Garage door openers are valuable equipment to have. These devices will significantly enhance your garage door opening and make it more pleasant, whether you desire one for your residential or business garage.
Among the most well-liked and dependable Liftmaster door openers on the market right now are the 8500 and 3900 models. Even though they share a similar build and design, the manufacturer nonetheless managed to include a few differences between them. To assist you in choosing the Liftmaster product that best meets your needs, we will compare the 8500 and 3900 in this review.
Table of Contents
Liftmaster 8500 vs. 3900: Quick Comparison
Region of Use
The 8500 versions are made exclusively for homes and should only be installed for such purposes. On the other hand, the Liftmaster 3900 versions are intended for use in commercial buildings or light-duty sites. They are considered to be industry-grade openers.
Mounting Position
Both the 8500 and 3900 Liftmaster models can be installed in the ceiling or on the side of the door. The fact that they can be installed on the side of the door ensures that they help free some overhead space making them more suited for the low ceiling and tall vehicles.
Door Specifications
The two openers are made to work with sectional garage doors. The doors should be 18 feet wide and 14 inches tall, with a torsion bar at least an inch thick. Additionally, they have to weigh no more than 650 pounds.
The tracks that sectional doors run on must have a 12-inch radius for them to be used with these Liftmaster openers.
Product Weight and Size
Compared to the 8500, the Liftmaster 3900 has a more streamlined design and is considerably smaller. However, the Liftmaster 3900 is heavier than the 8500 model even though it is smaller.
Start and Stop Function
Both openers include a gentle start/stop system. This indicates that the door opener causes the door to start moving slowly after being activated. The opener also makes sure the door closes by moving at a slower speed.
The slow start and stop mechanism ensures the door doesn’t hit the floor because it moves at a high pace, preventing unnecessary damage to your door. Additionally, the feature ensures that the door opens and closes as quietly as possible.
Control Panel
A control panel is the part of the Liftmaster that helps you operate it. You must choose the type of control panel that best suits you because there is a wide variety. Let’s compare the control panels of the Liftmaster 8500 and 3900 to see how they differ.
A single button, also referred to as a push button, can be used to control the 3900 model. The button is usually pressed to open, stop, and close the door. On the other hand, the Liftmaster 8500 has a more advanced control system akin to a smart LCD display.
The panel has backlighting to make it easier to use at night or in dimly lit situations. With the help of this control panel, the user can program the model’s remote control unit, switch on the garage and opener lights, and protect the remote while operating the opener.
The Liftmaster 8500 also features MyQ Technology, which enables you to operate the door opener directly from your smartphone. To do this, download the MyQ mobile app, which is free.
The scanner may also send text notifications or emails to you about the state of your garage door and light, thanks to the MyQ technology.
Internet Gateway (888LM)
Because MyQ Technology is present, you will need internet access, necessitating the use of the 888LM internet gateway. The wall-mounted panel is available for purchase separately. To enjoy all the advantages of MyQ technology, you must buy, install, and configure this crucial feature.
Remote Control
Thanks to its handy remote control device, you can operate your garage doors with the Liftmaster from the comfort of your car. The remote control automatically emits a gentle blue light to help you when it senses a hand approaching it at night.
Additionally, the remote is made so that you can quickly attach it to your car’s sunroof. Nevertheless, some users noted that the remote occasionally lost contact with the opener. As a result, a few users were dissatisfied with how close the remote had to be to their garage door for it to operate.
The 8500 Liftmaster model will always come with remote control. However, depending on the store you purchase from and the package you choose, you might not be able to find a remote control when purchasing a Liftmaster 3900. A remote may be included in certain 3900 opener kits, while it may not be in others.
Protection
The Liftmaster is more distinctive as a result of this feature. Using the protective feature, you can ensure safety when opening or closing your garage door. Let’s explore the protection type offered by the Liftmaster 3900 and 8500.
Safety sensors are incorporated on both Liftmaster openers. These safety sensors precisely monitor the door’s opening by casting invisible infrared beams during the opening. When a person or object passes into the path of the closing door, the beam is broken, causing the sensor to stop and reverse the door’s motion immediately.
A light beam that extends between the garage door ends is a safety feature provided by the Liftmaster 3900. If anything blocks the beam, the functionality is built so that the door will automatically change the direction of the motion. Additionally, the safety feature can provide a speedy emergency release and safety reversal.
When your garage door is about to close, the Liftmaster 8500, on the other hand, will issue an auditory and visual alert. Again, the motion sensor activates the opener light if it detects activity in the garage. Also, the Liftmaster 8500 opener is made to automatically close the door and turn off the garage lights when the door is left open for a predetermined amount of time.
Security
For either model, the manufacturer strongly advises customers not to use the openers for more than ten complete opening cycles in an hour. The 8500 contains a rolling security code to ensure that only people with the proper authorization can open the door and a power lock deadbolt to prevent the door from being forced open. The control panel generates a new security code for the remote each time it is used, allowing it to access the opener the following time.
Motor Power and Backup
The door opener’s powerhouse is the motor. It is the focal point of the activity. When the opener is attached to the garage door, the door opens due to the motion of the motor. The weight of the garage door that the motor can lift will therefore depend on the motor’s power.
Both Liftmaster openers use much power, often 24-volt direct current. These two motors are incredibly quiet while operating, unlike other motors with significant power consumption rates. What’s better, you may purchase a battery backup separately as an alternative to keep you running in the event of a power loss.
Warranty
Lifetime warranties cover the motors on both Liftmaster products, and all other parts are covered by five-year warranties.
Final Take
The comparison clearly shows that the best option between the Liftmaster 3900 and 8500 depends on where you intend to use it. Both of them have unique applications. The 3900 is a reasonably basic device with few capabilities, as seen from the comparison above, making it ideal for commercial use. The Liftmaster 8500, on the other hand, seems superior and has more features, and it is suggested for home use.
