Chamberlain LiftMaster 975LM Laser Parking Assist
by Chamberlain
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Chamberlain LiftMaster 975LM Laser Parking Assist
Customer Review: Easy install, tricky to adjust, works great overall
Summary: 4 Stars
I grew up having a tennis ball hanging in the middle of our garage. There's just something nice about having an open space now with nothing hanging there.
These were very easy to install on the ceiling - a single screw into the drywall w/ included anchor. Pull the safety sensor wires, cut, strip, twist together with the laser parking assist wires, re-insert, and you're done. No extra power source needed.
I found adjusting the beam to the exact correct location on the dash was a bit tricky. Had to pull the car in/out about a dozen times, climbing up/down and moving the ladder each time to get it right. I found it to be a little tough to make fine adjustments on the laser - applying light force to the beam it would just go back to its original location. Pushing a little harder it would move and end up beyond the target location. Of course very small movements in the laser are magnified on the car which is 8 feet below.
One trick I used to align the laser: Once you get within a foot or so where you need the beam to go, back the car out until the laser hits the hood, then place the instruction sheet across your hood. Up on the ladder, you can move the beam across the instructions sheet which is easily visible, and use the folds in the sheet as a guide. For example, if the beam needs to go 6 inches forward, you can place the instructions sheet so a fold is 6 inches forward from the beam, then go up the ladder and point the laser to the fold and you've got it.
With this laser parking assist, it is now possible for me to consistently park my car within an inch or so of the overhead garage door, thereby maximizing the space in front of the car. This is essential since you must walk in front of my car to get to my wife's car - a path frequently taken when driving my 3 young kids to their various activities. What used to be hit or miss (and believe me I'd hear about it if I didn't leave enough space there) is no longer a problem. I think that's what they call a win-win :)
Customer Review: Easy to install and operate
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased the Liftmaster 975M laser parking assist specifically because it is compatible with the new Chamberlain garage door openers I installed. I considered other models, with built in motion sensors, but they required their own power source (not a problem) and turned on whenever someone walked into the garage. Because this device is connected to the garage door opener, it derives its power from the opener and uses the opener's safety sensor (the IR beam across the bottom of the garage door) to trigger the laser assist. It remains on for about a minute... ample time to park the car...after it trips the beam upon entering the garage. Because it lights up only when the safety beam is interrupted, I can work in the garage without constantly activating the laser.
Some reviews I'd read about this device suggested that the beam is too dim to be seen in bright sunlight. I can't say whether direct sunlight would wash out the pulsing red dot, but my garage faces south and receives lots of light. I had no trouble seeing the red light on my black dashboard. As luck would have it, I did not even have to adjust the laser, as it was aimed perfectly when I installed it. But since you may need to adjust the laser when the car is in position, I recommend that you position the device off-center (mine is just to the left of the instrument cluster on the dashboard. If the device were centered on the vehicle it would be more difficult (and potentially dangerous) to reach over the vehicle from the ladder.
The only shortcoming I can see is that there is only one mounting screw. Perhaps the reason for this is to allow for adjustment right and left. Once you tighten the screw, the device is fairly secure. The laser itself is mounted in a ball socket, which allows for some L/R adjustment, as well as downward angle. There is no guidance in the instructions as to the best angle for the laser, but I have mine pointed at about 45 degrees to allow for some adjustment for different vehicles.
Customer Review: It Works!
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought the Laser Garage Parking Assistant for my husband for Christmas and it seems to work very well. The laser is easy to adjust, and pivots completely to allow him to position it exactly where he wants it to show on the car's dashboard. Since the car doesn't always enter the garage exactly in the same position, we found that lining up the red "dot" with a line across his dash worked best. (Cross the line, you're in fine.) The laser turns on when the vehicle enters the garage and turns off automatically after allowing plenty of time for parking. It is bright enough to see well, but not blinding when viewed on the dash. It does not come on when the door is left open, i.e. when we're working in the garage, unless we trip the sensors (going in and out of the main door). It looks good too, like it is an official part of the garage opener itself and not a toy. The only difficulties we have had have been climbing up and down the ladder to make the initial adjustments - our ceiling is fairly high - and when attaching it to the ceiling. It is held in place by a single screw, which allowed it to spin around until the screw was fully seated. Not a problem, but maybe some double stick tape or something might have held it steady until it was fully mounted. But it is now very stable and secure, and we no longer worry that the car is in far enough. This was definitely a good purchase, and well worth the money.Customer Review: Almost as good as the tennis ball on a string
Summary: 4 Stars
So my SUV has a radar crash mitigation system, adaptive cruise control, and a radar blind spot warning system. My sedan has parking sensors but that just keeps me from hitting the walls. It just seemed wrong to go the low tech, tried and true tennis ball on a string route for vehicle positioning.
I have a finished garage ceiling so installation was very easy (I would recommend using EZ anchors in wallboard rather than the provided mounting hardware). I ran the wire in the attic so the installation is very clean. Aiming the laser is the hardest part of the installation. That should be a one time adjustment until I change vehicles.
While the flashing laser beam is slick (it is small, but I have no problem seeing it and I don't have pilot vision), it does lack some of the functionality of the tennis ball. You can aim your vehicle at the tennis ball. With this product you have to aim for some reference point (hopefully one that is permanently stationary) and inch up until the beam strikes the selected point on your dashboard. That being said it is an easy adaptation and at least visitors to your garage don't look at the hanging tennis ball and wonder if you still have training wheels on your bicycle.
Customer Review: If you have a teenage driver...
Summary: 4 Stars
I saw this device demonstrated on one of the home improvement shows and being a gadget kind of guy immediately thought,"How cool is that!"
First I have to say that it works as advertised and installing took less time then setting up my telescoping multiladder.
I lined up the laser with a seam on my dash and parked in exactly the same place I've been parking for five years. Great! What's the point?
Well, if you have so much junk in your garage that space is really tight, this might help, but so would a garage sale. Or if you have a teenage driver who just started driving a big hulking SUV, maybe this device is for you. However, for any guy, or gal, who can park their vehicle between two others on a parking lot, why would you need this?
On the other hand, if you just need the latest laser device for your tricked out garage why this is a sweet little item. It's much cooler than a tennis ball hanging from the ceiling. I'd advise getting two of these babies so you can line yourself up laterally also, with pin point laser accuracy. Don't be a cheapskate like me though, fork out the extra cash for the GPS option.