ZAP Garage Door Openers

[Ed and Sandra]

Since recently sharing our website http://edsandra.com/esgeneral/Garage1.htm about our garage on The Garage Journal board, among other things we’ve received a lot of inquiries about the ZAP door openers we used. We love those things! They are terrific. Hopefully, those that are interested in them found the movie on our website which shows the door opener in operation http://edsandra.com/esgeneral/Garage32.htm

Many of the questions we’re receiving obviously are concerned with cost of the units. Unfortunately, we don’t know the answer because we negotiated a bundled price with a local garage door company to do the conversion. The price included the new ZAP equipment, removal of the existing chain drive unit, removal of all the considerable ceiling hanging hardware for the previous low rise configuration, installation of new high rise door guides and installation of the ZAP door opener and control. The total cost of all that including tax was $920 / door. We would “guess” the actual cost of just the ZAP equipment is pretty reasonable. Hopefully some of the readers of this forum will be able to supply the answer.

Best regards,
Ed and Sandra

 

[ultgar]

The secrets out.....I've been using these great little openers for close to a year now (have them in my own personal garage)....very quiet and one of the few residentially approved jackshaft operators.

I've got a Chamberlain 3800 going in a current project (that one should be announced shortly) which will definitely cut into Zap's business....Chamberlain is a well know name and Zap is a product made in the UK with not a whole lot of support yet here in the states.

Zap still does not need the photo cells....Chamberlain will. SD

 

[mjw930]

In reviewing the ZAP site it looks like the remote control is 433 mhz. Do they have an option that works in the 315 mhz range and is homelink compatible?

 

[Ed and Sandra]

In reviewing the ZAP site it looks like the remote control is 433 mhz. Do they have an option that works in the 315 mhz range and is homelink compatible?

We're not sure if this will help answer your question or not, but in our setup the ZAP control unit uses a small plug-in module that allows LiftMaster remotes to operate the door. It also enabled the built-in remote controls in the Escalade and XLR roadster to be used.

Sorry we're not more technically oriented as far as being able to answer your question.

Best regards,
Ed and Sandra

 

[nova65ss]

The Zap operator does not come with a receiver you add one to it. Does not matter what frequency but you will need to get the interface card that allows the hookup of the receiver. They just released the residential version a few weeks ago that is UL compliant and does not require photo eyes. I am a Zap dealer and can get pricing if anyone is interested just PM me.

Jimmy

 

[cw_racefan]

I've been looking at the pictures of these and have a couple questions:

1) Can these be used on an extension spring door?
2) For a 16 ft door, do you need 2 or can you use one?

Thanks!
Craig

The Zap operator does not come with a receiver you add one to it. Does not matter what frequency but you will need to get the interface card that allows the hookup of the receiver. They just released the residential version a few weeks ago that is UL compliant and does not require photo eyes. I am a Zap dealer and can get pricing if anyone is interested just PM me.

Jimmy

 

[Ed and Sandra]

I've been looking at the pictures of these and have a couple questions:

1) Can these be used on an extension spring door?
2) For a 16 ft door, do you need 2 or can you use one?

Thanks!
Craig

We can answer one of your questions. The ZAP 800 series (we have the 805) can operate doors up to 170 sq. ft. which means it would be fine for a 16' wide up to 10' high door. The ZAP 8000 series operates doors up to 350 sq. ft. Only one drive is used (not multiple drives per shaft). Here's another website with more information about the units: http://www.servicedoor.com/pdf/zap8000.pdf

We don't know what an "extension spring door" is and therefore can't answer that question.

Best regards,
Ed and Sandra

 

[nova65ss]

I've been looking at the pictures of these and have a couple questions:

1) Can these be used on an extension spring door?
2) For a 16 ft door, do you need 2 or can you use one?

Thanks!
Craig

The Zap openers will not work with extension springs, it mounts directly to the torsion bar. If you have a 16' door it will only need one.

BMWPower is hosting a shotty video of mine in action.

http://home.comcast.net/~mcoupe/Nova_012.avi

Jimmy

 

[DynoDave]

Cool video Ed and Sandra. Thanks for sharing. Having an XLR to park in the garage wouldn't be too hard to take either. I had a chance to ride in one a few weeks back, and it's a wonderful automobile.

I couldn't even spot the opener in Ed and Sandras video...it's so small! So thanks to Jimmy, also, for posting video. That looks like a very slick system.

 

[H20Man]

Has anyone tried the wayne-dalton iDrive opener? It mounts to the torsion bar.

 

[JMURiz]

I believe the WD opener only works on their torsion spring system.

If you have a standard torsion spring I'd go with the Zap or the Liftmaster 3800. I've seen the 3800 in the $450 range also!

 

[ersatzs2]

If you have a standard torsion spring I'd go with the Zap or the Liftmaster 3800. I've seen the 3800 in the $450 range also!

The liftmasters that just went in as part of my overall door installation were just $500 apiece extra, installed

 

[H20Man]

I believe the WD opener only works on their torsion spring system.

If you have a standard torsion spring I'd go with the Zap or the Liftmaster 3800. I've seen the 3800 in the $450 range also!

No, wayne-dalton has 2 iDrive models. One that works with their system and one that works with the standard torsion-bar setup. What I'm asking about is the standard torsion-bar model. I believe it is model 3650. Has anyone used it?

 

[bimmer95]

The iDrive openers are garbage, they have tons of problems. I hadn't heard about the new Liftmaster opener, that's cool that they finally released a residential approved jackshaft opener. If only they had that out last year I would have went with that instead of a commercial unit for my high lift conversion. I might have to swap if/when I sell my house.

 

[Ed and Sandra]

The iDrive openers are garbage, they have tons of problems.

Glad you said that so we could comment on the subject. We started this thread with our recommendation of the ZAP units (which are exceptional!) and didn't want to "bad mouth" other products. However, when we were researching available openers that operated on the torsion bar we constantly were encountering very negative comments from professional installers about the iDrives. Your statement is a very succinct summarization of those comments!

Best regards,
Ed and Sandra