Near Intersection of I-35 & I-90 Southern Mn. | Brandon SWIA - 12/13/2025 05:41
Do you have wifi in your shop? We went with wifi openers and you can control them through an app on your phone. Multiple doors, multiple vehicles, multiple people. Its really handy.
Being the adventurous type and having enough knowledge to be dangerous, I made my own remote system for my shop door/lights. Long story short, I was able to wire in a 4 channel wireless remote relay board with my original 3 button door switch. The original door switch is the common UP, DOWN, STOP type of metal box that contains a Normally Open switch for UP, a Normally Open switch for DOWN and a Normally Closed switch for STOP. Four wires are used with these switches, one is Common, the second initiates the UP sequence, the third initiates the DOWN sequence as long as the fourth STOP wire is connected to the Common wire.
I wired in the wireless remote relay board like a second 3 button box. This means either device can STOP the door if it is moving. Either device can initiate the UP or DOWN sequence. I have several of the companion wireless FOBs that can control the receiver board that behaves as a 3 button switch. I have one of these FOBs in my combine, tractors, lawnmower, Ranger etc. They do require new batteries from time to time.
That has worked well for several years. I then got bold and installed yet another system to work with the door. This ss an ESP 32 microcontroller that is capable of using Wi-Fi. It can be setup to use the Internet or as a direct wireless connection to my phones or tablet called a Soft Access Point. Using a soft Access Point means a direct connection between the two devices and doesn't require internet access. Its range is somewhat limited but very acceptable. This device is wired into the 3 button switch also. This means that any one of the three devices can STOP the door if it is moving or initiate the UP or DOWN sequence.
Since I typically have my phone with me and charged, I can use the phone app with the door. If not I can still use one of the previous FOBs. Overkill I know but it does work well.
I have the fourth relay on each board able to trip a latching relay that controls a contactor for my shop lights. This means I can control the door opener and the shop lights various ways. I really appreciate this when I come home in the dark with the combine. I can open the door and turn on the shop lights and drive in. I can close the door and turn off the lights from various locations by using the phone, remote or hand switches.
My remote systems could be affected by cheap LED lights in the shop but since the remote boards are mounted in weather proof boxes on the outside of the building I'm hoping I will have no interference problems. I may be unhappy when I install my replacement LED lights this Winter.
Edited by tedbear 12/13/2025 10:05
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Shop lights affecting Liftmaster opener
