Electrical Engineer Help. Wanting to Set up a Flashing Light to Go on When The Garage Door Opens and Then Turn off 30 Sec

Melb69 on 11/06/2018 - 10:12
Last edited 11/06/2018 - 11:15 by 1 other user

Saw on youtube. Will try and find the video where when your opening or closing the garage door a flashing light goes on. Like to say your leaving or entering the garage. Would like it to go off after a certain time as it may just get a tad annoying. Needs to be switched on via the remotes.

I have a wireless remote to my garage auto door. How can you connect that flashing light to that maybe. I think the light that is on the auto door unit turns off after a certain time.

Or is there some apple or android automation add on that I can use to do this effect.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4ELhcvVtO8

Home & Garden

Comments

  • No Username on 11/06/2018 - 10:29
    +2

    You can go DIY and use an Arduino Micro with an IR receiver and 5v relay. Programme it to accept the IR signal of the remote and tell it to trigger the relay to activate the lights.

  • pjetson on 11/06/2018 - 10:44
    +2

    You're going to need to provide much more detail, OP. Exactly what is the problem that you're trying to solve.

    Exactly what is this light meant to indicate? That the door is open, or that someone is closing or opening it? Is it meant as a warning to passers-by that the door is opening or closing? How long should the light stay on for?

    Where is this flashing light to be? Internal? External? Mains operated? Battery powered? A small led, or a large light?

    Please describe exactly what you want, in detail, and perhaps someone might be able to help.

  • Melb69 on 11/06/2018 - 10:56

    I need a way of making a light go on effectively when I use the garage remote as I enter or leave the garage. It also needs to turn off say after 30 seconds or set time.

    Light is just to indicate I am leaving or entering garage.

    Light to be internal somewhere in garage.

    Power supply I was hoping off the auto garage unit. But there is mains power on the auto door unit that I can plug the light into.

    LED light this. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Beamz-LED-Beacon-Light-Blue-Flas…

    All really as a fun excercise. Hope this makes it a bit clearer

  • pjetson on 11/06/2018 - 11:11

    I need a way of making a light go on effectively when I use the garage remote as I enter or leave the garage.

    Isn't that what the courtesy light does now?

  • Melb69 on 11/06/2018 - 11:15

    Like this garage set up. 7.15 mark of the video.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4ELhcvVtO8

    Does look like its set up on a separate button on the remote as he didn't open the garage to make the lights work. If they are LED could I just wire it off the LEDS of the Auto doors. It will mean that everytime the flashing lights go on they go on with the courtesy light. Better if I can connect as separate light to the AUX.

    • grrrr on 11/06/2018 - 11:55
      +2

      In the video it looks to me that they go on with the courtesy lights.

      To connect a flashing light to AUX - which will require you to press the associated button on your remote to have them come on and turn off. (Assuming that is how the AUX works - the manual doesn't actually describe the AUX function):

      Get an electrician with a multi-meter to check what voltage is a terminal V+ and 0. Then check that the same voltage comes out of the AUX terminal when you turn it on and off.

      Then buy a relay with a coil of said voltage.

      The relay coil will then get connected to terminals AUX and OV.
      Then work out what flashing light you want and what power that needs. (Preferably 240VAC, 24VDC, or 12VDC - not 110VAC).

      If it is 240VAC, then an electrician can connect to the 240VAC that feeds the garage door opener into one side of the relay contacts and wire the flashing light into the other side of the relay contacts.

      Almost the same thing happens with a 24VDC flashing light but an additional 24VDC power supply will be required. I would get something water proof for going in the ceiling space.

      If the AUX only turns on while you are pressing the button then you will need a timer relay to hold them on for a while.

      Another option is to get an electrician to install a sonoff to your flashing light and talk to your phone to turn them on and off…
      Another option is to get an electrician to install a PIR sensor with a time delay. The PIR should see the door open and close.

    • affable on 12/06/2018 - 12:52

      Why not send that uTube guy a message? I have money on the flashing light being triggered along with the courtesy light like others are saying.

  • Davo1111 on 11/06/2018 - 12:00
    +1

    Pretty sure those flashing lights are just connected to a timer like this and an IR sensor as the switch like this

    (i just picked the first two on RS comp, not sure if they're suitable or compatible, but wanted to point out what they look like)

  • Davo1111 on 11/06/2018 - 12:04
    +3

    Now that you've explained the actual issue, don't bother spending a load of money.

    Just get a security floodlight and plug it into the power point in the garage. As you drive in, the sensor triggers, and stays on for x minutes. All done for <$100

    Just think about the sensor and light placement. You dont want to blind the driver as they're driving in to the garage.

    • wantitforless on 12/06/2018 - 13:22

      no the movement detector light bulbs cost ~$5 each. No wiring or sparky needed.

  • rickr on 12/06/2018 - 09:09

    I cant see if my garage door is up or down from inside my house.i got a car door on off light switch from a wrecker,placed it where the garage door hits each time it opens and shuts.I added a small 12v plug into 240 volt socket and ran a small red pilot light inside the house..it has been running problem free for 10 years.

    • Melb69 on 12/06/2018 - 09:26

      But does that mean that the red light stays on in your house?

      I'm thinking the motion sensor idea is good. I would connect the flashing light in replacement of the standard sensor light kit if I can find the same Watt output to the flashing light set. The sensor would also need a timer on it. However, most of the plugin sensor lights seem only to work on the fact that it will not go on during the day, but then stay on at night. I want it to work during the day as well for a short period and then turn off. Well, at least until I leave or enter the garage.

      I still think my best bet is to try and connect the flashing light to the auto door Aux unit. Just no instruction in the manual as to how to do that.

      • SnoozeAndLose on 12/06/2018 - 23:06

        motion sensor have time and light sensor to adjust from.

        can work during the day too.

  • Euphemistic on 12/06/2018 - 10:18

    I’m not sure I see the point, unless you are warning a deaf person. The sound of the door opening, combined with the courtesy light, should be enough warning for any one in the vicinity.

  • dimitryp on 12/06/2018 - 10:33

    I a home automation setup in my house and have attached a smart garage door controller to my garage door motor.
    This controller both flashes lights and plays sound while opening and closing the door, and the sound (and maybe light too?) config can be changed.
    The controller itself isnt super expensive ($150ish), and has a button on it so you can press it when you're inside the garage. Unfortunately, to use the controller from outside the garage you'd also need a Z-Wave hub (another $200+), and this piece is non-trivial to set up. Plus on top of that you need a phone app (free) to act as a remote, or you can buy separate remote buttons.

    Now that i;ve typed that all out, its probably neither the cheapest or easiest solution, but if you already had a Z-wave home automation system set up this would be the go.

    This is the controller i use, fyi
    https://capitalsmarthomes.com.au/products/aeon-labs-z-wave-g…

  • mattyman on 12/06/2018 - 11:32

    You could probably do something like this with a Philips Hue Hub, Light, Motion Sensor and a Rasberry Pi with HomeAssistant.

  • rickr on 12/06/2018 - 11:43

    Further to my previous comment,the car on off switch works exactly as if in the car…on..door open,off…door closed.you can put the actual light anywhere u want..put a flashing globe instead if u want it to flash.

  • wantitforless on 12/06/2018 - 13:23

    it's a $5 job, nothing more.

  • LFO on 12/06/2018 - 17:36
    +1

    My garage door opener has a globe that turns on when open/close, then off after ?xx? seconds.

    Will that be a cheap alternative/option?
    Get a 12VDC transformer and a Jaycar strobe (~$20) or cheaper eBay, connect the trafo to that globe and Bob is your uncle …

    Of course I have the gut feeling all this might be very illegal to be done in Australia unless by a lic electrician.
    But you may be in Kiwi-land, so all will be good …

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