When you install a garage door opener you have to have a power source to operate the equipment.
Power requirements for garage door opener.
A motor drives a trolley or carriage along a rail.
If your garage door is over 20 in width then you will need a 1 2 horsepower opener at the very least.
Most garage door openers use from 350 to 600 watts with the average at about 500 watts.
I created a simple chart so you can quickly tell how much horsepower you need.
This means installing an electrical outlet on the garage ceiling.
And the number of openers can cause this number to vary.
Garage door opener features.
It is the cheapest of the three and least power.
It starts with with a 1 2 hp garage door opener which is the minimum horsepower you should be looking at.
Since amps x volts watts then watts volts amps.
While it s the most expensive option it s also long lasting and durable with the maximum amount of power.
If you have a one car garage use the column on the left.
The amount of horsepower you need depends on how heavy and large your garage door is.
Oversized large and heavy doors will need an opener with horsepower ex.
This size opener is the most popular out of the three and is recommended for single or double garage doors with average weight ex.
Standard garage door openers have a similar design.
Look for an opener that has the horsepower necessary for your garage door size based on size and weight.
If you have a two car garage use the column on the right.
While it s best to check the manual for specifics generally a single garage door opener needs only 15 amps while up 2 or 3 will need 20 amps.
Garage door openers typically range from 1 3 to over 1 horsepower.
It is the second cheapest of the three with medium power.
Also keep in mind the speed at which your garage door will open and close based on the horsepower of your opener.
The do it yourselfer with a basic.
These and oversized doors over 14 feet in width require a 3 4 hp opener in order for the component to function long term.
Again this opener will only be efficient when the door is properly balanced and an opener with more horsepower will last longer.
Certain garage doors like those made out of wood can be extremely heavy.
At 500 watts the power needed is just over 4 amps.
Types of garage door openers.
Knowing garage door clearance requirements will help you avoid ordering the wrong garage door set up for your needs.
Garage doors use either torsion springs or extension springs to raise and lower the door.