Remote control lighting using vehicles Homelink button

[Mosby]

I own a small rural place we use for weekends, it is totally dark out there at night. My thought is, it would be extremely convenient to have an exterior light that could be turned on using the built in garage door opener remote built into almost every car now, The homelink system. This seems like it would be an easy thing, but I can't find any off the shelf solution. Wifi is not a great option. We have it, but it is very unreliable out there, and there is zero cell signal. So the Rf Homelink signal seems like a good option, I just can't find anything that I can wire into the lighting to utilize the Homelink remote to turn on and off a light.

Anyone done this, or have any ideas about how to do this?

 

[Steve W.]

Start at the source. --> https://www.homelink.com/smart-home

.

 

[Mosby]

Start at the source. --> https://www.homelink.com/smart-home

.

Thanks for that, as I said I do not want to use WIFi, their system for lighting is based on their App. Which is WIFI based

 

[65ranchero]

Depending on the vehicle, some have a feature when vehicle is shut off hit the high beam and they will stay on for a short predetermined time.

 

[wssix99]

We have done something similar for controlling remote lights through Homelink garage door openers. I ripped the guts of a Liftmaster remote light and use them to drive lighting contactors: (see post #39)

Controlling overhead lights with a new liftmaster opener

I've seen a few threads on this topic, but no elegant or particularly safe looking solutions. I got a liftmaster 8500 for my garage door, and I didn't want to mount the little remote light and have a cord running down my wall. I found that liftmaster/chamberlain make these switches that can be...

www.garagejournal.com

^ This wouldn't work for you because it requires a Liftmaster garage door opener to be an intermediary.

You should be able to get something like a Liftmaster Gate Controller and use it in a similar way -> drive a contactor instead of a gate mechanism. Since these only trigger for a short moment, you would probably also need to pair it with a timer: https://cgi.widen.net/view/pdf/iputpwubdi/114a4123.pdf

 

[Mosby]

Depending on the vehicle, some have a feature when vehicle is shut off hit the high beam and they will stay on for a short predetermined time.

This would be a simple solution, for my purpose though the entry way door is not in line of sight from the vehicles. Parking is on the backside of the house.

 

[Mosby]

We have done something similar for controlling remote lights through Homelink garage door openers. I ripped the guts of a Liftmaster remote light and use them to drive lighting contactors: (see post #39)

Controlling overhead lights with a new liftmaster opener

I've seen a few threads on this topic, but no elegant or particularly safe looking solutions. I got a liftmaster 8500 for my garage door, and I didn't want to mount the little remote light and have a cord running down my wall. I found that liftmaster/chamberlain make these switches that can be...

www.garagejournal.com

^ This wouldn't work for you because it requires a Liftmaster garage door opener to be an intermediary.

You should be able to get something like a Liftmaster Gate Controller and use it in a similar way -> drive a contactor instead of a gate mechanism. Since these only trigger for a short moment, you would probably also need to pair it with a timer: https://cgi.widen.net/view/pdf/iputpwubdi/114a4123.pdf

Thank you for the reply, I think both these options are beyond my electrical ability.

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

Simple!……. Buy a few motion sensing flood lights.

 

[Mosby]

Simple!……. Buy a few motion sensing flood lights.

Would like to avoid that, lots of wildlife in the area. Seems wasteful to have lights going on and off for deer etc, all night every night when I am only there a few nights a month.

 

[GRN96WS6]

Why not dusk to dawn bulbs? Seems to me like a complex solution you're trying for a simple one.

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

32*-104* F is the ambient rating.

https://assets.lutron.com/a/documents/369831_eng.pdf

 

[PCustoms]

I use these

Amazon.com

Paired with my homelink for off-road lights on my vehicles. You could definitely wire it up with a transformer and a relay, but you'll have to do a little work to put together the box. There may be a 120v ready version that you can wire in more directly

Edit: definitely plenty of plug and play 120v wireless switches, just not sure what ones may work with homelink

 

[JohnX14]

You could use a lutron Caseta and keep a remote in your car. Probably a longer range than the car's homelink. It's under $100 for a switch or dimmer plus a remote. You can also use the app to turn the lights on, but that requires wifi and a bridge and an app.

 

[Mosby]

32*-104* F is the ambient rating.

https://assets.lutron.com/a/documents/369831_eng.pdf

I looked into this, but when I sent in a question to their tech line, they said it is not compatible, and I would need to use their App as a go between. Which seems unnecessarily complex. Meaning if I had control of the App, why use the homelink system, just use the App.

 

[BurtEggley]

is the goal just to be able to turn on outside lights at will when you get home? If so, what turns them on now, a switch? Series of switches? Are they dusk to dawn with switches to turn them off? The lights have to be purchased and installed too?

 

[wssix99]

Thank you for the reply, I think both these options are beyond my electrical ability.

Its not very hard. We just start by cutting an extension cord in half and yelling, "Hey Ma!, Watch this!!!" before we plug it in.

If you don't want a science project, why not just put in a motion sensing light? They have a light sensor so they don't turn on during the day and also have adjustability so they aren't triggered by critters. Simple wiring.

 

[BlindViper]

You could use the power source in the garage door opener that turns on the light. Use that to trigger a contactor and turn on whatever you want.

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

Would like to avoid that, lots of wildlife in the area. Seems wasteful to have lights going on and off for deer etc, all night every night when I am only there a few nights a month.

I live in the woods and I have solar motion activated floods mounted on trees and they work great…… Yes, animals will trigger them.

BTW! We had a fox running around in the yard last year (with 6 kits) and the area looked like a disco light show.

 

[Mosby]

is the goal just to be able to turn on outside lights at will when you get home? If so, what turns them on now, a switch? Series of switches? Are they dusk to dawn with switches to turn them off? The lights have to be purchased and installed too?

The lights there now, are on a switch inside the door. Which is not in the line of sight from where the vehicles park. So I make my way through the dark to the door, unlock the door and turn on the outside lights.

 

[Mosby]

Thank you to everyone who has responded. I know I can use motion lights, I know there are App based solutions, I know I can set a dusk til dawn light up. All these are options for various reasons I am not interested in.
I am specifically interested in making the button built into every car built for the past 20 years turn a light on. Which seems to me like something someone already would have thought of. I know realize that isn't the case. Still seems odd to me, that this remote can operate a garage door, but can't turn on a light. But I am not an electronics expert.

So thank you for all the replies. I think we can call this question closed.

 

[bigmike989]

Liftmaster 823LM (wired wall switch that can be controlled from GDO remote) is what you would have wanted, but it is discontinued. They pop up on eBay. The Liftmaster 825LM (supports both remote and myQ) is still available and would have to be cobbled together to control a light fixture. 825LM: https://www.liftmaster.com/825lm-wireless-light-control/p/G825LM

 

[rawen2]

Here is another one that has been discontinued but I found one on eBay. I thinks it's capable of what you want. It's the Liftmaster MyQ 823LM.
Looks like the one on eBay does not come with the remote so I'm not sure how you'd program it to the button on your car's visor.

Link to description:

LiftMaster MyQ Remote Light Switch Control Kit W/ Mini Remote

Buy the LiftMaster MyQ Remote Light Switch Control Kit W/ Mini Remote at North Shore Commercial Door, starting from just $69.68. We offer excellent customer service, fast shipping, and great selection. Can't find what you're looking for? Call us!

shopactiondirect.com

eBay link:

Pardon Our Interruption...

Link to owner's manual:

https://embed.widencdn.net/pdf/plus/cgi/5ix3efb41u/114a4349.pdf?u=gsn58x

 

[Stuff]

Cheaper Liftmaster/Chamerlain CLLAD model: https://www.ebay.com/itm/287049270252

 

[American Locomotive]

It would help if you post what car you have. Garage doors can operate at a number of different frequencies. What frequencies your car's buttons support will help direct an answer. If it supports the 433Mhz range, there are actually a number of options. If it doesn't, then you'll be rolling your own solution.

 

[jlv03]

Liftmaster 823LM (wired wall switch that can be controlled from GDO remote) is what you would have wanted, but it is discontinued. They pop up on eBay. The Liftmaster 825LM (supports both remote and myQ) is still available and would have to be cobbled together to control a light fixture. 825LM: https://www.liftmaster.com/825lm-wireless-light-control/p/G825LM

I had an 825LM that came free with my Liftmaster garage door opener years ago, but it sadly died after about 5 years. It had an option to use one of the remote buttons, but I only used it paired to the opener light. When it worked, it was great to turn on another light in the garage.

Doesn't help the OP here, but my replacement for the 825LM was to use MyQ to tell IFTTT to then tell my Hubitat hub to turn on some lights in the garage.

 

[BurtEggley]

so you park outdoors and want to be able to turn the lights on when you get home. Let me think about it. Many cars since the early 2000's leave their headlights on for a minute or two to avoid that problem, so we have not experienced it. My guess is that a motion sensor light would solve your issue, and that the wildlife will learn to avoid triggering it. But will think about an over the counter solution.

 

[whateg01]

so you park outdoors and want to be able to turn the lights on when you get home. Let me think about it. Many cars since the early 2000's leave their headlights on for a minute or two to avoid that problem, so we have not experienced it. My guess is that a motion sensor light would solve your issue, and that the wildlife will learn to avoid triggering it. But will think about an over the counter solution.

Op says the door is not in the headlights beam. Wildlife don't care about the lights turning on. I don't know how many lights op is planning to control with this but a 13 W led isn't going to use much power even if it was on 100% of the time. With a motion sensor, it's probably less than 10% of the time. Probably spend more on the light than the electricity to light it.

Op upset because there isn't apparently a turn key solution. Lots of things like that in life. Maybe hire somebody to make the something you want if you can't but it off the shelf.

 

[dscheidt]

Lutron radio ra. Bring your checkbook.

You need the main unit, the visor link, and a switch or switches.

 

[BurtEggley]

so this isn't homelink but I go to Google, type in wireless remote, and many come up. The first one is $15 at Amazon. It uses RF so Internet is not needed, good to 100' and the temperature range is -4F to 113F. The remote would be left in the car and the unit gets wired inline to the light. Isn't that the sort of thing we are discussing here? Also - in reading, there are more than one versions of Homelink so it is a moving target where older versions may need an additional bridge with newer equipment. All that said, I worked in IT for a lot of years and with stuff like garage openers etc., I found it just easier to hire someone who has been selling that equipment for 25+years. I tell them what I want, they make it happen.

 

[LopezBart]

You could use a lutron Caseta and keep a remote in your car. Probably a longer range than the car's homelink. It's under $100 for a switch or dimmer plus a remote. You can also use the app to turn the lights on, but that requires wifi and a bridge and an app.

I've used these to solve a couple of issues w/ switch placements in our new place... simple and easy..

 

[dscheidt]

I've used these to solve a couple of issues w/ switch placements in our new place... simple and easy..

 

[djbmw]

I own a small rural place we use for weekends, it is totally dark out there at night. My thought is, it would be extremely convenient to have an exterior light that could be turned on using the built in garage door opener remote built into almost every car now, The homelink system. This seems like it would be an easy thing, but I can't find any off the shelf solution. Wifi is not a great option. We have it, but it is very unreliable out there, and there is zero cell signal. So the Rf Homelink signal seems like a good option, I just can't find anything that I can wire into the lighting to utilize the Homelink remote to turn on and off a light.

Anyone done this, or have any ideas about how to do this?

Off the shelf? No idea.
Custom made.. simple! Use a Nooelec SDR to find out which frequency your Homelink is transmitting on, and the type of pulse/signal it's sending. Once you have this info, find the appropriate RF receiver and pair it to a Rasberry pi with appropriate relays for your 110v lights. Either download code from Github or use AI to write your own code and bam.. done!

Or,.. use an off the shelf product like others are suggesting.

 

[Mosby]

Here is another one that has been discontinued but I found one on eBay. I thinks it's capable of what you want. It's the Liftmaster MyQ 823LM.
Looks like the one on eBay does not come with the remote so I'm not sure how you'd program it to the button on your car's visor.

Link to description:

LiftMaster MyQ Remote Light Switch Control Kit W/ Mini Remote

Buy the LiftMaster MyQ Remote Light Switch Control Kit W/ Mini Remote at North Shore Commercial Door, starting from just $69.68. We offer excellent customer service, fast shipping, and great selection. Can't find what you're looking for? Call us!

shopactiondirect.com

eBay link:

Pardon Our Interruption...

Link to owner's manual:

https://embed.widencdn.net/pdf/plus/cgi/5ix3efb41u/114a4349.pdf?u=gsn58x

This seems to be exactly what I would like to accomplish, and at this price it is an easy option to try. I did purchase this, from the link you provided, thank you very much for the help with this.

 

[Mosby]

Op says the door is not in the headlights beam. Wildlife don't care about the lights turning on. I don't know how many lights op is planning to control with this but a 13 W led isn't going to use much power even if it was on 100% of the time. With a motion sensor, it's probably less than 10% of the time. Probably spend more on the light than the electricity to light it.

Op upset because there isn't apparently a turn key solution. Lots of things like that in life. Maybe hire somebody to make the something you want if you can't but it off the shelf.

The internet never ceases to amaze, and it is always good to see that forums designed to be helpful are still the wild west where no matter the question someone posts, someone else can turn it around and not answer the question, and insult the person asking.

I posted what I thought was a pretty specific question, I also followed up with reasons why I was looking for this solution. Instead I got a bunch of replies answering questions I didn't ask, and then subtle insults when I didn't jump on your very generous response to a question I didn't ask.

I have my reasons for not wanting motion lights. I would think that would be enough. My statement that car headlights are not a solution should be taken at face value. Apparently not. Thanks for your input. Apparently there was an off the shelf solution, and this forum helped me find it. Your response was to insult my choices.

 

[rawen2]

This seems to be exactly what I would like to accomplish, and at this price it is an easy option to try. I did purchase this, from the link you provided, thank you very much for the help with this.

You're welcome. Hope it works the way you want. And I'm happy I could help someone because this forum and others have helped me many times.