Automatic door openers for the home: how they work

A door is one of those everyday things that becomes a real obstacle when your hands are busy with a walker, wheelchair rims or a joystick. Reaching the handle, turning it, pulling the door past your footrests and getting through before it swings shut takes strength, reach and timing all at once. An automatic door opener takes over those steps, so a person can come and go on their own.

This guide explains how a residential opener works, using Open Sesame's published details, and what to think about before choosing one.

The basic cycle: unlatch, open, pause, close

Open Sesame describes its residential opener as an operator that unlatches, opens, pauses and closes the door. Each part of that cycle has a job:

• Unlatching. An electric strike is installed in the door frame. When the system is activated, the strike releases the door latch so the operator can open the door. The handle does not need to be turned.
• Opening. The operator powers the door open, to an opening angle of up to 120 degrees.
• Pausing. The door holds open for an adjustable time of 5 to 30 seconds, giving the person time to pass through.
• Closing. The operator powers the door closed again. Open Sesame says the operator stops if it meets an obstruction during a cycle.

Think about the hold-open time in real life. Someone using a power chair with a long footprint, or a person who moves slowly on a walker, may want the longer end of that range.

The door still works by hand

A common worry is that an automatic opener makes the door hard to use normally. Open Sesame says its clutch disengages automatically whenever the opener is not activated, allowing unimpeded manual operation. Visitors and family can still open and close the door the ordinary way.

What happens in a power cut

Open Sesame says the unit has an internal battery power supply to provide powered operation if external power fails. Its specifications list a 12V DC, 1.2Ah sealed lead-acid battery in the operator. Batteries age, so ask how and when to check it, and note that the Open Sesame warranty excludes replacement of the operator's battery and remote batteries.

Low-voltage wiring

According to the residential product page, the system runs on low voltage: a 24-volt AC adapter plugs into a wall outlet within 30 feet, and the operator connects to a wall-mounted junction box. The specifications list a wall transformer of 115 VAC in and 24 VAC out.

Which way does your door swing?

Open Sesame lists different mountings depending on the door. A door mount is for doors that swing inward, a lintel mount for doors that swing outward, and a parallel mount for outward-swinging doors that need a wider angle or sit in a recess, as well as storm and screen doors. The company says the opener suits free-swinging doors such as front doors, apartment doors and bathroom doors. Note which way your door swings and whether there is a storm door before you ask about fit.

The residential specifications also list a minimum ceiling clearance of 1 1/4 inches above the door. If your door sits tight to the ceiling or trim, mention it.

Choosing how to trigger the door

The opener is only as useful as the way the person activates it. Open Sesame says a standard one-button remote is included and can be handheld or mounted on a wheelchair, and that remotes can be pressed with fingers, the palm or the side of the hand. Other ways to trigger the door include:

• Wireless wall push pads, for a fixed spot by the door.
• A keypad with keyless entry, for opening from outside with a code.
• A proximity sensor with tags, which Open Sesame lists with a 3, 6 or 9 foot range, so the door can open as the person approaches.
• A spec switch, which Open Sesame offers for limited hand use.

Think through a whole day: leaving with bags, coming home in the rain, a caregiver arriving, a child or pet who should not be able to open the door. It is common to combine two or three controls.

Home or commercial model?

Open Sesame also makes a commercial opener with the same open-pause-close cycle. The company says it power-closes like a door closer and has a variable clutch for closing speed. For a house, the residential model is the usual starting point; a church, small office or shop door may call for the commercial one.

Warranty

The Open Sesame warranty says factory-supplied components are replaced, exchanged or repaired free of charge during the first three years, and on a capped fee basis for an additional 10 years after that, at Open Sesame's discretion. Keep the paperwork with your house records.

Questions to answer before you choose

• Which door: front, back, garage entry, bathroom or bedroom?
• Does it swing in or out, and is there a storm or screen door?
• Is there an outlet within reach of where the adapter would plug in?
• How will the person trigger it from inside, and from outside?
• How long does the person need the door to stay open?
• Is the threshold itself a barrier? A small threshold ramp may be needed too.

See the openers and controls

Browse ramps and door openers, including the Open Sesame Residential Automatic Door Opener, the Open Sesame Commercial Automatic Door Opener, the Keyless Entry Pad, the Proximity Sensor Tag Set, the Spec Switch and the Harmar Rubber Threshold Ramp. We work with a team of credentialed local specialists to guarantee timely, safe, and optimal delivery and installation.

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Sources

• Open Sesame: automatic door opener for home
• Open Sesame: commercial automatic door opener
• Open Sesame: warranty