Wireless keypads have been used to operate automatic garage door openers for about 30 years now, and they continue to be the most popular add on accessory on the market. Most new garage door openers are sold with a keypad, and nearly any existing opener can have one added on at a reasonable price with very little hassle.
Adding or Replacing a Garage Door Keypad
The first thing you need to know is what brand your garage door opener is. It will probably be one of the following, click for more info:
(compatible brands are grouped together)
- LiftMaster, Chamberlain or Sears-Craftsman
- Genie or OverHead Door
- Linear
- Clicker
- Wayne Dalton or Quantum
- Marantec
General Keypad Information
- All residential keypads sold today are wireless and function as essentially a remote control with a number pad. Installation is done by attaching to a wood surface with two screws.
- It can be installed out of sight, anywhere that is within range (about 75 ft). You can test the range by using one of your remotes. If it works from the spot you pick then your keypad should too.
- Install your keypad under some sort of overhang if possible. The inward facing side of the garage door opening is the most common placement.
Keypad Security
- Keypads are as secure as the code you pick. There is no way for someone to “steal” your code using any type of high tech device any longer (it was a problem long ago).
- DO NOT use the digits 1,9 or 2,0 to start your code! Lots of people pick birth years of people they know for a code. The one thing a thief can easily do is run through every year since 1900 and try it as a code.
- Follow instructions in the user manual to change your code.