I am about to take the plunge and get a VeraPlus controller and I figured I’d start slowly and just automate the garage for now. I have been looking on Amazon and there are three different versions of what appear to be the same thing. Only one of them, I think it was the Nutone, says it has the best security while the others don’t even mention security. Plus one has different dimensions than the others.
Initially, I was under the impression that they were all identical except for the name.
You failed to indicate the important details like, what make/model garage door opener you have, and which Z-Wave device you are referring to.
I infer that you are referring to the various Nortek/Linear/GoControl/NuTone GD00Z-X devices. These are nearly all the same. These are all brand names of what is today Nortek. However, there have been a few generations of this device over the years as indicated by the trailing digit in the model number GD00Z-X .
I’ve been using a Telguard GDC1 for a few years now and it’s rock solid. As long as your opener does not expect a digital signal for open or close it’ll work fine. You can test this by shorting the open/close wires going to your wall controller for like 1/2 second. If the door opens or closes, the opener works on a non-digital system. It is z-wave so it connects directly to your controller and shows up as an on/off switch for 100% compatibility.
It is probably wise to get one with a tilt sensor that can monitor whether the garage door is open or closed. Otherwise, you don’t know your garage door’s status and are only toggling to the other position. I cannot tell whether either of the garage door openers mentioned has a tilt sensor.mmthe Vera website has three different compatible garage door openers listed (one is the GoControl GDOOZ-4), all of which have tilt sensors.
[quote=“Z-Waver, post:2, topic:196393”]You failed to indicate the important details like, what make/model garage door opener you have, and which Z-Wave device you are referring to.
I infer that you are referring to the various Nortek/Linear/GoControl/NuTone GD00Z-X devices. These are nearly all the same. These are all brand names of what is today Nortek. However, there have been a few generations of this device over the years as indicated by the trailing digit in the model number GD00Z-X .
“Best security” is a marketing description with zero quantifiable value.[/quote]
Yes, I am referring to the trio of Linear/GoControl/NuTone. I need to verify my Liftmaster model number, but it was purchased about 15 years ago so it should be compatible.
So the GD00Z-5 iteration should work fine with VeraPlus?
Yes, the GD00Z-5 will be fine with Vera. The garage door opener will probably work as well, but as @BOFH said, if it uses digital controllers, there may be negative effects - usually loss of clock and other settings on the wall controller - without special wiring and soldering.
Some on the older model Linear GDZ00 have failed and were replace under warranty. I have not heard of newer ones failing… so make sure you get v -4 or -5 at the end.
If security is your primary concern and you only require a “close” function, the best option is a simple Z-wave contact closure (MimoLite or similar) that Vera can activate and then turn off after a 1 second delay. You will need a garage door reed switch as well. Whether you use normally open or normally closed depends on where you place the switch. I use normally open because I put the switch on the opener bracket and the magnet on the top of the door. When the door is open the switch makes contact.
Wire the contacts of Zwave device in series with the reed switch and in parallel with the garage door controller button. When you run the “close garage door” scene Vera will essentially push the button for one second irrespective of the door state (open or closed) but the contact is only made if the door is open (i.e. the reed switch is closed). This method provides a physical disconnect of the automated function making it impossible to open the door using Vera while allowing Vera to close the door if it was left open by accident. I have this function activated when ever I enter “Night” mode so the door won’t be left open at night. I have no need to automate opening the door.
I automated my opener yeas ago using this method with an in-wall contact module and it works very well. I may upgrade the module to a MimoLite and a N/O - N/C combo reed switch at some point and connect the N/C to the input on the MimoLite for status.
I was previously using a Telegard GDC1 and removed it when I replaced the opener. If the GDC1 would work for your opener, and you’re interested, make me an offer via PM.
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