Ryobi has come out with a new garage door opener, model GD200, that has so many features I almost don’t even know where to begin.
It’s powerful, with a 2HPS* motor. But it’s also ultra-quiet, with Ryobi saying it’s 20% less noisy than “leading garage door openers.” It features a steel-reinforced belt drive system, for longer life. That should help cut down on the noise as well, compared to chain-driven systems.
It also has a bright LED light with motion sensor control and adjustable illumination duration control. Plus it’s WiFi-connectable out of the box, allowing you to control it via your iOS or Android smartphone. It is also HomeLink-compatible.
And it’s said to be easy to install.
Plus you can pop in a Ryobi 18V One+ Li-ion battery pack as a battery backup that’s capable of operating the door over 100 times.
* HPS stands for horsepower strength, to indicate an opener’s lifting force equivalency.
Here are the accessories it comes with:
- Multifunctional wall control
- Wireless keypad
- 2 remotes
- Safety sensor
Oh, but that’s not all.
Ryobi’s new garage opener allows for plug and play connection with various modules. There are attachments!
When the new Ryobi garage door opener launches next month, here are the modules you’ll be able to add to it:
- 3-outlet retractable 30 ft cord reel with GFCI protection and 10A breaker (GDM330, $64)
- Bluetooth speaker module (GDM120, $54)
- Adjustable speed pivoting fan (GDM421, $54)
- Carbon Monoxide alarm with temperature and humidity sensors that report back to you via the app (GDM920, $58)
- Laser assist parking module (GDM222, $44)
Price: $248 for the garage door opener, modular accessory prices are listed above
ETA: April 2016, July for the CO alarm, at Home Depot
More Info(via Ryobi)
APRIL FOOLS! Just kidding, this is a real product!
First Thoughts
Although I initially thought that the March 31st press release was a not-so-obvious April Fools Day gag, the benefits of the new Ryobi garage door opener soon became apparent.
When talking about just the garage door opener, it looks to be a good value compared to competitive offerings.
But the modular attachments? That’s completely different but seems like a great idea. Why not save space, and mount a 10A hose reel, cooling fan, or Bluetooth speaker right to the garage door opener?!
Wow, just wow.
I don’t believe that Ryobi has ever entered the garage door opener market before now. Regardless, this looks to be one heck of an innovative new offering. It takes a moment or two for the full reality to sink in.
What else would you want to see be made into a Ryobi garage door opener attachment?
An LED worklight module might be nice. Maybe it’s possible for a built-in tire inflator module?