Product Comparison: LiftMaster 3900 vs LiftMaster 8500

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LiftMaster 3900 Light Duty Commercial Jackshaft Operator

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LiftMaster 8500 Cable Lifted Garage Door Opener

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General Specifications

Brand

LiftMaster

Model

3900

8500

Origin

Mexico

About the Product

The model 3900 door operator is designed for light-duty commercial sectional applications only. It may be used on standard vertical and high-lift sectional doors measuring up to 14 ft. High and up to 18 ft. Wide but not exceeding 180 sq. ft. or 650 lbs. Maximum recommended duty cycle: 10 cycles per hour.

This sleek, space saving design mounts on the wall beside the garage door, freeing up ceiling space and is equipped with Security+ 2.0®, MyQ® Technology and the Timer-to-Close System and is Battery Backup capable. Works with MyQ which provides included core features, including controlling your garage door from anywhere and subscription-based partner integrations.

Key Specs

Door Type

Sectional single and Double wide

Maximum Door Width

18 ft.

12 ft.

Drive Type

Jackshaft

Internal Chain and Sprocket

Maximum Door Height

14 ft.

Maximum Door Weight

650 lbs.

What customers say about "Key Specs"

LiftMaster 3900 Light Duty Commercial Jackshaft Operator

This unit works with standard bell type openers. This means it's compatible with any two wire connections you want to use (ie., existing opener buttons) and is easily integrated into your choice of home automation when using 2 bell wires.
That aside, the jackshaft openers allowed me to get rid of the middle bar of a standard garage opener. With high ceilings, this opened up the ability to use a lift.
It takes a few minutes to wire the safety stuff and program. I have a 14' x 10' door and it works great.
he door operates consistently and smoothly without much noise. If is far quieter than my traditional belt drive opener. Looks are esthetically pleasing and really free up much needed overhead storage space.
The one negative is that if you're using a reverse drum configuration for a low ceiling, the opener does not work in reverse. After trying different combinations of trying to move backwards, I simply installed the opener upside down for a reverse drum configuration and it has worked flawlessly.

LiftMaster 8500 Cable Lifted Garage Door Opener

Very quiet operation compared to the belt drive lift it replaced.
The opener range is fantastic, paired immediately with my vehicle.
I bought this because I increased my garage ceiling from 9' to 14' and as a result my older garage door opener (chain drive) would no longer function due to the change in the track geometry (shortened distance of pull on power track). it is very nice unit.
So car this is the best garage door opener that I have ever had. It's real quiet. I mean that except for the creaking of the roller s on the door it's almost silent. It also gives you more room on the ceiling and is less complicated.
Ridiculously, this unit has no option to tell the motor to run in the correct direction if your door springs/cables are considered "reverse wound."

Size & Weight

Height

17 in.

24 in.

Width

8 in.

10 in.

Depth

8 in.

12 in.

Weight

28 lbs.

31 lbs.

Features

Mount Type

Wall

Rotational Torque

255 in-lb

Travel Rate

7.6 in./sec.

Home Automation

HomeLink

MYQ

Included With Unit

The Protector System® Safety Reversing Sensors, Cable Tension Monitor, ApBS Single Button Control Station

MyQ® Control Panel, 895MAX Premium Remote Contro, Garage Door Opener Head, Power Door Lock, Cable Tension Monitor, Remote Light, The Protector System® Safety Reversing Sensors

Extras

Ventilation / Pet Opening, Wall mount design and quiet DC motor, Door Open/Beam Obstructed / Lights On, Slow Start Soft Stop

MyQ mobile app lets you receive alerts and control the opener from anywhere, Wall mount design and quiet DC motor, Lifting Power operates doors up to 650 lbs, Ventilation / Pet Opening, Door Open/Beam Obstructed / Lights On, Slow Start Soft Stop

What customers say about "Features"

LiftMaster 3900 Light Duty Commercial Jackshaft Operator

This unit is smooth, amazingly quiet (basically you just hear the sound of the door, not the opener).
The installation process was very easy, the instructions were easy to follow and tools needed were minimal.
Programming was simple enough, I was slowed down by my inability to read/follow basic instructions. It really helps if you read all the programming steps though first, then try them.
Adjusting the door to full open and closed is very simple.
The opener itself is a bit heavy at 35lbs, so getting it in-place one handed and mounted is likely the most physically tasking part. It requires a bit of coordination to place the opener and tighten the mounting collar bolts at the same time.
I don't really like the single green open/close button that comes with it and will likely be replaced with something a little more ascetically pleasing at a later time, but it does the job for now.

LiftMaster 8500 Cable Lifted Garage Door Opener

Super quiet, no noise transmitted through house.
Added head room in garage where old opener was located.
Wireless light - locate anywhere there is an outlet.
Super fast install (about 1-1/2 hours with 2 toddlers "helping").
Door opens slower than traditional overhead opener (negligible, and worth the trade-off for quiet).
It moves slow - both directions. The accessories that were included were pretty lame (one opener? no key-pad device? I think that a little more wire for the controller would be helpful, as well as more staple - wire retainers).

Security And Safety

Operating Range

200 ft.

Receiver Frequency

315 MHz

Frequency Agile on 310, 315 & 390 MHz Security+ 2.0 Anti-Burglary Coding

Remote Control Frequency

315 MHz

315 MHZ / 390 MHZ Dual Band

Wall Control

Lock Mode: Locks out remote controls, Light Control: Turns opener lights on/off

MyQ and Security+ 2.0 Radio, Timer-to-Close, Motion Detecting: Hands free opener lights on, Light Control: Turns opener lights on/off, Lock Mode: Locks out remote controls, Program remote controls, keypads and MyQ

Security Features

Power door lock, Coding system: smart receiver, Code button and indicator light, Sensing technology

Timer-to-Close, Program Remote Controls, Keypads and MyQ Accessories, Maintenance Alert System, Security+ 2.0® sends a new code with every remote control click

Safety Features

The Protector System® safety sensors reverse the door automatically, Up Safety Stop, Down Safety Reverse, Emergency/Quick Release

Motion detector automatically turns on the light, The Protector System® auto reverses the garage door if there’s an obstruction, Hands Free Work Lights On, Down Safety Reverse, Up Safety Stop

Operating Range

What customers say about "Security And Safety"

LiftMaster 3900 Light Duty Commercial Jackshaft Operator

Safety adjustment of the opener is also very simple.
It also does not come with the security locking device, which as it turns out isn't really necessary, as you can't open the doors when they are closed anyway, the motor prevents this.
Wiring direction for door edge safety emitter/receiver not clear. Both wires from both units double up under same tab in control unit.

LiftMaster 8500 Cable Lifted Garage Door Opener

Love the security lock. Easy to setup.
Fantastic! Install was pretty straight forward. I have never installed a garage door opener before, and the instructions made it easy....took only a few hours. The electric deadbolt is an awesome security feature too.
This unit is super quiet compared to my belt drive opener and has great options like the automatic door closer after 1/5/10 minutes. This is a great security option.
Wire connections are not well labeled.
I was thinking it would make the garage less cluttered but with all the wires it doesn't too 3-4 hours to hide all the wires. Safety monitors are at the bottom of the doors and are venerable. If someone or things bumps one monitor the door won't close.
I would have given it 5 stars if the description made you aware that because of the “security+ 2.0” most people will additionally need to purchase the repeater to make it functional with Homelink buttons in cars.

Warranty / Certifications

Manufacturer Warranty

5 year(s)

Certifications

FCC, cUL Listed

CE, FCC

Other Information

Manual

Download

Manufacturer

Link