July 26, 2019

Not sure which size of motor you should use for your new garage door opener?

The right motor for your garage door opener

So you’ve made the decision to get a modern and quieter electric garage door opener! Maybe one of your coworkers or family members has mentioned that the newest models have connectivity to your tablet. Not sure what that means?

No matter what questions you have about your new opener, this blog is here to answer all your questions and offer assistance if you have ones that aren’t listed here.

The first thing you need is some simple background information

The main job of your electric garage door opener is making your life easier. As an example, if you rush home and the rain is pouring down, you can get inside through the garage without a single hair on your head getting wet. However, what a garage door is really useful for is opening or closing your garage door manually without needing to use all your strength.

So how does that actually work? It can only do so if you have a properly balanced garage door using a torsion or extension spring system. This system is what is the counterweight to the full weight of the door, which can range from 90 to 350 lb. (40 to 160 kilo). When your door is balanced the way it is supposed to be, it will feel as if it weight no more than 10 lb (4 kilos), which is almost effortless to lift with a single hand.

Curious how you can determine whether your spring system is balanced as it should be? The first step is to close the garage door. Next, you want to disconnect the opener. At that point, pull the door up to about halfway from the floor and ceiling. Let go of it and see if it stays in that position without moving on its own. On the other hand, if it shoots open or falls rapidly to the ground, you have a garage door that is unbalanced. This means your spring system isn’t working the way it should be. If this is the case, you should immediately speak with on of our Midway Garage Doors garage door specialists to take care of the problem.

You may be aware that a garage door opener is manufactured to be able to lift a heavy load, often up to 225 lb (100 kilos). That is true, but the motor is also able to push that 225 lb down toward the ground. If you don’t have a modern opener with the latest safety features, objects or people underneath the door have a risk of being crushed when the door closes.

Terminology that is crucial to understand

We want to look at a few terms that are important to know before we move on to look at motor sizes. You’ve probably heard of horsepower, known as HP, used to talk about the power of motorized products. However, this is not the only type of current possible. There are actually two types of electrical current which can be used to connect a garage door opener motor. AC, or alternating current, is the best know, but DC, or direct current, is the other possibility.

If you are referring to direct current, it is measured in newton force (N), rather than horsepower. Alternating current is the type that uses HP. While these are two unique power types, they can be compared to each other.

Wondering what makes the two different? When your opener uses AC-type motors, it stays at the same speed at all times no matter what. However, DC motors are a bit different. They start off slowly, begin to increase in speed, and then slow down again before they stop. Knowing that you might wonder which is the better choice. The reality is that both have the same level of performance, but DC tends to be quieter than the alternative.

How to choose the motor size right for your garage door opener

Having a basis on current types, we can now look to the different types of motors that you will find with residential door openers. When using an AC motor, they will often be 1/3, ½, or ¾ HP. If you are using a DC motor, it’s typically going to be 500 or 700 N. As a way to compare the two, 500 N is the same as a ½ HP motor while 700 N is identical to ¾ HP.

When talking about larger garage doors that are used for industrial and commercial businesses, the motor sizes are often larger, too. Motors might range from ½ HP all the way to 4 HP or 5 HP. On the other hand, a door opener for a residential business is 500 N or ½ HP in most cases.

Now that you have all the facts you need, you still have to decide what size motor is ideal for you. Do you have a single door? These tend to be 9 x 7 ft (2.7 x 2.1 m) and use a 500 N or ½ HP motor. If you instead have a double garage door, which is 16 x 7 ft (4.9 x 2.1 m), you want to ramp it up to a 700 N or ¾ HP motor.

The size of your garage door isn’t the only thing you need to think about when choosing a motor size. You also want to be aware of motor life. For instance, are you more interested in a motor that will last seven years or one that lasts 15 years? If the door opener is more expensive than average, make sure that someone gives you an explanation of why that is so you can make an educated decision.

The final thing that you should think about when selecting a garage door opener is what sort of extra accessories are available for it, such as a light switch you can operate remotely or a monitor so you can see if someone opens the garage door. If you go with one of the least expensive models, there may be a smaller selection of accessories. This is why it’s important to have everything explained to you before making a final decision.

Are you interested in connectivity with your mobile devices?

Another thing to keep in mind is that nearly all of the door openers available today offer the option to connect to Wi-Fi or they have optional accessories that can give you additional features. Not sure what that means for you? You can use this functionality to control and monitor the garage door using a smart device whether you’re in your living room or in another country.

You can meet up with a Midway Garage Doors professional who is experienced with garage doors to learn more about your options. Even if you aren’t sure you will use this type of connectivity right now, it’s something that might be worthwhile in the future. Adding a few accessories to make your life easier is never a bad idea. Just remember that not all openers are going to have the same accessories available.x

Make sure to remember safety at all times

  • We mentioned this earlier, but it bears repeating that your garage door has to be properly balanced to be safe. It should be easy to lift with a single hand. Here is how you can double check on that:
  • Pull on the red release cord meant for emergencies to turn off your door opener as a first step.
  • Find the lift hand on the bottom or second to bottom section of the door and raise the door with it. Make sure you bend your knees while you do so.
  • Pull the door up to about 4 ft (1.2 m) and see if the garage door remains stable in that position.
  • Everything work as it should? All you need to do is reengage the opener, reconnect the system using your remote, and you are good to go.
  • If something isn’t working quite right, you should get in contact with a Midway Garage Doors technician who can determine what needs to happen next.

Are you ready to learn more about garage doors and door openers?

We urge you to contact us at 1-866-573-3667. We’re always willing to explain your options in terms of garage door openers and assist you with selecting the one that best fits your budget and needs. We can also send you a quotation by email.

If you prefer, you can also visit our showroom and talk to use. Those who might be considering changing out their garage door can use our Design Centre to assist you with finding the style that fits you and your home the best. We also offer an image gallery where you can find all sorts of inspiration to guide you.

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