[DML] RE: door launchers

[Peter Lucas <lucas@xxxx>]

I would like to take this opportunity to say that I agree with everybody. :-)

On the one hand, we can all count on the 'Zilla door openers to be a 
first-rate, easily-installed, bulletproof product. You don't get the 
kind of reputation that the 'Zilla products enjoy without a lot of 
very careful design, testing, refinement, manufacturing and customer 
support. This doesn't come cheap and, as Bob has convincingly argued, 
there is every reason to believe that the 'Zilla products are fairly 
priced. You are not just buying solenoids and a bit of electronics, 
you are buying peace of mind and a low-hassle, no-thinking-required 
installation experience.

OTOH, I can vouch that Darryl's door opener system is elegantly 
designed, very effective, and robust. Several years ago (before he 
had a kit for sale), he generously made the plans for the setup 
available without charge, and I successfully reproduced the system at 
very low cost. It fit my needs very well: I know electronics, enjoyed 
designing my own control system that behaved just the way I wanted 
(including safety interconnects to disable the openers when the car 
is in gear and when the doors are locked). I also enjoyed exploring 
the door wiring to find a way to power the solenoids using the 
existing wiring loom. For me, doing it myself had value beyond the 
money saved. If you are a serious do-it-yourselfer like me, they I 
strongly recommend this system. Many others don't enjoy such things, 
or lack the skill or time to pursue them. For these folks, the 'Zilla 
approach is the way to go, and no doubt represents a good value.

Pete Lucas
VIN #06703

P.S. -- I, too, am puzzled why Rob and Bob chose to go with heavy 
solenoids rather than the more modern (and very effective) actuator 
motors that Darryl recommends. I, too shared my positive experiences 
with them when they were researching their system. I guess it is 
just another instance of the conservative design philosophy that has 
earned their products such a stellar reputation.

At 8:48 PM -0700 9/25/01, Darryl Tinnerstet wrote:

> A thousand bucks to get remote door openers and locks??? You've gotta be
> kidding. I know the Zilla products are good, and would never knock them.
> But for those of you who can't quite afford that, there is already a remote
> door opening kit (which includes door unlock) that has been on the market
> for years. It adds only ounces of weight per door, not 3 pounds, and does
> not require torsion bar adjustment. I'm not sure why Rob/Bob are using
> heavier solenoids since I shared my how-to info with them years ago. Maybe
> they feel solenoids are more reliable than my actuators, but I have never
> had one fail. The kit is easy to install and retails for under $200. Check
> out delorean-parts.com or e-mail me for information.
>
> --
> Darryl Tinnerstet