Features:

• Direct drive for longer life and greater reliability
• Opens twice-as-fast as conventional openers but closes gently for door longevity
• Quiet operation--polymer rail liner eliminates metal to metal contact
• Intellicode access security system helps prevent unauthorized entry
• Two 3-button remotes, a deluxe wall console, and a Lifetime warranty on motor and parts.* * Limited and non-transferable. See warranty for details.

Editor Reviews:

Product Description:
Excelerator, 1/2 Horsepower Screw Drive Door Opener, Opens Door Twice As Fast But Closes It Gently, Quiet, Powerful DC Motor, Wide Angle Lighting For Optimal Garage Illumination, Excellent Cold Weather Performance, 2 Deluxe 3 Button Transmitters, Intellicode Technology To Eliminate Access Code Duplication, 5 Year Limited Motor Warranty.

Rating : - Excelerator Garage Door Opener needs mid-point bracing...
Genie Excelerator 1/2-Horsepower DC Screw Drive Garage Door Opener #ISD990

I installed one of these openers on our 7' high x 16' wide garage door in 2000.

Pros:

- After a power outage, the door raises VERY slowly, but otherwise, it takes just over 5 seconds.

- The infrared "safety beam sensors" at the garage door bottom were very susceptible to damage, being out in the open, so I protected them as shown in Customer Images.

- This opener has worked reliably for eight years (except as noted below).

- If I press the opener in my car when entering our 55' long driveway, the door is open by the time I get to the garage.

Cons:

- After about a year, the door would only go up a couple of feet, then stop. The 3-piece aluminum rail, which is a major weakness of this product, had been oscillating as the door rose; i.e., it would bounce up and down quite a bit. The rail just isn't strong enough. As a result, the rail sections eventually sagged where they join, and the screw drive sometimes didn't make contact due to that "bounce". The problem was solved by my installing mid-point bracing, which stabilized the rail so that it doesn't vibrate. See Customer Images.

- After 2 years, the "security" slide switch on the wall console stopped working. I called Genie and without asking how the switch was used, they said it was designed for vacations only, and not to be used on a daily basis. They've apparently had lots of switch failures due to "over use". However, Genie sent a free replacement wall "console", which includes that switch. After talking with them, I took the old console apart, and found a broken solder connection. I resoldered it, and that old switch is still working. I now have a spare console.

Other:

- If a garage door spring breaks, pull the door's rip cord to release the stain on the lifting mechanism, and have someone keep the door from slamming down if it's partially up. Forcing the opener to try to open a door with a broken spring could permanently bend or twist the aluminum drive bar, strip the gears, etc.

- If you have problems with the door getting stuck on the way up, liberally spread lithium grease on the drive screw. You should do that anyway, yearly.

Summary:

With mid-point bracing, I'd give it 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4). Without that bracing, since a customer shouldn't have to reinforce a new product, it's a 1 star device.