Garage door Automation |

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#2968678 15-Sep-2022 15:59

I've found the AE unit to be totally reliable, however it is on a tilt door. As long as you can mount the little magnet so it comes close (2-4cm) to the sensor when the door is closed, it should work fine. The only other proviso is that the door will work with a single button press and you can can connect the unit to that button's input circuit.

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huckster

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#2968704 15-Sep-2022 16:07

A quick look at the Ali product and it seems to tick the right boxes. It has a sensor that if positioned correctly should be able to tell you whether the door is closed or not.

With a roller door, the sensor would most likely have to be at floor level such that it can detect when the door hits the floor as per the DIY version pictured above.

So then it comes down to length of wire and where you install the unit. With panel doors, you can position the sensor at the top.

You may need to extend some of the wiring position the controller further away from the motor to get the sensor to floor level.

Well, that's how I see it working anyway. :-)

jonathan18

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#2968735 15-Sep-2022 17:23

Thanks for the replies; that gives me a decent amount of confidence I should be able to get this working on our door.

The problems with roller doors is that most of the door rolls around on itself, so there's only a small part at the end that is exposed enough to have a magnet attached; also, they sit within a frame and I doubt the magnet will work through that, so it needs to be attached proud of the frame. I think, though, if I attach a small block to the bottom bar (the shiny bit in the photo) and attach the magnet to that, I should be able to get it level with the front of the frame, to which I can attach the sensor - they'll be well within 15mm of each-other at that point. Does that sound feasible?

Or can someone see another way of doing this?

Thanks again.

dfnt

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#2968818 15-Sep-2022 20:38

Just do as the previous poster has done, you get something like this https://www.amazon.com/Magnetic-Contacts-Shutter-Adjustable-Bracket/dp/B07ZBT28L8/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?crid=1LIXM65VGOOI5&keywords=roller+door+magnet+sensor&qid=1663230498&sprefix=roller+door+magnet+senso%2Caps%2C244&sr=8-5

Mount the magnet to the bottom of your door, usually there’s a rubber stop thing on the bottom which you can slide the magnet into, then the other half on the ground

This is what I did as well

elpenguino

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#2968928 16-Sep-2022 09:54

These types of switches are about $12 and if they're sealed, which is not guaranteed on Alix, and mounted to the concrete securely, should give reliable operation.

You can screw the magnet to the aluminium strip and make it nice and solid.

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Technofreak

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#2969340 16-Sep-2022 22:02

I am running Paradox Alarm Interface on Home Assistant. One of the functions is to monitor the state of each zone on the alarm system

I bought a $2.90 reed switch and some ferrite magnets (only needed one) from Jaycars. I attached a magnet to the toothed belt on the garage door drive unit and glued the reed switch to the plastic casing by the drive spindle. I had a spare pair going back to the alarm unit as we were already controlling the door from the Paradox remote. I soldered the legs of the spare pair to the legs of the reed switch.

I set up a spare zone on the alarm panel to monitor the state of the reed switch.

Here's some pictures I took while I was setting up the door monitoring..

The magnet (not shown in photo) is mounted on the smooth side of the toothed drive belt, positioned to be close to the drive capstan when the door is in the down position.

The photo of the reed switch shows it mounted with sellotape while I was proving the concept. The reed switch is permanently mounted now

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RogerMellie

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#2970142 19-Sep-2022 15:02

I bought one of these from Wyze a few weeks ago, and fitted it last week. Couldn't have been easier, and my garage door opener is the same make/model as yours.

https://www.wyze.com/products/wyze-garage-door-controller

jonathan18

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#2970146 19-Sep-2022 15:11

RogerMellie:
I bought one of these from Wyze a few weeks ago, and fitted it last week. Couldn't have been easier, and my garage door opener is the same make/model as yours.

https://www.wyze.com/products/wyze-garage-door-controller

That’s so classic! I am a previous user of Wyze cameras, but shifted to a NAS-based solution a year or so a go; I’ve also recently put in a Reolink camera in the garage, so if I’d known of this product at the time I could have killed two birds with one stone - both for security and managing the door opening (I’m assuming the WyzeCam would have worked fine running RTSP to ensure it worked with the NAS.) Oh well, I’ll know next time…

Edit: I see support for Google Home is ‘coming soon’, which would have been a deal breaker for me; it seems to be have been ‘coming soon’ for quite a while, so I’m not sure I’d have bought it without it already enabled.

jonathan18

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#2972299 23-Sep-2022 19:51

bmoff:

I've found the AE unit to be totally reliable, however it is on a tilt door. As long as you can mount the little magnet so it comes close (2-4cm) to the sensor when the door is closed, it should work fine. The only other proviso is that the door will work with a single button press and you can can connect the unit to that button's input circuit.

I ordered one of these from @bmoff 's link from page one; it cost $36 and arrived in under a week. I did a 'temporary' install tonight; while unsure if it would work on a roller door, as per the photo I simply used a small block of wood to bring the magnet into line with the sensor at the base of the door. It's working brilliantly, and is a cheap and effective way to ensure we don't leave the door open at night. The only annoyance is having to provide a PIN to open it (so not sure how easy it will be as a solution to opening it when in the car).

Sure glad I gave this a go before spending the much bigger bucks other devices cost.

bmoff

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#2972326 23-Sep-2022 21:58

Not sure why you're needing a pin, I don't. You using the Tuya Smart app?

jonathan18

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#2972332 23-Sep-2022 22:17

I actually used the Kogan Smarter Home app, as I had a bunch of devices already set up via that and knew they were Tuya compatible.

Are you saying that using the Tuya app you don't need a PIN when opening the door via Google Home or Google Assistant? Based on what I had read elsewhere I had assumed this was a requirement of using GA or Alexa to open a garage door.

Oblivian

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#2972348 24-Sep-2022 00:29

It is now enforced. Stops people yelling through a window to your automation open it and so on. (Or accidental remote opening)

You can use 1 press in the native apps however. Or proximity actions etc. But by voice, yes a pin is required.

bmoff

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#2972423 24-Sep-2022 08:23

Yes sorry, I'd forgotten Google Home needs a pin. I use the Tuya app on my phone.

jonathan18

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#2972432 24-Sep-2022 09:27

Oblivian: It is now enforced. Stops people yelling through a window to your automation open it and so on. (Or accidental remote opening)

You can use 1 press in the native apps however. Or proximity actions etc. But by voice, yes a pin is required.

@Oblivian - I'm interested in these proximity actions you mentioned. I found an Android app of that name, but unsure if this is what you're referring to? Thanks for any info.

Oblivian

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#2972436 24-Sep-2022 09:51

Might have put you wrong there

Google Home 'routines' seem to have been tightened up since taking over Nest.

There WAS within wifi range/geo location ones.
https://9to5google.com/2021/10/15/google-home-away-routine-location/ which may be region specific
Seems there are not now.

But I recall seeing similar in smart life app. It might be something for a full IFTTT manager

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