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Battery backup on garage door openers, and what California requires
Updated
In California, a new opener must have battery backup. Senate Bill 969 says that from July 1, 2019, an automatic garage door opener manufactured for sale, sold, offered for sale or installed in a residence must have a battery backup function that works in an electrical outage. Of the 7 picks here, 3 name battery backup on the listing.
Which picks have it
| Model | Battery backup | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Genie QuietLift Connect (3053-TKV) | Not named on the listing | Belt |
| Genie Chain Drive 750 (7035-TKV) | Yes, per the listing | Chain |
| Chamberlain RJO20 Wall Mount | Not named on the listing | Wall mount |
| Genie SilentMax 1000 (3042-TKH) | Not named on the listing | Belt |
| Chamberlain C2212T | Yes, per the listing | Chain |
| Genie Chain Drive 550 (2035-TKV) | Not named on the listing | Chain |
| Genie B6172H Wall Mount | Yes, per the listing | Wall mount |
The Genie Chain Drive 750 (7035-TKV) listing is marked California Senate Bill 969 compliant, and Genie says its battery runs the opener up to 50 times after the power goes out. The Chamberlain C2212T and the Genie B6172H Wall Mount also name battery backup. The other 4, Genie QuietLift Connect (3053-TKV), Chamberlain RJO20 Wall Mount, Genie SilentMax 1000 (3042-TKH) and Genie Chain Drive 550 (2035-TKV), do not mention one on the listings we read. Some sellers may not ship those to California addresses. We did not check that.
What else the bill says
- The penalty for an opener that does not comply is a civil penalty of 1,000 dollars per opener.
- From the same date, a replacement residential garage door may not be connected to an existing opener that lacks battery backup. So a new door in California can force a new opener.
This is a summary of the bill text, not legal advice. For a rental, a sale or a contractor job, ask a licensed professional how the rule applies.
Outside California
Battery backup is still worth a thought if the garage door is your main way in, or your way out in an emergency. Every opener has a manual release, but the federal safety label warns to use it only when the door is closed if possible, because weak or broken springs may let an open door fall fast.
One detail for wall mount shoppers: Chamberlain's support page says its 850 lb wall mount models must have the internal battery installed. The Chamberlain RJO20 Wall Mount is a 650 lb model, and its listing names no battery.
Run your own garage through the fit checker, or compare all 7 picks on the roundup page.