Remote control garage door monitoring and operation

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Remote control garage door monitoring and operation - suggestions?

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#1928499 3-Jan-2018 14:49

Thanks. I am using the Hue emulator (HABridge) to support Insteon bulbs so I am partway there. Guess have to buy the opengarage device now to check!

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lchiu7

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#1928838 4-Jan-2018 08:55

plas:

lchiu7: Are you saying that the open garage kit can be controlled with openHAB and an Alexa? Without the use of ifttt. Do you have details as I have already have openHAB running. Thanks

Yip sure can. Going from memory I used the comment below to extract the state of the door, It does require the http binding.

The API documentation contains the call to trigger the door.

https://github.com/OpenGarage/OpenGarage-Firmware/blob/master/docs/OGAPI1.0.4.pdf

Then use the Hue Emulator to allow Alexa to control it. I would rather not use the openhab Alexa binding as it requires the openhab cloud service.

...

Just a further question. I found the .cfg file in my Openhab setup so adding that code would not be too hard. But I presume you still need the BLYNK app if you wanted to monitor the door and remote open and close from the Internet? Otherwise I guess you could port forward the IP address of the garage door web site and access it via the Internet but that would create security issues given the web app has no security on it (that I can see)

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davidcole

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#1928842 4-Jan-2018 09:05

lchiu7:

plas:

lchiu7: Are you saying that the open garage kit can be controlled with openHAB and an Alexa? Without the use of ifttt. Do you have details as I have already have openHAB running. Thanks

Yip sure can. Going from memory I used the comment below to extract the state of the door, It does require the http binding.

The API documentation contains the call to trigger the door.

https://github.com/OpenGarage/OpenGarage-Firmware/blob/master/docs/OGAPI1.0.4.pdf

Then use the Hue Emulator to allow Alexa to control it. I would rather not use the openhab Alexa binding as it requires the openhab cloud service.

...

Just a further question. I found the .cfg file in my Openhab setup so adding that code would not be too hard. But I presume you still need the BLYNK app if you wanted to monitor the door and remote open and close from the Internet? Otherwise I guess you could port forward the IP address of the garage door web site and access it via the Internet but that would create security issues given the web app has no security on it (that I can see)

Is the blynk app code, just showing you teh calls the openhab need to make to read the door status/.control it? then you just use your regular openhab app.

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lchiu7

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#1928971 4-Jan-2018 12:21

Looks like the Blynk app is the one that talks to the Opengarage web site via the Blynk cloud service. So that allows you to control and check status anywhere. The OpenHAB code will allow you to control the door with Alexa though for me that's not so useful. After all I have a door switch as I approach the garage door from the inside of the house and of course all the cars have remotes.

The one feature I saw that this door opener doesn't have is open by geo-proximity but you could achieve that with IFTTT I guess.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

davidcole

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#1928973 4-Jan-2018 12:25

lchiu7:

Looks like the Blynk app is the one that talks to the Opengarage web site via the Blynk cloud service. So that allows you to control and check status anywhere. The OpenHAB code will allow you to control the door with Alexa though for me that's not so useful. After all I have a door switch as I approach the garage door from the inside of the house and of course all the cars have remotes.

The one feature I saw that this door opener doesn't have is open by geo-proximity but you could achieve that with IFTTT I guess.

if openhab has control of the door, anything can do proximity, your alarm if you integrate that, wifi connectivity (ubiquiti), owntracks etc.

hbngan

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#1933202 9-Jan-2018 21:51

Same obj as OP ie basically goal was to open/close door with open/close sonsor

I'm basically "time poor" - really wanted plug & play

Originally had garage door hooked up via wemo maker (relay plus sensor) but that interfered with the normal remote range

Then got cheap sonoff, easy to hook up but no open/close sensor

I then bought the nexx garage device installed in about 10 mins - bought through amazon as they delivered to NZ

2 wires into my merlin garadoor and 2 wires connected to existing magnetic reed sensor

A bit fidgety registering the device, but once done, other users can just download app, register and use

lchiu7

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#1933216 9-Jan-2018 22:27

Interest. I think I am going for opengarage as it's cheaper! And the the sensor mechanism (measuring the distance from the sensor to the floor of the garage or top of the car) appears to be more tolerant of fitment that the magnetic sensors that Nexx has (well based on the Amazon reviews).

I presume Nexx came with the sensors?

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#1935895 10-Jan-2018 22:22

yes, came with pair of magnetic reed sensors with long wire, I didnt use as I already had some set up

I had a look at the open garage one -but didnt want to drill out/attach to ceiling and I dont think the Blynk app (demo on youtube) would pass wifey test

I will try mucking around with Alexa next

Some pictures of my setup

Setup

Sensor

eracode

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#1939472 16-Jan-2018 07:57

Just saw this - looks interesting:

https://www.cnet.com/news/make-your-garage-door-smart-for-55/

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

lchiu7

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#1939635 16-Jan-2018 11:26

That is a good deal but at the moment that's fully sold out on the daily steals site. But just for interest sake I've tried to purchase things from daily steals recently and even using a US credit card with US billing address, they cancel the order once it realises it's going to youshop. So apparently for some products they won't ship to a reshipper.

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MikeAqua

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#1939673 16-Jan-2018 12:23

We have the alarm integrated system. We can see on phone app if the door is open or closed and remotely open or close it.

Mike

snowfly

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#1939685 16-Jan-2018 12:38

I've done this using a wemos d1 mini, relay shield, and reed door sensor. All up probably less than $20, with a little plastic case, and usb power cable.

Wemos d1 mini programmed directly via arduino ide, few lines of code.
Relay is normally open, connected to the same terminals on garage opener that our hard wired switch is connected.
To open or close door, just pulse the relay for 1 second (just like simulating pressing the hard wired button), to close circuit for 1 second.

Reed switch tells me if door is open or closed.

And a similar geekzone post here: https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=141&topicid=198633

jonherries

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#1964735 26-Feb-2018 19:25

snowfly:
I've done this using a wemos d1 mini, relay shield, and reed door sensor. All up probably less than $20, with a little plastic case, and usb power cable.

Wemos d1 mini programmed directly via arduino ide, few lines of code.
Relay is normally open, connected to the same terminals on garage opener that our hard wired switch is connected.
To open or close door, just pulse the relay for 1 second (just like simulating pressing the hard wired button), to close circuit for 1 second.

Reed switch tells me if door is open or closed.

You can find similar approach here: https://automatedhome.party/2017/01/06/wifi-garage-door-controller-using-a-wemos-d1-mini/

And a similar geekzone post here: https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=141&topicid=198633

So, had a go at this approach myself and having trouble with triggering the relay (sensor works). Have tested that closing the pins on the door triggers the motor. Have then tried manually posting to the mqtt topic. Have yet to solder the relay shield but reluctant to if it is faulty. Is there a simple way to trigger or test the relay itself - guessing adding some sort of voltage on the expected pin? If so how much?

Jon

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#1987248 2-Apr-2018 18:13

Still having trouble with the relay - does anyone have any suggestions as to what the problem might be?
Have copied the code from the website here:

http://automatedhome.party/2017/01/06/wifi-garage-door-controller-using-a-wemos-d1-mini/

Spent some time trying the alternate code suggested in the comments. Have a mosquitto server up on a raspberry pi so can directly post the OPEN string to the topic - which should directly trigger the relay?

Image below of the bread board I have it on.

richms

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#1987252 2-Apr-2018 18:35

Does the relay even click when triggered?

Richard rich.ms

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