Is there a way I can automate this garage door controller to only open a tiny bit?

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Is there a way I can automate this garage door controller to only open a tiny bit?

AlDrag

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#320171 14-Jul-2025 13:56

In a new townhouse and I have no ventilation in my tiny garage (no windows, only the front is the external facing wall, but that's basically the entire garage door).

I was wondering if I could find a way to automate a switch for this garage door controller so it only opens up by maybe 10cms so I can fit a duct under it when I want to use my airbrush booth and/or 3D printer.

Any ideas?

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#3393827 14-Jul-2025 14:08

So the switch you have for opening the garage, if you press it and the garage opens and you press it again the door should stop. Is that not sufficient?

johno1234

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#3393876 14-Jul-2025 14:17

The garage door opener unit will have some contacts for a normally open switch so you can put any kind of dry contact switch over that - e.g. Shelly 1L and just emulate a button press. The trick is knowing the state of the motor and position of the door before you start.

r0bbie

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#3393878 14-Jul-2025 14:19

Have you checked the manual? Our Merlin allows one of our remote buttons to have a set height so it opens slightly and dog cant get under it - ill check the merlin manual and come back with the mode name

AlDrag

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#3393881 14-Jul-2025 14:24

olivernz:

So the switch you have for opening the garage, if you press it and the garage opens and you press it again the door should stop. Is that not sufficient?

I mean it is, but if I have to do it a lot, it's annoying. It would be nice if I could just automate it when my 3D printer starts for example.

AlDrag

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#3393882 14-Jul-2025 14:25

r0bbie:

Have you checked the manual? Our Merlin allows one of our remote buttons to have a set height so it opens slightly and dog cant get under it - ill check the merlin manual and come back with the mode name

I haven't! I usually don't think of common sense stuff like that haha...I'll check now, thank you.

AlDrag

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#3393883 14-Jul-2025 14:26

johno1234:

The garage door opener unit will have some contacts for a normally open switch so you can put any kind of dry contact switch over that - e.g. Shelly 1L and just emulate a button press. The trick is knowing the state of the motor and position of the door before you start.

Always wanted to try shelly's! But yes that's the main problem, knowing the current state, plus it would be based on time, and I can't guarantee the motor will be the exact same speed every time I guess.

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olivernz

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#3393885 14-Jul-2025 14:34

I have a ESP32 DIY home built Wifi relay that I can tyrigger that could do that. Just some elbow grease necessary for that. Costs abuot $30 in parts. Lots of instructions online on how to do it

r0bbie

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#3393886 14-Jul-2025 14:36

AlDrag:

r0bbie:

Have you checked the manual? Our Merlin allows one of our remote buttons to have a set height so it opens slightly and dog cant get under it - ill check the merlin manual and come back with the mode name

I haven't! I usually don't think of common sense stuff like that haha...I'll check now, thank you.

On the Merlin its called the Partial Opening Feature (PET) - hope your model has something like it !

AlDrag

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#3393889 14-Jul-2025 14:42

r0bbie:

On the Merlin its called the Partial Opening Feature (PET) - hope your model has something like it !

Doesn't look like it unfortunately! Oh well, looks like I will just have to automate the open with a timer 🤔

wasabi2k

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#3393920 14-Jul-2025 15:20

There are a few options:

For controlling the door - as mentioned there's normally an option to wire in a relay or suitable Shelly to emulate your remote.

For understanding where the door is - you can use a tilt sensor or contact sensor (if it's straight up and down, potentially 2 contact sensors - one at the bottom, one at desired height)

Once you've got those sorted, you can then build an automation based on time (i.e. if door down, trigger, wait 3 seconds, trigger again).

I'd suggest thinking and testing what the failure states are - i.e. what happens if it closes on someone/something? Does it stop automatically or injure someone?

Other option is to buy a dedicated garage door kit - but these tend to be $$$ and have rubbish apps.

Top 4 Best Ways to Automate Your Garage Door With Zigbee

MadEngineer

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#3393960 14-Jul-2025 20:03

I imagine you could use a Shelly with some additional beam sensors or a reed switch. I’d include checks that should you have triggered that mode, it not only stops where you want it but also confirms it stays so.

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AlDrag

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#3393961 14-Jul-2025 20:11

Love these ideas thanks guys. They all seem pretty easy. I should be able to action it.

The next problem will be figuring out how to get a duct there in a clean way for an exhaust.

johno1234

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#3393964 14-Jul-2025 20:33

wasabi2k:

There are a few options:

For controlling the door - as mentioned there's normally an option to wire in a relay or suitable Shelly to emulate your remote.

For understanding where the door is - you can use a tilt sensor or contact sensor (if it's straight up and down, potentially 2 contact sensors - one at the bottom, one at desired height)

Once you've got those sorted, you can then build an automation based on time (i.e. if door down, trigger, wait 3 seconds, trigger again).

I'd suggest thinking and testing what the failure states are - i.e. what happens if it closes on someone/something? Does it stop automatically or injure someone?

Other option is to buy a dedicated garage door kit - but these tend to be $$$ and have rubbish apps.

Top 4 Best Ways to Automate Your Garage Door With Zigbee

all the kits come with a magnet and reed switch to sense the door in the closed position.

BarTender

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#3393975 14-Jul-2025 21:48

Get an AliExpress 12V relay. I personally prefer the 12v to the 5v as finding a 12v power supply is easier. Flash on Tasmota and then have a 300ms delay and job done.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003827272168.html

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002064355636.html (for the USB flasher, plus a spare ESP01S if you blow the first one up)

https://tasmota.github.io/docs/Getting-Started/#flashing

https://tasmota.github.io/docs/devices/LC-Technology-WiFi-Relay/

And then add this script via rules something similar to this:

This powers the relay on for 2 seconds then off for 5 seconds then on again for 2 seconds then off again, and then reset the switch back to off.

on Power1#State=1 do Backlog SerialSend5 A00101A2; Delay 2; SerialSend5 A00100A1; Delay 5; SerialSend5 A00101A2; Delay 2; SerialSend5 A00100A1; Power1 0; endon

My current garage has two relay, one for the relay switch on the garage to just open or close it and one for a light. These relays need a serial string sent to them to make them work.

Relay 1 Open : A00101A2
Relay 1 Closed : A00100A1
Relay 2 Open : A00201A3
Relay 2 Closed : A00200A2

My Config is:

on System#Boot do Backlog Baudrate 115200; SerialSend5 0 endon  on Power1#State=1 do Backlog SerialSend5 A00101A2; Delay 2; SerialSend5 A00100A1; Power1 0; endon  on Power2#State=1 do SerialSend5 A00201A3 endon  on Power2#State=0 do SerialSend5 A00200A2 endon

SomeoneSomewhere

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#3393976 14-Jul-2025 21:48

Get a pair of nice powdercoated grilles and cut/rivet them into the door?

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