Best garage control solution

Other Devices & Integrations Door Locks & Sensors
1

Very new to the whole automation thing, so forgive me if there’s an obvious solution, but what’s the cheapest/best way to:

-be able to detect whether a garage door is open/closed
-have the ability to open/close the garage door

Looking at the Linear Z-Wave Garage, and I think this will do the trick.

[url=http://www.amazon.com/Linear-GD00Z-4-Z-Wave-Garage-Controller/dp/B00M75TEIU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412873114&sr=8-1&keywords=Iris+Z-Wave+Garage]http://www.amazon.com/Linear-GD00Z-4-Z-Wave-Garage-Controller/dp/B00M75TEIU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412873114&sr=8-1&keywords=Iris+Z-Wave+Garage[/url]

2

If you have Insteon working on yours you can use an Insteon IO-linc. The momentary relay side to open/close the door and the sensor side wired to a basic magnetic door sensor that I attached to the garage door track.

3

This is probably the most widely-used Vera plugin that supports garage doors.

4

I would call Vera support to make sure if the Linear Z-Wave Garage controller works with Vera. Last time I checked, I was told that they are still working on supporting it, and even when it is done, it will require UI7.
So I bought mimolite instead, which is very similar.

5

MIMOlite and “Garage Door” Plugin

6

I just installed the new Telguard GDC1 (soon to be officially released) and am happy to say it works like a charm with Vera UI5. From Inclusion to function only took 30 minutes and a screwdriver. I’d say this if definitely a contender for the title.

7

[quote=“bjohannes”]Very new to the whole automation thing, so forgive me if there’s an obvious solution, but what’s the cheapest/best way to:

-be able to detect whether a garage door is open/closed
-have the ability to open/close the garage door

Looking at the Linear Z-Wave Garage, and I think this will do the trick.

[url=http://www.amazon.com/Linear-GD00Z-4-Z-Wave-Garage-Controller/dp/B00M75TEIU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412873114&sr=8-1&keywords=Iris+Z-Wave+Garage]http://www.amazon.com/Linear-GD00Z-4-Z-Wave-Garage-Controller/dp/B00M75TEIU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412873114&sr=8-1&keywords=Iris+Z-Wave+Garage[/url][/quote]

This is ideal solution, and I bought one, but doesn’t work with Vera yet. Device includes and is detected as garage door controller but it won’t do anything. I logged a ticket with Vera but nothing so far.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

8

[quote=“BOFH”]I just installed the new Telguard GDC1 (soon to be officially released) and am happy to say it works like a charm with Vera UI5. From Inclusion to function only took 30 minutes and a screwdriver. I’d say this if definitely a contender for the title.[/quote]I don’t like how it’s implemented as a standard switch
. Not very clean imo and no way to get status of door out of it…

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

9

The Linear is very nice. It didn’t work with my ISY until the next firmware upgrade. I would guess it might be a similar situation with Vera.

10

Actually the status can be easily determined by the ‘lightbulb’ icon. If it’s ‘lit’, then the door is open. Maybe not 100% ‘clean’ but it works out of the box which is more than I can say for some of the other solutions. And since Vera’s devices are controlled by XML and JSON files, it should be possible to customize the icon and buttons.

[quote=“libby2cm, post:8, topic:183459”][quote=“BOFH”]I just installed the new Telguard GDC1 (soon to be officially released) and am happy to say it works like a charm with Vera UI5. From Inclusion to function only took 30 minutes and a screwdriver. I’d say this if definitely a contender for the title.[/quote]I don’t like how it’s implemented as a standard switch
. Not very clean imo and no way to get status of door out of it…

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk[/quote]

11

Yeah, not understanding why they couldn’t have changed the icon… but it does seem to actually work, so that’s the main idea.

12

GarageDoor plugin still has padlock as the icon, but works great. :slight_smile:

13

Shawn posted a fix for UI7 to change it into a garage door and open/closed text. It’s a combo of the device XML and JSON files. Doesn’t work for UI5 though…

14

I have a fortrezz relay to control the door and a monoprice door/window sensor to detect if it’s open/closed.

15

Curious as to where the icon gets stored…

16

I’m thinking the JSON file…

17

I used the following tutorial and it works fine:

18

I use the honeywell total connect home mobile app to control my garage. It lets me control the complete garage i.e lock doors and do stuff just at the click of a button.

19

I also have the Telguard and it works great. You can find a review of the Telguard Garage door opener on my site, http://myZwave.net

20

We compare the Linear GD00Z, the Telguard GDC1 and DIY parts here.