DIY project: garage opener control with photoelectric sensor. Ideas needed

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Hi, this is my first post since acquiring SmartThings a couple months ago. I’m not a developer but don’t mind tinkering with some devices and applications. I’ve perused the community regarding connected garage door openers and automation but not found what I have in mind. After reading about available solutions (roll-your-own relay and tilt sensor, go-control/Linear, Garadget, etc.) and looking at safety/usabiliy concerns, I’ve come up with my requirements as follows:

  • would like something long-term reliable (go-control seems to fail regularly after time)
  • would like to use an existing device handler and/or smartapp (no coding by me)
  • don’t want to have to change batteries, so hard-wired open/closed sensor is preferred
  • want to operate on z-wave - trying to keep things simple and off my wifi network
  • want to execute locally, i.e. not via cloud integration and dependent on my internet connectivity

Given the above, wondering if anyone has thought about or done integration of a dry-contact relay, z-wave outlet, and hard-wired photo-electric sensor (ala Garadget where I would mount laser or photoelectric beam with a reflector on the door) so I could open, close, and monitor status.

Would need an ingredients list (though I have some relays and a potential sensor in mind) and rough outline of how these components would be connected along with recommended app(s). Any ideas? Thanks!

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This will be the tough one… I am curious how you plan on running this locally on the hub? Is SmartLighting capable of handling a hobbled together Garage Door Control set of devices? If not, even if the devices are able to run locally, the SmartApp will still be cloud-based.

I originally wrote ST_Anything in order to monitor and control my two garage doors. It uses an Arduino + W5100 Ethernet Shield (or you can use an ESP8266/WiFi), along with some magnetic contact sensors, and a pair of relays. It has been rock solid for many years, except for the typical SmartThings issues. I have since moved everything over to my Hubitat hub, where all code runs locally. Now it is incredibly reliable and quick.

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Thanks, Dan. Some clarification here: what I wanted to avoid is cloud dependence on another vendor (like Garadget). Understand that SmartThings app may not run on the hub. Does that make sense?

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It does, now that you’ve clarified that ST Cloud dependency is acceptable.

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You won’t be able to do anything with a photoelectric sensor without needing custom code.

My suggestion would be just to get the Tellguard zwave garage door controller (the company has now been acquired by fortrezz , so you can get it from them through Amazon)

It will look like an on/off switch to SmartThings so should run locally.

It’s simple, it’s UL listed, it’s reliable. Last time I looked it had a two year warranty. Quite a few community members have it.

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Good answer - thanks! Seems to check all the boxes. I’ll pick one up and see how it goes!

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We should also mention that just like the go control, the telguard will not work with some myQ and chamberlain controllers. So check this list:

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Hi and thanks again for the recommendation,. Installed the Telguard GDC1 today. Unit and sensor seem okay, mounting hardware and other included parts are pretty chintzy, but okay for $75. Paired right away with my ST hub and started working. My only objection is that it seems to take a while (10+seconds) to let you know in the app that it has received your command to close (turn “off”). I kept hitting the button, thinking that it wasn’t working - too bad there isn’t a “turning off” state that let’s you know that it’s working!

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