihood of an outage is or what risk exists from fires.

I just need to open a garage door in an outage.

 

[manwithtools]

FYI, every garage door opener sold or installed in CA after July 2019 required battery back up. When we lived there from 2019 until 2023 I never heard any one complain about the requirement, so I assume most were getting satisfactory service from them.

 

[mike93lx]

FYI, every garage door opener sold or installed in CA after July 2019 required battery back up. When we lived there from 2019 until 2023 I never heard any one complain about the requirement, so I assume most were getting satisfactory service from them.

Interesting, I hadn't heard of that change mentioned before.

I'm almost certainly grabbing this one and I'm hoping that since my current is a liftmaster.com belt drive, that I won't have to swap everything out.


Chamberlain B6713T Smart Advanced Corner LED Lighting-myQ Smartphone Controlled-Ultra Quiet, Strong Belt Drive & MAX Lifting Power, Blue Garage Door Opener https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09B2QWGHM?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[manwithtools]

Interesting, I hadn't heard of that change mentioned before.

It was made into law because many areas of CA will have preemptive utility power disconnects when fire risk is high. The power companies turn of power amid high wind (Santa Ana) conditions to avoid the risk of downed lines causing fire.

It was a concern that when this happens some folks would not be able (or know how) to open their garage doors to evacuate if necessary. I think it was a law that makes pretty good sense, unlike some others they have enacted.

 

[BurtEggley]

we have a Chamberlin with that feature. The idea is being able to get out of the garage and close it in an emergency, not go in and out multiple times for convenience. The Smartphone app is nice because if you have ever had one of those, 'did I close the garage door' moments, the app lets you see but you must be careful not to accidentally open the door with the app. My car has a button that links up with the opener. Another nice thing is that if you need to let someone in, say a son or daughter come to visit, you can do it remotely. For security, we put the door on security lock when we are home and not immediately going back out. That turns off the remotes completely.

 

[mike93lx]

The model I wanted is part of Home Depot's deal of the day. $230

Ordered. Hoping I don't have to swap everything since I have a liftmaster already

Chamberlain 1 ¼ HP LED Smart Quiet Belt Garage Door Opener with Battery Backup B6713T - The Home Depot

The garage is your home's workhorse. It's where you keep your tools, sports equipment, toys, and it's a place of refuge where some of your biggest ideas come to life. Unleash your garage's full potential

www.homedepot.com

 

[ericm]

It was made into law because many areas of CA will have preemptive utility power disconnects when fire risk is high. The power companies turn of power amid high wind (Santa Ana) conditions to avoid the risk of downed lines causing fire.

The law was passed after the big fires in 2017 where some people could not get their cars out to evacuate, and some of them died. If you're old or female or small you may not be able to open the garage door manually. Hardly anyone checks this and of course someone can become less fit due to age or illness and not be able to manually open a door they used to be able to open.

I think the openers we install in our house in Oregon will have batteries. I don't know about the doors on the shop, I may wait to see how easily they open by hand.

 

[Odd-job]

Have a Chamberlain with a backup battery similar, but older, than the one you linked above. If it crapped out tomorrow, would replace it with another one.

We have periodically lost power for a few days here and there. Its one less thing to worry about when the power goes out. Spouse can drive whatever vehicles out of the garage at will.

It does raise slower and I haven't tested how many cycles it can go without power.

SLA battery is going strong on 6 years albeit dealing with mild CA weather. I have so many other batteries that can and will **** out. What's another one? This being said wish my generator were more reliable. It's always iffy if the generator is clogged with ethanol.

 

[ericm]

This being said wish my generator were more reliable. It's always iffy if the generator is clogged with ethanol.

I put fuel stabilizer in the generator gas, and whenever I turn off the generator I let it idle and then turn off the fuel tap and let the engine run the carb dry. In 27 years of doing this I've not had the generator fail to start. Running the carb dry is the key, the stabilizer just helps.

If your generator only gets used in winter then you may want to drain the gas each spring and put in fresh gas in the fall. Our California place gets outages summer and winter so I leave the generator's tank full and ready.