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.

1 | 2 | 3

mdf

3567 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1524

Trusted

#3334697 23-Jan-2025 11:45

roobarb:

Just realise you have OCD and get over it.

See also: is the front door unlocked? did I leave a tap on? did I leave the kettle on?

I feel very seen.

neb

11294 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10018

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3334699 23-Jan-2025 11:59

r0bbie:
I have a 360 floodlight camera - i just spin around to check

So instead of having to remember to close the door you have to remember to spin the camera to check if you've remembered to close the door?

richms

29114 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10229

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3334706 23-Jan-2025 12:24

steve181:

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.

They get blinded by their own IR LEDs at night going thru glass so are useless. Even right up against the window there is enough internal reflection to brightly light up any piece of dirt or dust infront of the lens making it under expose everything else.

Richard rich.ms

Shindig

1625 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 363

Trusted

#3334712 23-Jan-2025 12:58

I have ordered one of the Meross devices. Thanks for the recommendations and for starting the thread!

The little things make the biggest difference.

johno1234

3378 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2856

#3334760 23-Jan-2025 14:06

roobarb:

steve181:

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.

Just realise you have OCD and get over it.

See also: is the front door unlocked? did I leave a tap on? did I leave the kettle on?

I never have an issue with taps or kettles but the garage door? I do. Partly because the teenagers are not great at remembering to close it and partly because it doesn't always close when you thought it did or has a wobbly and bounces back to open.

Scotdownunder

225 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 108

Subscriber

#3334768 23-Jan-2025 14:34

I have a dodgy door opener which seems to randomly open or re-open. The manual button is very small and flimsy and I suspect vibration triggers it. My current solution is connect the door mechanism via a Tapo smart plug and turn off the power when I want to keep the door closed but it is a two stage process and I have to maintain wifi connection with my phone when outside the door. I will look into the Meross device as an alternative with the sensor feedback and mobile connectivity.

Lego

Shop now for Lego sets and other gifts (affiliate link).

neb

11294 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10018

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3334770 23-Jan-2025 14:50

Scotdownunder: I have a dodgy door opener which seems to randomly open or re-open.

If it's a wireless one then one thing to check is whether any neighbours also have door openers and complain about their doors opening and closing at random. A very common key-fob chip for this is the PT2262, which are almost always set up wrong so there's only 127 codes, and even then are typically set to some default code shared by everyone else in the neighrbourhood.

steve181

130 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 16

#3334773 23-Jan-2025 14:57

johno1234:

I never have an issue with taps or kettles but the garage door? I do. Partly because the teenagers are not great at remembering to close it and partly because it doesn't always close when you thought it did or has a wobbly and bounces back to open.

For me the stakes are too high also. If I leave the front door unlocked the odds of someone with bad intentions trying it are very low compared to a garage door wide open to the street.

Locking windows & doors has a simplicity & tangibility to it. Automatic garage doors involve electricity, circuit boards, radio frequencies & all sorts of other things that I know nothing about.

I did end up buying the Tapo C110 for only $50 on special. Motion detection seems to work well so even if I'm not in the app I will get a notification that the garage door opened unexpectedly.

1 | 2 | 3