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WiFi Garage Door Controller

Control your garage door from anywhere + get alerts when it opens

Total Cost
$12
Retail Price
$100+
Install Time
1 hour
Difficulty
Medium

Video Tutorial

Why Build This?

⚠️ Safety First

This project involves low-voltage wiring only (same as your wall button). We're NOT touching AC power. However, garage door openers have moving parts - always test carefully and ensure safety sensors still work.

Materials Needed

Item Approx. Cost Buy
Sonoff SV WiFi relay $7 Amazon
Reed switch (magnetic sensor) $3 Amazon
Wire (22 gauge, few feet) $2 Amazon

Tools Required:

Build Instructions

Flash the Sonoff (Optional but Recommended)

Out of the box, Sonoff uses their app. For better privacy and local control, flash with Tasmota or ESPHome firmware. Tutorials abound online - this takes 15 minutes with a USB-to-serial adapter.

Wire to Garage Door Opener

Find the wall button wires on your opener (usually labeled). Wire the Sonoff relay in parallel with your wall button - positive to positive, negative to negative. The Sonoff will "press" the button when triggered.

Power the Sonoff

The Sonoff SV needs 5-24V DC. Most garage openers have a power terminal that outputs 12-24V - use that. Or use a USB power adapter (5V). Check your opener's manual for accessory power terminals.

Install Reed Switch for Status

Mount the magnetic part of the reed switch on your garage door, and the switch part on the door frame. When door closes, magnet triggers switch. Wire this to Sonoff's GPIO pins as a binary sensor.

Configure WiFi and App

Connect Sonoff to your WiFi using the eWeLink app (stock firmware) or Home Assistant (if flashed with Tasmota/ESPHome). Set up automations for notifications and voice control.

Test Thoroughly

Test opening/closing from app multiple times. Verify status sensor accurately shows door position. Test safety sensors still work - door should reverse if something blocks it.

💡 Pro Tips

  • Pulse mode - Configure relay for momentary activation (0.5 second pulse) instead of toggle. Safer and mimics wall button behavior
  • Two-door setup - Need to control 2 garage doors? Use a Sonoff 4CH (4 channels) for $20 to control both
  • Home Assistant integration - Best smart home platform for this. Free, local, no cloud required
  • Add a camera - Cheap Wyze cam ($20) lets you visually confirm door status
  • Geofencing - Set up automation to alert if you leave home with garage door open
  • Mount securely - Use double-sided tape or screws. Openers vibrate a lot

Smart Home Integration

Works with: