In my ongoing campaign to fill the house with electronic automation wizardry, the workshop / garage ony makes sense for the next step. In addition to the camera that's integrated into the Inston system out there, I'm adding a garage door controller.

I teased this story a little bit in my last post. You know, the DIY Disaster one, where stuff got all explodey and smokey.

Let's just put that episode behind us, shall we?

My second order of stuff for the Inston system included this slick Garage Door Control and Status Kit. I'll be installing more cool expansion devices in the near future.

Insteon Garage Door and Status Kit. Device #43

It's a box full of electronic enchantment: a controller, magnet sensors, mounting materials and control wiring.

It's an easy installation, but I really don't like the concept of not including instructions with electronics these days. There are a lot of details involved in setting these things up. Throughout this whole home automation project, I've spent a lot of time on the internet. I've had to download instructions, go through online tutorials, and crawl through message boards. I understand that there are a lot of variables in computers, Wi-Fi routers, and cell phones but it seems like a good set of instructions should be included. Enough of my curmudgeon rant.

Installation begins by unplugging the garage door opener. The brains of the unit installs in the same plug later anyway.

(If you need to replace or install a garage door opener from scratch, check out my blogging buddy Jeff's outstanding tutorial "Garage Door Opener Installation in 4 Hours or Less!" on his blog: Home Repair Tutor)

The cover needs to come off the opener too. This Genie unit was easy with only a couple accessible screws to deal with, in order to get the cover to flop down.

The instruction card actually helped me figure out which terminals in the opener to land a couple of the control wires on. This will allow remote control of the opener using a smart phone or tablet. I simply stripped the wires and added them beneath the same two of terminal screws that the wall mounted push button controller uses. They shared the screws.

The controller got wired next. There is a diagram card included in the kit it indicate where to land these wires for most configurations with a ton more info to be found online. 

Photo taken after completion. I didn't plug it in until I was 100% finished wiring.

It's a nice little surprise bonus that they included a wee screwdriver in the kit for the teeny-weenie control screws. I have a set of decent control screwdrivers, but I NEVER turn up my nose at a chance to pack-rat away free tools. Even itty-bitty ones.

It's right there. Look right in the middle of my hand. You see it?

Bonus tip: If your garage door opener unit is a screw drive like ours, you're going to be washing your hands a lot. Trust me. I put my hands on that damn, black-greased contraption constantly.

Thumbs up for lubrication!

The next step is to mount the sensor magnets. They tell the controller if the garage door is open or not. Close together it's closed / Far apart it's open. Control wires need to be run all the way to the closed garage door and attached to these magnets. I followed the instructions on mounting them, centered above the door. One magnet goes on the door, the other on the wall. They have to sit within a half inch or so of each other.

Luckily, for once, I had the foresight to open the door before I wired everything up permanently. I disconnected the door from the opener with the release pull and lifted it by hand. Despite trying several configurations, I could not get the door to open without hitting the wall mounted magnet. It's just the way my door is mounted, I guess.

I tried to find another spot on the door, but there was always a structural hindrance that either wouldn't let it fit or would interfere with the wires. I finally decided to mount it to opener's rail system instead of the door. Since the clip-thingy that attaches to the rail is plastic, I was not going to screw anything to it. 

Double sided tape time!

Once again, I dipped into my hoard of various rolls of tape my friends at Echo Tape sent me to play with a while back. Their double-sided tape did the trick perfectly here. I wouldn't use the thin, cheapo stuff you pick up at the office supply store. This project will be prone to plenty of vibration; it requires professional-quality, heroic stick-ta-tude. I made a Dagwood sandwich out of tape and plastic spacers that came with the kit so everything would align properly.

I cleaned both surfaces with mineral spirits to get any greasiness off first, then stuck the magnets on with the double-sided tape, 

More tape, cut into thin strips, helped secure the control wire back along the entire length of the opener's drive shaft. I stuck a 4-5 inches of it every couple feet and rubbed the control cable into it.

Since I didn't know if this setup would work, long term I didn't trim the cable for length. I coiled it up and secured it to the support rack with a cable tie.

With everything in place, I used the iPad to add it to the automation system. It's as simple as following instructions on screen. Basically, you push a button on the device, whisper some dark incantations, watch lights blink as the magical spells are cast via Wi-Fi, and the thing works.

There are lot's of options to set up how it works and how you receive notifications. I could even set it up on a schedule. Yep, this garage door could open and close on schedule,... don't know why I'd want that, but by God it can be done. That's the important thing.

I'm now able to control and check status via my Android phone, an iPhone, and an iPad. I can send an email to whatever address I choose if I wish. For now. I have it set for text messages. I've already been able to tell when my son brings in the trash and recycling bins.

Next step, I need to do some programming work on the Insteon camera so I can see the garage door over the internet, not just when I'm on our home's Wi-Fi network. I'd hate to close it when my son's wheeling in the recycling bin.

Welcome to the home of the future,.. today.