Replies

1. 
   BillHartmann | Apr 25, 2005 06:53am | #1

   A number of garage door openers are compatable with HomeLink.

   https://secure.homelink.com/secure/shop.taf

   And Smarthome has some stuff that will do this.

   http://www.smarthome.com

   And some of the garage door openers has equipment to work off one of the auxillary buttons on the openers to operate lights.

   I would start with the brand and model of the opener and see what they offer with that.

   
   

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   Edited 4/25/2005 10:51 am ET by Bill Hartmann

2. 
   steelbuddha | Apr 25, 2005 01:54pm | #2

   Ditto what Bill said. X-10 line carrier technology is what you're looking for. (Short description: X-10 sends a little packet of data through the power line each time the AC wave crosses the zero axis.) Many of the newer garage door openers have some extra assignable buttons on the remote. What you'll probably need is an X-10 switch for the garage side lights.

   There's a lot of material on the newsgroups about this stuff. "Home automation" is the general subject.

3. 
   BryanSayer | Apr 25, 2005 06:31pm | #3

   X10 seems like a pretty good approach, but if that doesn't work, how about a motion detector set to detect the garage door?

4. 
   fireball | Apr 25, 2005 07:44pm | #4

   It shouldn't be that hard to parallel the side lights with the light in the opener.

1. 
   BillHartmann | Apr 25, 2005 07:50pm | #5

   "It shouldn't be that hard to parallel the side lights with the light in the opener."I would do that for my own house. In fact on my old opener I was able to find a contact and wire a transformer to operate an Open Door indicator inside the house.However, I would NEVER to that for some 3rd party.Way too many complications. Starting with the fact that you have no idea what the rating of the traic or relay that is used to operate the internal lights.

1. 
   Stuart | Apr 25, 2005 08:16pm | #6

   It would be easy enough to connect a separate relay to the opener light circuit, and then use that relay to operate additional lights, but you're right - it's probably not a good idea to do it for a third party.I think many garage door openers sold in recent years have some provisions built in for operating additional lights or other devices, the original poster should check to see if this one does before going any further.

2. 
   fireball | Apr 25, 2005 08:52pm | #7

   OK,Bill I understand you would NEVER do it for a third party.

   It isn't that hard of a problem to solve.