If you are the owner of a garage door opener, it is very important that you consider the following tips regarding maintaining a safe and secure door and operator:

1. It is important to properly perform routine maintenance on your garage door system. To learn more about what to do and what not to do, check out the IDA website: www.garagedoorcare.com.

2. Garage doors with operators feature an emergency release device that can be readily identified – just look for the red cord with a red handle. This device is required by law for the purpose of quick disengagement of the operator. It should never be modified, including the addition of a zip-tie for the purpose of security. 

3. Removing the red handle is not recommended and strongly discouraged. The handle is required by UL 325 and federal law. It is there for emergencies such as a child being entrapped under the door.

4. If you wish, frosting your garage door windows (if applicable) will obscure visibility
into your garage.

5. By adding a motion-sensing exterior light outside your garage, unwanted guests are
less likely to attempt entry into your garage at night.


6. Leaving the remote control to your garage door operator in your automobile can be
an invitation to a thief or undesirable person to enter your house; just like leaving
the key to your house in plain view.

7. At least annually, contact a professional door dealer to inspect your garage door system. A periodic inspection and maintenance visit by a pro can save you headaches and dollars in the future.

8. Check the surroundings of the roller tracks. Move items that may come in contact
with a moving door such as a shovel, broom or lawn edger.

9. Have your garage door monitored by a security system just as you would any other
door or window in your home, and/or install a garage door monitoring system to
help you remember to close your garage door.

10. A very basic and simple tip: remembering to keep your garage door closed can help
you protect your home and property. If you must have your garage door open, lock
the pass door between the home and the garage.

Prepared by the International Door Association

Key Differences between a SOMMER garage door opener and common competitors:

- No “Motor Head” at the back of the opener… our “Control Housing” contains the circuit board, transformer, and light bulb sockets… and that’s about it!

- We have a traveling 24v DC powered motor that moves back and forth along a FIXED CHAIN inside our C-Rail. A steel cog on the motor is basically the only moving part and pulls the motor along the chain… this cog won’t strip!

- The BIG Question: How does the motor get its power? ANSWER: Through the C-Rail (the negative -) and the Chain itself (the positive +) . It’s actually a very simple design that is super durable and super quiet… customers love it!

- IMPORTANT NOTE about making sure that 24v DC power actually gets to the motor: There are two chain tensioner assemblies (called “Slide-In Parts” in manual) that go in each end of the Rail. The REAR tensioner has a black rectangle and an electrical contact. That electrical contact matches up with an electrical contact on the Control Housing, which slides over the back of the rail and transmits power from the transformer to the rail and the chain.

-Chain must be installed with the SMOOTH side of the insulating cover facing OUTWARD from the rail… you need to see the smooth side when installed.

-Photo Eye Wiring: Solid White & Solid White wires together in terminal 6, Blue Dash & Blue Dash wires in Terminal 5.