New Liftmaster 8500 makes a constant noise???

[Rubber_Duc]

Hey everyone,

Just had the high lift installed and new liftmaster 8500. When they were finished it was in the middle of the day and with the wind/outdoor noise I didn't notice it but later tonight when it was quiet it sounded like an annoying low hum in the garage. I couldn't figure out what it was then I unplugged the liftmaster and bingo that was it. I'm just wondering why it "hums" albeit very quietly when it is not doing anything? This is a much different/quieter hum then when the unit is in operation but annoying. Is this normal or something wrong? The company has to come back b/c they botched part of the install and I'd like to know if this is something they need to look at or is par for the course? I put my watt meter on it and it is constantly using 12 watts of power which isn't a lot, I just thought they would be completely off. It is not that it is using electricity 24/7 really, but more a worst case that it damages the unit prematurely or catches on fire or something. When you put your hand on the casing you can feel the "hum" and it is warm to the touch so something is going on in there. Again maybe this is normal for liftmasters, just didn't know so thought I'd ask, thanks for any help.

 

[Dakota00]

I installed the 8500 about 3 weeks ago. I too have noticed a low humming sound coming from the opener as well.

 

[pattenp]

It's the transformer.

 

[Rubber_Duc]

It's the transformer.

Does that mean the transformer is bad or is it normal?

 

[keelan]

If the transformer is humming, it probably doesn't know the words.

Groan. Thanks to my dad for that gem.

Some transformers are just noisy. I know the control transformer on my furnace at my last house could be heard on a quiet night from the bedroom. What is the transformer powering? 12 watts is quite low, but that's still a lot of power for an unloaded transformer to dissipate only as heat (and a little sound).

 

[csi123]

I put my watt meter on it and it is constantly using 12 watts of power which isn't a lot, I just thought they would be completely off. It is not that it is using electricity 24/7 really.

The garage opener has to be "on" 24/7 otherwise it wont be able to receive the RF signal from the remote.

 

[jhochst]

I have 3 units. None hum. FYI

 

[jhochst]

 

[nehog]

It is (as mentioned) the transformer.

Technically, a properly built transformer is silent. However, humming is not unusual for small transformers, and is not an indicator of a potential problem. (It might indicate slightly reduced efficiency, but that is about it...)

 

[Skeetobite]

I have 3 units. None hum. FYI

Same here, with 6 units. Quiet as a mouse.

 

[Rubber_Duc]

Thanks for the replies guys, there is more to this story I'll start a new thread for some advice.

 

[toyoguy81]

I installed an 8500 in April. No noise heard from mine, after i read this I went out to shop to listen....heard nothing. Id return it and get an exchange if it were me

 

[fnieto]

All three of my units are quiet as well.

 

[Mech33]

My brand new Liftmaster 8500 has a constant hum as well. I thinking of calling Liftmaster to ask how it can be addressed. The garage is nice and silent as soon as it is unplugged.

 

[Skeetobite]

Same here, with 6 units. Quiet as a mouse.

Ok, now I have one that developed a hum... grrr

 

[Dakota00]

As I mentioned in my above post of the humming issue I had with my 8500, now the issue has been taken care of.
First off dealing with the company was a pleasure, very friendly support staff and excellent customer service. Which is very hard to find these days!! Answered a few questions, gave the S/N and the transformer was sent out.
The part was on a 1 week back order, which wasn't too bad. Fairly easy to install...
Best part, no more humming!!

 

[Mech33]

As I mentioned in my above post of the humming issue I had with my 8500, now the issue has been taken care of.
First off dealing with the company was a pleasure, very friendly support staff and excellent customer service. Which is very hard to find these days!! Answered a few questions, gave the S/N and the transformer was sent out.
The part was on a 1 week back order, which wasn't too bad. Fairly easy to install...
Best part, no more humming!!

Good to know! I called Liftmaster about my humming issue and they said it was "normal" and that all of the transformers will hum a bit, but they still offered to send me another transfer to try and see if that would make it quieter.

But it definitely didn't inspire confidence to hear that a noisy opener was expected... you can definitely design a transformer to not create an audible hum, so this is just a bit of poor engineering on Liftmaster's part.

 

[JakeKohl]

I suspect it's more likely they got a bad batch of transformers and are stopping short of admitting it. My two 8500s are very silent.

 

[Mech33]

I suspect it's more likely they got a bad batch of transformers and are stopping short of admitting it. My two 8500s are very silent.

Could be. The date code on my 8500 is 2/14.

The him might also be below some peoples radar depending in the noise environment... e.g., if you have a fridge in the garage or if the garage is very large and the 8500 is up high, dunno.

 

[JakeKohl]

Could be. The date code on my 8500 is 2/14.

The him might also be below some peoples radar depending in the noise environment... e.g., if you have a fridge in the garage or if the garage is very large and the 8500 is up high, dunno.

I have a really low threshold for background noises like that. It would have driven me nuts if my openers made any kind of hum like that.

 

[froggert]

hmm.. i had 2 installed recently and one hums. the other is hooked up using liftmaster's remote transformer/low voltage thing. didn't think much of it until coming across this thread.

 

[Mech33]

hmm.. i had 2 installed recently and one hums. the other is hooked up using liftmaster's remote transformer/low voltage thing. didn't think much of it until coming across this thread.

What is the remote transformer thing you mention? Sounds like a potential solution as well.

 

[Dcampbell98xj]

Sometimes they hum i have had kore then a handful of them that do so. It comes down to poor quality control. Liftmaster does make a great product when it is done correctly it could be they got a bad batch of transformers or a loose bolt. You really can expect the thing to be completely silent all the time. The garge door is by far the largest and heaviest object in most peoples homes that is not a stationary object. It must lift 200 to 2000 lbs depending on size on a daily bases. Noises are expected. Not to rain on the thread but that was my biggest peeve as an installer and service tech.

 

[Dcampbell98xj]

Also that all liftmaster openers are packages and built in Mexico. Just saying

 

[froggert]

What is the remote transformer thing you mention? Sounds like a potential solution as well.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003GYDJ1E/?tag=atomicindus08-20

you lose the ability to control the opener via interweb. for me, though, it was easier to hook this up than call the electrician over to put in another outlet.

 

[Mech33]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003GYDJ1E/?tag=atomicindus08-20

you lose the ability to control the opener via interweb. for me, though, it was easier to hook this up than call the electrician over to put in another outlet.

Thanks!! If the new transformer doesn't fix the hum, I will go this route next.

 

[Mech33]

Bad news: the new transformer I received from Liftmaster looked exactly the same as the original transformer, and as expected it still hums. :\

 

[12ozd]

If the transformer is humming, it probably doesn't know the words.

Groan. Thanks to my dad for that gem.

FTW ! Dad jokes are awesome.

 

[BobRae]

I just installed an 8500C (the "C" is for Canada) and mine is humming as well. I contacted Liftmaster and they are sending me a new transformer. It will take a couple of weeks though. Hopefully I can replace it with the unit left in place? Anyone with experience replacing theirs? I don't like the constant hum but am encourage by other members who say their units are silent. My production date is 3/14. Otherwise I really like this lift except I find the remote contra; range using our car's Homelink systems to be about 50'. That coupled with a slower (than I am used to) door travel time, means a bit of a wait before the door is up completely.

 

[BobRae]

I suspect it's more likely they got a bad batch of transformers and are stopping short of admitting it. My two 8500s are very silent.

I've worked out this problem with Chamberlain. It seems that about 6 months ago Chamberlain worked out what was a design flaw in the 8500's assembly. While the hum is possibly due to a defective transformer, Chamberlain determined that during manufacturing, the original design put the transformer too close to the housing and in some cases it could come in contact with it. They have since changed the manufacturing to include a "grommet" to separate the transformer from the housing. The fellow I spoke to at Chamberlain is sending me a new transformer just in case that is the problem, but he couldn't send me a grommet because although they have been using it in manufacturing for several months now, he didn't have a part number for it. I'll look for a grommet at Home Depot when the new transformer comes in.

I think this explains why some units are humming and some aren't. If the assembler put the transformer to close to the housing, it will hum. If not, it won't (unless the transformer itself is defective.

 

[sgtr275]

Anyone else dealt with Chamberlain on this issue? I have two of these making noise and it seems like they are just trying to give me the run around.