Over at Amazon there seems to be a new rolling deal on 2 “smart” Chamberlain garage door opener packages.
- WD832KEVG: $185
- WD962KEV: $190
- WD962KEV with CIGBU Internet Gateway: $237.78
WD832KEVG is a 1/2 HP system with bundled MyQ internet gateway.
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WD962KEV is a 3/4 HPS system with battery backup, and there’s a bundled with the CIGBU internet gateway device.
Both systems come with belt-driven mechanisms, an indoor control pad, 2 car remotes, an outside keypad, and 2 safety sensors.
The pricier system is more powerful and equipped with a battery backup. It doesn’t come with an internet gateway, an extra $48 expense if/when you want it.
Both Chamberlain openers seem to be highly well regarded in online reviews.
Buy Now(1/2 HP Opener)
Buy Now(3/4 HP Opener)
HPS? That’s really “equivalent HP.”
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HPS (Horse Power Similar) is a designation indicating the high-quality DC motor in this garage door opener features pulling force similar to a 3/4 horsepower AC motor. This designation is provided for comparison purposes since DC motors are not typically measured in horsepower.
So the less expensive unit is rated in HP, the pricier one in HPS.
In the image above is the Chamberlain WD962KEV with internet gateway package, which was a Lightning Deal on Amazon last holiday season, for $180. I haven’t noticed any lightning tool deals on these or other garage door openers lately.
Adam
Our Craftsman unit is a rebadged Chamberlain, I believe. I’ll have to check if any of the Internet gateway setups are compatible with it.
Drew M
Maybe I’m a paranoid lunatic but I wouldn’t want my garage door opener on the internet. I simply don’t trust whoever wrote the code to actually make it secure and keep it secure.
However, I did just get a new LiftMaster 3900 direct drive opener to replace the belt drive Chamberlain opener. Doing it myself has been an adventure and I’ve learned a great deal about garage doors.
Mike
You’re not being paranoid, only realistic. The only 100% secure way to eliminate unauthorized network access is to remove the device from the network. Something that was well known long ago but seems to have been forgotten somewhere along the way. Now there’s network connected everything and you see the results constantly.
If I wanted to be a jerk (or merely prove your point) I could turn off lights in three of my neighbors’ houses using the device I’m typing on right now. I wonder how many on/off cycles at 30 per second those lights would withstand before failing.
Mike
I’m pretty sure the type of guy that is going to break into your garage isn’t the guy trying to hack into your network. As long as you run some network security I’m sure you are fine. Odds are much more likely of someone just forcing their way in. I don’t have a fancy internet one….yet…but if I’m gone overnight I still padlock it from the inside.
CB
I got one of these a year ago. I love it.
I love having an alert pop up on my phone whenever the door is opened or closed…. or when the door is open for longer then a minute between the hours of 9pm and 6am.
I love being able to open the door remotely (or close the door)
I love the history report of when the door is open or closed.
I hate the fact that Amazon Alexa does not work with it. I and hundreds of others have complained to chamberlain to no effect.
I also hate the fact that my second and third location hard wired push buts no longer work and you need to by $30 proprietary switches.
I love where crime is about as low as it can go so the internet security thing means little to me.
Chad Brink
Oh… I also love the battery backup. I’ve relied on it twice in power outages. Once I opened and closed the door a half dozen times on battery alone.
Thomas Reece
I have one of these. Nice quiet operation, very smooth, and the battery backup is great. Highly recommended.
mizzourob
I’ve been thinking about a new opener for a while but when the Ryobi came out and realized it was not an April Fool’s joke it has made me sit and wait for the market to catch up. I love the accessories it has but don’t want Ryobi green in my garage. If DeWalt or Milwaukee come up with a gen 2 alternative then maybe I’ll pull the trigger.
Nathan
while in a perfect world someone would make a garage door opener that also had battery back up that you could plug into with any 18V power tool standard. I’m OK with them being a bit more custom for things like this.
Meanwhile I would say if you wanted connectivity with your garage door – don’t tie yourself to myQ but get any other get a cheaper driver unit and any one of the smart home hubs – like a Vera or a Zipato box etc etc. Then use either the linear or AEON labs opener module. Relatively easy to setup easy to use and more things talk to them.
as far as internet safety you can fix most of that yourself too – or as mentioned do without. it’s not a big deal. OH and be sure you also wipe your fingerprints off your outside opener every time you use it so people don’t walk up and repunch your code in.
as far as drives – belt and chain are better than screw in my opinion.
Stuart
Ryobi did just that. =) Their battery backup is an 18V pack.
Nathan
but only theirs. Ideally like the other guy posted it would be nice if there was an adapter on the chamberlin to you could put a dewalt or milwaukee or ridgid or . . .. . battery on the unit for it’s back up.
that said I like some of the idea of the ryobi device – but I think it costs too much for all the bits and boops.