Garage door monitors

[ratdoggy]

Does anyone have a garage door monitor? Something to let you know if the door is opened or closed? I'm tired of going to work in the morning and seeing my doors have been left open all night by the kids. Of course when you ask them no one knows how it got left open.

 

[ddawg16]

Well.....first you need to kick "Not Me" out of the house. He is nothing but a trouble maker.

Do a search online of security systems. There are some wireless units out there that tell you the status of doors and windows.

 

[scottm]

My OCD keeps my door shut. Part of my going to bed ritual is checking the garage door & flipping the switch that disables the opener. About once a week I leave for work and turn around so I can drive by the house and double check it. My wife thinks I'm crazy.

 

[Falcon67]

In the neighborhood where my daughter lives, if your garage door is shut it means (or the neighbors will think) that you are not home. Really - damnedest thing I've ever seen. Everybody comes home, the doors fly open and stay that way until around midnight.

 

[vtx531]

Why put a band-aid on the problem? Get tougher on your kids.

 

[brveagle]

I have one that came with my garage door opener.

It's just a little wireless sensor that attaches to the garage door. The other end is plugged in anywhere in the house. I have mine in the bedroom. It's just a little led light that shows green when the door is shut and blinks red when it is open.

Very handy.

 

[gatchel]

Does anyone have a garage door monitor? Something to let you know if the door is opened or closed? I'm tired of going to work in the morning and seeing my doors have been left open all night by the kids. Of course when you ask them no one knows how it got left open.

Here you go:

http://www.liftmaster.com/consumerweb/pages/accessoriesmodeldetail.aspx?modelId=746

Simple and relatively inexpensive...and made by Liftmaster which can't hurt either.

 

[meissen]

I'm surprised no one has invented a module that would automatically shut the garage after a pre-set time if the door opener hasn't been triggered in the past 5 minutes. It should be hella easy to do - if the light bulb attached to the door opener is off then there's been no activity in the past X minutes so you'd just need something that is programmed to the time of the day and once a certain time is reached (say after 9pm or whatever you set it to) it checks if there is power being sent to the light bulb and if there isn't (bulb is off) it sends the signal to the garage door to close. Add an override switch so if you're working in the garage it wouldn't trigger.

Better yet - have a motion sensor on the module so if there's any motion in the garage then it would assume someone is in there working. That would make the module completely separate from the opener and you wouldn't have to wire to the light bulb on the opener.

 

[ratdoggy]

Why put a band-aid on the problem? Get tougher on your kids.

It's probably the wifey too. It might even be me sometimes. Hell I forget too.

 

[gatchel]

I'm surprised no one has invented a module that would automatically shut the garage after a pre-set time if the door opener hasn't been triggered in the past 5 minutes. It should be hella easy to do - if the light bulb attached to the door opener is off then there's been no activity in the past X minutes so you'd just need something that is programmed to the time of the day and once a certain time is reached (say after 9pm or whatever you set it to) it checks if there is power being sent to the light bulb and if there isn't (bulb is off) it sends the signal to the garage door to close. Add an override switch so if you're working in the garage it wouldn't trigger.

Better yet - have a motion sensor on the module so if there's any motion in the garage then it would assume someone is in there working. That would make the module completely separate from the opener and you wouldn't have to wire to the light bulb on the opener.

If you have a Home Automation controller you can do this with programming and an extra output. I'm not saying its a good idea but it can be done.

 

[LEVE]

I have a detached garage.. and all I have to do is peek out a window or door to see if the doors are closed.

However, I'm a bit lazy and would like a monitor.

When I installed the GDO I bought a 3rd small GDO remote and installed it in the house. The remote is hidden, yet easily accessible, and we use it to open/close the door when we come into the house.

 

[logical]

Here you go:

http://www.liftmaster.com/consumerweb/pages/accessoriesmodeldetail.aspx?modelId=746

Simple and relatively inexpensive...and made by Liftmaster which can't hurt either.

I've had one of these in my last two houses, as long as you don't get too far away from the doors with the monitor they work very well and will cover 2 or more doors with just the single remote monitor. The layout of my last house let me put it right in the bedroom but the current house is a longish ranch with the bedroom at the far end from the doors...not 100% reliable from close to 100' and lots of walls, steel entry door etc.

You can generally find them cheap on ebay.

Once my son moved out I disconnected it.

 

[Kevro]

I'm surprised no one has invented a module that would automatically shut the garage after a pre-set time if the door opener hasn't been triggered in the past 5 minutes...

They do exist, although I've never used one - Garage Butler.

 

[28HopUp]

I cannot help you with a monitor. One night the wife & I were up late after friends came over. We were cleaning up and heard a knock at the front door at 2am. It was a county cop telling us the garage door was open!

 

[SuperSocket]

http://www.specialtyalarms.com/site/1313932/page/470292

Just found that site, looks like I may have to go shopping myself. We have a problem with mischievous kids in the neighboring neighborhoods and the last thing I want is an open garage door.

 

[trebomb]

I've used two different models; the Skylink GT-100 (my review here) and the AutoCloser. I currently use the latter, and it has been great. You can use your own button with the AC, and I chose not to run new wires to the "cancel" button, I just have it on a short length of wire, dangling down from the unit.

Also, if you have a Chamberlain opener, as I do, they sell a factory monitor. My issue was that we would drive off with the door open, and a monitor in the bedroom wouldn't close it for me.

 

[Interex]

I just did this on my way to work this morning!! Got 1/2 way to work and realized that I didn't remember closing the garage. Had to go all the way back and found that I did indeed close it.

I like the Garage Butler and AutoCloser but it seems like they would be more effective if they utilized a motion sensor and closed after a preset amount of time AND no motion detected. I see Amazon has a motion detector bundle with the AutoCloser but can't figure out if it overrides the system to not close when motion is detected. I understand that both systems have an override but I'm worried that I'd have the truck slightly pulled out of the garage (enough for the door to hit but not the ground sensors to detect it) and then the auto closer smashes down on my truck.

Does anyone know of a kit that will do this?

 

[meissen]

They do exist, although I've never used one - Garage Butler.

I've used two different models; the Skylink GT-100 (my review here) and the AutoCloser. I currently use the latter, and it has been great. You can use your own button with the AC, and I chose not to run new wires to the "cancel" button, I just have it on a short length of wire, dangling down from the unit.

Also, if you have a Chamberlain opener, as I do, they sell a factory monitor. My issue was that we would drive off with the door open, and a monitor in the bedroom wouldn't close it for me.

Very cool - thanks guys!

 

[Gary S]

It is very easy to wire in the cheap magnetic security switches available at Radio Shack to an alarm. With a cheap switch and a little wire, you can know at all times if the doors are open or closed.
I have been in the electronics industry for over 40 years and have learned one simple fact. Never rely on anything wireless. If you want security, run wires and mechanical switches.
If you don't care about reliability, go wireless. It is simple to install and simple to defeat.

 

[ratdoggy]

It is very easy to wire in the cheap magnetic security switches available at Radio Shack to an alarm. With a cheap switch and a little wire, you can know at all times if the doors are open or closed.
I have been in the electronics industry for over 40 years and have learned one simple fact. Never rely on anything wireless. If you want security, run wires and mechanical switches.
If you don't care about reliability, go wireless. It is simple to install and simple to defeat.

I'd like to see a diagram for this...At least something with a magnetic switch and a light.

 

[gatchel]

It would be pretty simple. You would need a N.O. switch(Magnet in place), a power source, and a indicator (LED)set up to work off of the power source. Wire them all in series with the proper polarity and there you go. When the door is open the light comes on.

 

[larryv]

Check this out from Smarthome. http://www.smarthome.com/7137/Autocloser-Garage-Door-Timed-Closer/p.aspx

 

[ratdoggy]

Here you go:

http://www.liftmaster.com/consumerweb/pages/accessoriesmodeldetail.aspx?modelId=746

Simple and relatively inexpensive...and made by Liftmaster which can't hurt either.

That's the one I ordered $16 on Ebay and free shipping

 

[IH82BL8]

I've got one like this in the bedroom. I turned the beeping off because I leave the door open on the weekends and it beeps every minute or so unless it's disabled. I had to cover the green light with green electrical tape because it was too bright at night. It works good.

I have the same one. I keep it on my night chest by my bed. I also keep a GDO remote in the drawer so I can close it from my bedroom. The BDRM is directly over the garage so I can hear it close.

I also got mine free when I bought the opener. I was told they cost about $50. To me it would have been worth it even purchased separately. There are lots of things in my garage that cost a lot more than that.

 

[mustangmccance]

I just did this on my way to work this morning!! Got 1/2 way to work and realized that I didn't remember closing the garage. Had to go all the way back and found that I did indeed close it.

I like the Garage Butler and AutoCloser but it seems like they would be more effective if they utilized a motion sensor and closed after a preset amount of time AND no motion detected. I see Amazon has a motion detector bundle with the AutoCloser but can't figure out if it overrides the system to not close when motion is detected. I understand that both systems have an override but I'm worried that I'd have the truck slightly pulled out of the garage (enough for the door to hit but not the ground sensors to detect it) and then the auto closer smashes down on my truck.

Does anyone know of a kit that will do this?

probably no help to you, but I am always worried about someone accidentally closing the door when my vehicle is half out of the garage also so I wired each of my garage door openers on a separate circuit. my breaker box is right next to the garage door so if I want the door to stay either up or closed I just flip the breaker to the off position. I am sure that the plug in to your openers could be wired to a simple light switch to disable them when you are working. but I suppose that would defeat the purpose, you would then have to remember to turn the switch back on. oh well.

 

[PassnThru]

The new opener I put in the attached garage came with a monitor. Didn't really need it on that door so I took it out to the detached garage. The doors face the house but I still manage to leave them up all night sometimes. Problem was - two doors and only one monitor. So, bent a little wire and bolted up a few pieces and now the one monitor works for both doors.
Doors closed:
View media item 6154One door open:
View media item 6155
A little kludgy at the moment - I plan to rework slightly at some point. But it does work.

 

[mybuick6]

when i worked at nissan we had the self closing door cuz all the guys would open the door, drive the car in then leave it open. so the owner got this kit and if we were talking to another guy the garage will still close and hit the roof or trunk lid of the car. then the general manager would have to call the police and make a accedent report and have the body shop fix the dent and scratches. the door would not retract like a house garage, so when it hit the car we would floor it to get from underneath it so it wouldnt hit again.

this would be the only problem i see at the house working on the car half way out of the gareage on jack stands....

 

[mmhouse]

My OCD keeps my door shut. Part of my going to bed ritual is checking the garage door & flipping the switch that disables the opener. About once a week I leave for work and turn around so I can drive by the house and double check it. My wife thinks I'm crazy.

I understand, unfortunately. To save gas I've learned to wait to leave the driveway until I see the door close completely.

 

[Theo]

You can try making this one.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-install-a-quotgarage-door-openquot-indi/

 

[magnetnerd]

Does anyone have a solution for a monitor that can be checked online? I often drive back to make sure it's closed after I left the house, but if I could check it from my phone that would be awesome!

 

[mmhouse]

Does anyone have a solution for a monitor that can be checked online? I often drive back to make sure it's closed after I left the house, but if I could check it from my phone that would be awesome!

Surely someone can come up with an app for that!

 

[PassnThru]

Does anyone have a solution for a monitor that can be checked online? I often drive back to make sure it's closed after I left the house, but if I could check it from my phone that would be awesome!

Really - it's very simple. Make a habit of waiting in the driveway until the door goes down.
If you have an issue with this sort of thing (and I can understand that) then add a step in the process - get out of your vehicle after you back out - approach the door while it is going down - and touch the door after it closes. It's a hassle but it gives you the confirmation you need.

 

[fattogatto]

http://www.specialtyalarms.com/site/1313932/product/70-521

These work very well unless you are over 25' from the door or have a lot of walls to get the signal through. Will handle up to 4 doors with one monitor.

 

[reznunt]

My OCD keeps my door shut. Part of my going to bed ritual is checking the garage door & flipping the switch that disables the opener. About once a week I leave for work and turn around so I can drive by the house and double check it. My wife thinks I'm crazy.

i'm exactly like you... shut door, disable opener, and when i leave i drive back around the block (once in a while) to double check everything when i can't remember if i closed it or not. my wife thinks i have OCD. 12345.

 

[IH82BL8]

I just did this on my way to work this morning!! Got 1/2 way to work and realized that I didn't remember closing the garage. Had to go all the way back and found that I did indeed close it.

That's when you call your neighbor and ask them to check.