Simple Device That Can Tell My Phone If My Garage Is Open Or Closed.

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Simple Device That Can Tell My Phone If My Garage Is Open Or Closed.

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#3334572 22-Jan-2025 21:27

bmoff:

NZ$9.12 | Tuya WiFi Door Sensor Window Sensor Smart Home Wireless Door Detector Smart Life APP Remote Control for Alexa Google Home
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mqAsdcb

I have one of these on my chicken coop door. Works fine.

Once you have looked at that and a few of the related listings then the choice free shipping bundle area will fill up with similar contact, temperature and motion sensors that all use the tuya/smartlife platform.

Thats how I got all my sensors I have in the fridges and on the doors of them for about $4 each.

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yann

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#3334573 22-Jan-2025 21:28

Like some others here, I have Meross unit hooked up to Apple HomeKit. You don't necessarily need to hook it up to a home hub, and it will work independently as well - this would be just via the app, as the unit will need to connect to your wifi so as to give you control of the door as well as letting you know whether it is up or down.

I have always had a camera in my garage, which is just monitoring the vehicle or bikes etc. But even if you were to install a camera which was accessed via an app on your phone (something like a Eufy camera or something), and if you were at work and happened to see from the camera that the garage is open, you'd still need to be able to close the garage remotely etc. Which is where something like the controllers like the Meross (or other units) can be handy. I think there are settings within the app to set auto-closing times, and potentially via geo-fencing, though I haven't looked into the latter though do have an auto-close time (i.e. if the door is open at a particular time, it will auto-close).

I find the Meross unit pretty cheap and reliable. Plus for me when configured for use in HomeKit, it turns up in Apple CarPlay, so the garage door open and close can be monitored and controlled via the CarPlay touchscreen in the car. Saves me from needing a garage door remote in the car, and also means control of the door is dependent on my phone being in the vehicle as well (i.e. tethered to CarPlay). I think similar things are done in Android Auto.

Yann

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#3334599 23-Jan-2025 00:56

I use YoLink stick-on door/window sensors, they run forever off an AAA battery and tell me when I've left windows and doors open. They're LoRaWAN (thus the lower power) so you need a one-off purchase of a gateway device.

There's all sorts of others, e.g. water sensors which are next to the HWC and sinks, and others as well. Had most of them for years and never had to replace a battery.

trig42

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#3334606 23-Jan-2025 06:59

Another vote for the Meross.

It was easy to install - the sensor comes with a long cable so I was easily able to run it from the motor unit all the way back along the door tracks to the edge of the door.

Had it for over a year now. The app will tell you if the door has been left open for more than x minutes and will allow you to open or close the door remotely.

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#3334608 23-Jan-2025 07:05

steve181:
seems like a bit of a learning curve compared to just pointing a camera at the garage door & be done with it?

I suppose one possible option for a "point a camera at it" solution is an Echo Show. You can then use the Drop-in feature to view the video from its camera. Looks like 2nd hand ones are around $80-$90.

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#3334618 23-Jan-2025 08:30

Surprised no one has suggested an inexpensive wifi camera. I have a Wyze camera in the garage pointed at the door. Cheap as chips, breeze to install, links to phone.

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#3334623 23-Jan-2025 08:45

steve181:
Hi Everyone.

As the title says this is just for piece of mind when I get to work etc & worry if I closed the garage door or not.

The device needs to be independent of the garage door opener unit.

I thought I hit the jackpot with this (my phone is Samsung); https://www.samsung.com/nz/smartthings/sensor/smartthings-multipurpose-sensor-gp-u999sjvlahe/ but it seems to be hard to find in NZ? Seems like it's faded into obscurity? Unpopular?

The other thing I could do is install a motion detection camera but this seems like overkill.

Thanks!

I've used one of these on the garage door for years. Helped that I already had the SmartThings hub. It works fine. If I add automation to the door itself, I'll leave the multipurpose sensor there as an extra state check. I have a routine set up so that when I leave the door open a couple of inches for cooling off the house during the day (when I'm home), I get a notification in the evening that it's still open. A couple of other routines in play also. Quite handy.

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#3334629 23-Jan-2025 09:00

Also vote the meross.

Open for x minutes, alert if still open at x time of the day, auto close feature at x time (i think this is too risky so dont use it) but first two options are great.

Easy integration with HA, and widget on phone to easily open or close the door remotly (dont need to turn around and head home if forgot to close it.

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#3334638 23-Jan-2025 09:15

dafman:

Surprised no one has suggested an inexpensive wifi camera. I have a Wyze camera in the garage pointed at the door. Cheap as chips, breeze to install, links to phone.

Those were discussed earlier in thread?

steve181

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#3334649 23-Jan-2025 09:32

gehenna:

dafman:

Surprised no one has suggested an inexpensive wifi camera. I have a Wyze camera in the garage pointed at the door. Cheap as chips, breeze to install, links to phone.

Those were discussed earlier in thread?

This is the option I will go with I think. I plan to buy this later today; https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/CCTTPL1110/TP-Link-Tapo-C110-3MP2K-Indoor-Wi-Fi-Camera-Two-Wa It has 4k+ & 4.4* on Amazon & for the price I just can't go wrong.

Given I only need a live view I don't have to think about storage either.

If on the rare chance the door is open & I am away from home there are a few people I know nearby who could come over & close my garage.

On a side note I was considering buying a NVR POE Surveillance System for my home but now just thinking keep things simple & indoor mount something similar to the link above pointing outside my front window.

r0bbie

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#3334652 23-Jan-2025 09:40

steve181:

Hi Everyone.

As the title says this is just for piece of mind when I get to work etc & worry if I closed the garage door or not.

The device needs to be independent of the garage door opener unit.

I thought I hit the jackpot with this (my phone is Samsung); https://www.samsung.com/nz/smartthings/sensor/smartthings-multipurpose-sensor-gp-u999sjvlahe/ but it seems to be hard to find in NZ? Seems like it's faded into obscurity? Unpopular?

The other thing I could do is install a motion detection camera but this seems like overkill.

Thanks!

I have a 360 floodlight camera - i just spin around to check

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johno1234

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#3334662 23-Jan-2025 10:07

yann:

Like some others here, I have Meross unit hooked up to Apple HomeKit. You don't necessarily need to hook it up to a home hub, and it will work independently as well - this would be just via the app, as the unit will need to connect to your wifi so as to give you control of the door as well as letting you know whether it is up or down.

I have always had a camera in my garage, which is just monitoring the vehicle or bikes etc. But even if you were to install a camera which was accessed via an app on your phone (something like a Eufy camera or something), and if you were at work and happened to see from the camera that the garage is open, you'd still need to be able to close the garage remotely etc. Which is where something like the controllers like the Meross (or other units) can be handy. I think there are settings within the app to set auto-closing times, and potentially via geo-fencing, though I haven't looked into the latter though do have an auto-close time (i.e. if the door is open at a particular time, it will auto-close).

I find the Meross unit pretty cheap and reliable. Plus for me when configured for use in HomeKit, it turns up in Apple CarPlay, so the garage door open and close can be monitored and controlled via the CarPlay touchscreen in the car. Saves me from needing a garage door remote in the car, and also means control of the door is dependent on my phone being in the vehicle as well (i.e. tethered to CarPlay). I think similar things are done in Android Auto.

Yann

+1 for Meross. The only issue I ever have with it is the wifi signal to the garage.

Sounds like the OP doesn't need a smart garage door controller and just wants a sensor to tell if the door is open or closed I would just get a magnet/hall effect switch such as all those garage controllers use and connect it to a simple Tuya, Shelly or similar module then use their mobile app to display status and receive notifications.