Chamberlain WD822KD Whisper Drive 1/2-HP Belt Drive Garage Door Opener
by Chamberlain
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Chamberlain WD822KD Whisper Drive 1/2-HP Belt Drive Garage Door Opener
Customer Review: Garage Door Opener - Swap Out
Summary: 5 Stars
I replaced two 25-year old Sears openers because the circuit boards were fried and replacements were not available. I read all the reviews here and that convinced me to buy these units. I recommend you read the other review comments on installation very carefully. Some problems encountered by others were addressed in the instructions so read them carefully! For example, the issue of an eight foot verses a seven foot door is well addressed in the instructions! If you are replacing an existing installation you will need to blend the existing with the new components. One area I did not remember being reviewed was the initial balance of the door. I have an original wooden door with 2-150# balance springs. I decided to replace those and the lifting cables because the door was not balanced (i.e. does not go up or down at the half way open point). All of this took longer but resulted in much better performance of the opener. I had to mount the safety beam lights on the wall because the bracket would not let the door close. It took me the better part of four days to do the whole installation. But, my scope was bigger than just replacing the openers. In addition, I was trying to reuse old brackets to avoid drilling new holes in the door.
I also discovered that the bottom of one door was cut off so it did not close fully. After fixing that and putting new weather stripping around the door my garage is 20 - 30 degrees warmer!
One funny consequence of this opener. Our old door opener was so loud that you could hear it operating from any where in the house. Now you cannot hear the door and we have to 'announce' we are home so we don't scare each other!
PS 1)deliver was in four days and I could not find these locally so am glad I ordered from Amazon
2) This is Bill not Sally
Customer Review: Super product
Summary: 5 Stars
Both of our old Chamberlains died at about the same time. I mananged to get my wife's side working so I ordered this new Whisper Drive for my side. I knew my doors were more than 7 feet but I didn't buy the extension kit for an 8 ft door because my door wasn't fully 8 feet. Since I was replacing an old Chamberlain, I was able to re-use the header bracket and the wiring to the wall control unit. Still, this took me about 6 hours- but I go slow to avoid goof ups.
The safety "eyes" lined up right away, maybe because I took time to measure and make sure they were both the same distance from the floor. When I was done, I was amazed at how quietly this thing works. But, since my door is over 7 feet, it didn't quite open it all the way. It was open plenty for me to drive in and out but I decided to order the extension kit and re-do it. I was mad at myself for not doing that in the first place, but it wasn't a big deal to change it.
My wife's opener died again and I bought another Whisper Drive unit-AND the extension kit. That installation went much more quickly and now we both have them. They work great and the remotes have excellent range, too. I didn't install the outdoor number pads, as we have a walk-in door on the side. The travel and force adjustments are easy, but I finally settled on the door reversing on a 3" obstruction, not 2".
Tips: If your door is between 7 and 8 feet, you can get away w/out the extension, but to completely open the door, get it. And get it the first time! Also, before installing the openers I adjusted the torsion springs on my doors. I had never done it but researched it a lot and felt confident I didn't need to pay OH Door to do it for me. I was right. Be very careful if you mess with that, though. I've heard horror stories.
Customer Review: Pretty much a complete package.
Summary: 5 Stars
I just installed this door opener by myself yesterday and am very impressed with its quality. It took the better part of the day to complete the installation but that included providing an electrical circuit for the opener and reinforcing the top section of the garage door per the door manufacturer's and Chamberlain's instructions. I am using this opener to operate a 16'x7' sectional steel insulated wind code rated door and the door operates smoothly. This is a very nice complete package which includes a door control unit, a wireless keypad, and photo eyes for safety. About the only thing I am considering getting that didn't come with the opener is a door monitor. I found the instructions to be thorough and methodical. Following the instructions in the step by step manner presented went without a hitch. Adjusting the travel limits and up and down force was easily accomplished after electrical power was applied. I wanted less time for the operator lights to stay on and was pleased that it is adjustable from as little as 1 1/2 minutes up to the default 4 1/2 minutes in one minute increments. Because I am in and out of my garage a lot, I also wanted to disable the security light feature which turns on the operator lights whenever anyone passes through the garage door opening. It was easy to disable. I programmed one of the small keys on each of the remotes to control the operator lights which is also another nice feature. The instruction manual details all of this and was easily accomplished. When operating the door, the only thing making any noise is the door rollers in the tracks; not the opener. I am very satisfied with this product and highly recommend it to anyone in the market for a 1/2 horsepower belt drive garage door opener.Customer Review: Chamberlain Whisper Drive 1/2 HP Garage Door Opener
Summary: 5 Stars
New install in 5 hours over 2 days, fairly straightforward if you read the install manual ahead of time and purchase the optional items. For my install in 10' ceiling with 7' door, had to get 2 pieces of 12-gauge angle iron (perforated), four 5/16" bolts, lockwashers, nuts. Also needed to reinforce door; however, simple enough with 18" piece of angle iron as above.
Once I started the actual install it went by the book, except that the provided wires for the reverse eye and sensor weren't long enough to go from sensor, up wall, meet in middle, and run along the ceiling to GD Opener. Had to run at more direct angle. Also not sure if those staples are going to hold in drywall over the long run.
Point where control wires enter GDO, small orange tabs must be pushed to insert wire and then I had to pull the orange tab back out with needle nose pliers to keep the wires secured.
The instructions skip around, for example, you need to reinforce the door before you get to the step of installling the attachment device to connect the curved arm to the lower arm. However, the steps are very well described and point you to the right section for your application.
I offer that it's best that Chamberlain doesn't provide a standard hanging bracket because no two applications are the same. The cheap angle iron that came with my unit (probably 18 or 20 gauge) was only 20" and I wouldn't expect that to secure the GDO as well as the angle iron I bought for $2/foot.
The best part of the job was that I got to buy a new air tool (cut-off) and make a sound argument for a new workbench with rotating bench vise. My wife liked the new door so much she said I could quit my current job and install GDO full-time ;)
Customer Review: Terrible machine after 1 and a half years. Stupid design.
Summary: 1 Stars
I have had this machine for a year and a half. The stupid thing was supposed to have a long warranty on the belt and parts.
I started noticing it was closing and going back up. I thought it was the misaligned beams, but it was not.
I noticed a black ring on the ground and did not know where it came from.
Later the stupid thing would choke on itself.
Come to find out after it would not close anymore the wheel that belt turned at the garage side broke. The stupid thing was made of plastic and the belt ate away at the bottom rim, so that was where the ring came from. It had chaffed away the bottom of the plastic wheel.
My question is, what numbnutt would design a garage door opener with a part that obviously faces the most stress from cheap plastic? The piece is so cheap, you could swear it belongs in your kids toy box. It chaffed away and the belt got chewed.
Could they have spent an extra 3 bucks to have made it from aluminum, if that?
The motor works fine, but the design is stupid and does not last. I had a contractor install it. I will never buy a belt driven garage door anymore. Who cares if it is quiet, you can still hear it opening from inside the house.
Do not buy till they replace the plastic pully wheel on the other end of the garage door opener. I know a lot of people just bought it, but I have owned it for a year and a half. The customer service person was nice and sent me a new part, but a week later that one broke.
So I am really mad. If they had made it of metal it would not have chaffed again even with the new belt.