Chamberlain PD752D 3/4-Horsepower Heavy-Duty Premium Chain Drive Garage Door Opener

I purchased this unit when my 11-year old Craftsman 1/2 hp died. That unit was noisy, slow, and too young to die. The previous door opener I owned was 20-years old when I sold the home, it still worked fine.Okay, so after reading the reviews on Amazon, I decided to go with another chain drive because the belt drives sounded a bit dicey with plastic gears or whatever. I decided on the 3/4 hp for 2 reasons, 1.) it was cheaper than the 1/2 hp with the wireless keypad (which I already owned), and 2.) I figured a little extra power might make it last longer, and will be compatible with a heavier door if we decide or need to replace the existing one. From Amazon, it was delivered in 1 day, even though I selected Standard shipping (3-5 day estimate), pretty cool.Okay, so the Chamberlain PD752D instructions were better than I imagined, but still hard to read in some sections - requiring several attempts to understand what they were intending. I'm pretty mechanically inclined, but I still considered hiring this project out as I read install times of around 6 hours, which is about what it would have taken me if had not been for re-use of some of the old garage door opener parts (wiring, hangers, etc.). It's not a great project for a beginner unless you're very committed and well-tooled. The tools that were required for the project include:- Two ladders, 6' and 8'- Tape measure 12'- American socket set (not metric)- Wrench set (open / box end wrenches) - American- Power drill / drill bits- Rubber or plastic hammer (to snug sections of rail together)you could also use a wood block to protect the metal end hitting with a regular metal hammer- Wire stripper- Bubble level (3' or 6')- Phillips screwdriver, straight-blade screwdriver- 2x4 boardNote as others have mentioned, that this unit is only designed for a 7' high door (without the extension kit). If you have a higher door, you'll need the extension kit.Some have said this unit requires you to be in your driveway to use it. Well, I paid special attention to the antenna, making sure it was extended down from the unit straight. Anyway, my remote works from several houses away, so there's no distance issue with it. We have an aluminum garage door, so maybe it's worse with certain door types, but it's not the unit.The motor unit itself is very quiet. I can barely hear it running through the garage door via our mud room. This is amazing compared to the old unit which I could hear from our bedroom across two floors and 50' of distance.The Chamberlain PD752D has two 100-watt light bulb sockets which are amazingly bright compared to the old single 60-watt light on the Craftsman. However, the sockets didn't work with florescent light bulbs, deep sockets not compatible with florescent; I had to use standard bulbs. The lights stay on for nearly 5 minutes which is a bit too long, but gives you plenty of light and time to unload the groceries. I would prefer that you could adjust the light timeout, especially since it uses motion sensing. A timeout value of 2 minutes would have been plenty.The wired, push-button control has a motion sensor (which can be turned off) which causes two 100-watt light bulbs to come on when you're moving around in the garage, kinda cool. The wired remote also allows you to turn off the light to save energy.The most difficult part of the install was getting our built-in car remote controls to work with it. I'm a computer programmer and it took me an hour of reading, research and testing to get this to work, yikes. I have a 2002 car and my wife has a 2007. I couldn't get either of them to work. After reading several blogs, I figured out that both cars have a system called HomeLink made by Johnson Controls. The way to identify it is that HomeLink has a tiny little home-shaped icon near the red LED light. HomeLink has a red LED light near the 3-button controls. The Chamberlain instructions were non-existent with respect to programming with a HomeLink car remote. There are only a like a gazillion cars on the road with HomeLink installed, it would have been nice to include those instructions, or at least put it on their support web page. The Chamberlain receiver is some kind of rolling codes designed to prevent hacking into your garage - which my old unit didn't have.First, test the blue wireless remote control that came with the Chamberlain to make sure it works. If it doesn't read the Chamberlain directions try to get it to work. Both of the wireless remotes received with my unit worked the first time I tried them (they are pre-programmed at the factory).Here are the 3 easy steps to program your car remote to the Chamberlain receiver:1.) Reset the Chamberlain receiver and reprogram your remotes:1a.) Erase all the remotes from the receiver unit, by pressing and holding the learn button on the motor unit for 10 seconds. I think the 100-watt light flashes or something to indicate it's cleared.1b.) Now reprogram the blue Chamberlain remotes to the receiver unit using the instructions (simply press and release the learn button on the motor unit, then press and hold the longest button on the blue Chamberlain wireless remote for about 6 seconds or so until the 100-watt light blinks, let go of the button).Don't proceed until you get the remotes reprogrammed to the receiver unit in 1b.2.) Train the HomeLink system (in your car) as follows:2a.) Reset the HomeLink in the car by holding the two outermost buttons simultaneously until the HomeLink LED indicator light flashes for 20 seconds. This is essentially like rebooting the HomeLink.2b.) Hold the Chamberlain-supplied blue wireless remote control within a 2" of the red HomeLink LED, don't press any buttons yet.2c.) Press the HomeLink remote button (in the car) first (I had to try all the buttons, only the far right one seemed to work for me).2d.) Then, press the Chamberlain large button on the blue remote (used to open the garage door). The HomeLink red LED starts to blink. If it doesn't start to blink, start over at step 2b, it didn't work. :{Note that your garage door will open or close in response to this because you're holding down the button on the blue Chamberlain remote - which is designed to open the door. If it doesn't activate the door, something is wrong with the Chamberlain blue remote, program it to the receiver first.2e.) Once the HomeLink red LED starts blinking, celebrate, but keep holding both buttons down. The red LED starts flashing faster then stops eventually. Then let go. Now, you would think you'd be done by now, but no. You've just trained the HomeLink unit to the Chamberlain; you still have one more step.3.) Train your HomeLink car to the Chamerlain Receiver as follows:3a.) Press the learn button on the side of the motor unit. Within 30 seconds, press and hold the same Homelink button you pressed in step 2c, hold it for about 6 seconds. The 100-watt lights on the motor will blink, let go of the HomeLink button.3b.) Now, press the HomeLink button on the remote, the door should open. If it does, it's really time to dance.Needless to say, my old remotes (from the Craftsman) are not compatible with this new unit.

If you're replacing an existing garage door opener then this opener is the way to go.I'm replacing a mere 10 year old Marantec opener because the replacement remotes and new infrared thingy would be as much as this new Chamberlain.Spend some time and read the installation manual 4-5 times BEFORE doing anything. Get familiar with the parts and installation sequences. Don't skip steps to save time. I guarantee you'll be going back, disassembling, and reassembling again.I removed the old rail, chain, and motor unit. Keep your wiring intact, it can be used again for the wall control and safety sensors. I was able to reuse the ceiling hanging brackets and the door bracket. The header bracket will have to be switched out.Installation was quick & easy, with a few minor bumps on the way.Attachment of the spreader bracket is no where in the instructions. I called Chamberlain and they confirmed that this step was missing. I attached the bracket before stringing the chain. Within 5 minutes Dotti at Chamberlain called back and found another manual with the correct procedure. She went over the next few steps with me to assure the chain was correct. I couldn't believe they actually called me back. It's refreshing to see this level of customer service in today's society.The rest of the installation was a breeze.Using the existing wiring and new brackets, the safety sensors were done in about 10 minutes. Remember to match your colored wires...white...gray.The wall control unit was a cinch as well. They even included plastic anchors and the proper screws. I really wanted a motion sensing light in the shop, now I have one built-in. The sensor turns on the opener lights when we just step into the shop, and leaves them on for 5 minutes. Plenty of time to grab something from the freezer, or a tool from the chest.I used the existing ceiling brackets with some added pieces included in the kit. You'll need a second person to help hang the motor from the brackets. Don't be that guy who falls off the ladder and watches, in horror, as the motor unit smashes violently into his testicles. Get a helper.I did have to make force and travel adjustments. Not a big deal, but it can be frustrating. You don't want to turn the set screw more than a full turn at a time. Sure, it will take long to adjust the door, but you avoid having the door fly up and smashing into the stop bumper at a high rate of speed.The motor operation is quiet and fast. My original door opener was only 1/2 HP, while this Chamberlain is 3/4 HP. I also keep my door lubricated, not just the rollers and tracks, but the hinges on the door panels. They might be aluminum, but you be surprised how quiet the door is with just a few sprays of CRC lubricant.Even though I didn't need a 3/4 HP machine for a 7'x16' aluminum sectional door, I did want all the additional features. I needed 2 remotes, bright lighting, and a decent wall pad. If you look at the $160 Chamberlain unit, it only has one remote. For virtually the same money, I get everything I need, in one box.Total time, 4 hours, which included homemade meatloaf, smashed taters, and iced tea.

I have had this Chamberlain garage door opener for almost 2 years now and everyday I regret the purchase. I bought it on the strength of the good reviews from Amazon. However, in comparing it to it's predecessor, a Craftsman, it just feels cheap. The rail feels especially flimsy and cheap. Does it open my garage door? Yes. That's the good part. However, It jerks the garage door in both directions. I always cross my fingers that the door won't be yanked off its hinges. The large wall mounted button always requires a strategically placed direct push in the middle or forget it. I don't think it has ever opened on the first try. Again, cheap and flimsy. The same goes for the remote button. With my Craftsman, I could be 1/2 a block away and the door would open. With this Chamberlain, I have to be in the driveway before it finally connects. I was expecting more from such a highly rated unit. This Chamberlain is proof positive that they don't make 'em like they used to!