DIY Smart Garage Door Controller

A cost-effective alternative to MyQ using Home Assistant, eWeLink smart relay, and Sonoff door sensor. Total cost: ~$23-55.

Based on this Home Assistant community guide.

Overview

This project creates a smart garage door controller that:

• Works with Home Assistant, Alexa, and Apple HomeKit
• Operates locally without cloud dependency (using SonoffLAN)
• Provides door status monitoring via a door sensor
• Costs significantly less than commercial solutions like MyQ
• If you want something more polished and willing to spend more, I highly recommend checking out the ratgdo32.

Parts List

Item	Price	Link
eWeLink WiFi Smart Relay 1CH-10A	~$10	Amazon
USB wire and 5V power brick	$0	sitting around the house
low voltage (22awg) wire for garage door sensors	$0	found extra in garage
Sonoff DW2 WiFi Door Sensor	~$8	Amazon
Battery to AC Power Adapter (optional)	~$5	Amazon
Modified Chamberlain 883LM (for Security+ 2.0 openers)	~$30	Provides dry contact terminals

Note 1: If you have a Security+ 2.0 opener (yellow button Chamberlain), you'll need the modified 883LM wall control to get dry contact terminals. Alternatively, you can modify your existing wall control with some soldering to save ~$20.

Note 2: I originally had an outdoor outlet cover as a case for the smart relay but that was too large and I didn't like the look. So I found that you can modify a Harry's Razor Blade Refill plastic container and it works well as a compact housing.

Wiring Setup

For Chamberlain Security+ 2.0 Openers

1. Install the 883LM Wall Control

   • Mount the modified 883LM wall control near your garage door opener
   • Connect the control to your garage door opener per manufacturer instructions
   • This provides light control, door control, and most importantly, dry contact terminals

2. Wire the eWeLink Relay

   • Run low-voltage 2-wire cable from the 883LM dry contact terminals to your relay location
   • Connect the dry contact wires to the Normally Open (NO) and Common (COM) terminals on the relay
   • Power the relay using a 5V USB adapter plugged into a nearby outlet

3. Install the Door Sensor

   • Mount the Sonoff DW2 sensor on the garage door and frame
   • Follow the sensor's pairing instructions to add it to your eWeLink app

General Setup (Any Garage Door Opener)

• Connect your relay's dry contact terminals to your garage door opener's wall button terminals
• Power the relay with a 5V USB power supply
• Position the relay near a power outlet and within WiFi range

eWeLink App Configuration

1. Add the Relay

   • Open the eWeLink app and add your smart relay device
   • Configure it as a Switch

2. Enable Local Control

   • Go to device settings
   • Enable LAN Control (allows local operation without internet)

3. Configure Inching Mode

   • Enable Inching mode in device settings
   • Set the duration to 0.5 seconds
   • This simulates a momentary button press instead of a continuous on/off switch

4. Add the Door Sensor

   • Pair the Sonoff DW2 door sensor
   • The sensor will report "on" when the door is open and "off" when closed

Home Assistant Configuration

Prerequisites

Install one of the following via HACS:

• eWeLink Smart Home official integration
• SonoffLAN custom component (enables local control without cloud), https://github.com/AlexxIT/SonoffLAN (I prefer the SonoffLAN so it's all local)

Add Template Cover

Add this configuration to your templates.yaml or configuration.yaml:

cover:
  - name: Garage Door
    unique_id: diy_garage_door
    device_class: garage

    open_cover:
      - condition: state
        entity_id: binary_sensor.sonoff_1001d8a21c
        state: 'off'   # only open if currently closed
      - service: switch.turn_on
        target:
          entity_id: switch.sonoff_1001e92800_1

    close_cover:
      - condition: state
        entity_id: binary_sensor.sonoff_1001d8a21c
        state: 'on'    # only close if currently open
      - service: switch.turn_on
        target:
          entity_id: switch.sonoff_1001e92800_1

    stop_cover:
      - service: switch.turn_on
        target:
          entity_id: switch.sonoff_1001e92800_1

    state: >
      {% if is_state('binary_sensor.sonoff_1001d8a21c', 'on') %}
        open
      {% else %}
        closed
      {% endif %}

Important: Replace the entity IDs with your actual device entity IDs:

• binary_sensor.sonoff_1001d8a21c - Your door sensor
• switch.sonoff_1001e92800_1 - Your relay switch

Dashboard Card

Add this card to your dashboard for a clean interface:

type: entities
entities:
  - entity: switch.sonoff_1001e92800_1
    name: Virtual Garage Door Button
    icon: mdi:button-pointer
  - entity: binary_sensor.sonoff_1001d8a21c
    name: Garage Door Sensor
  - entity: cover.garage_door
  - entity: sensor.sonoff_1001d8a21c_battery
title: Garage Door
state_color: true

Voice Assistant Integration

Alexa

1. Add the eWeLink skill to Alexa
2. Discover devices
3. Create a routine with a custom phrase like "push garage door button" instead of "open" or "close" since the relay just simulates a button press

Apple HomeKit

1. Install the Home Assistant HomeKit Bridge integration
2. Add the garage door cover entity to the bridge
3. The garage door will appear in Apple Home

Features

• ✅ Local control (works even if internet is down)
• ✅ Real-time door status monitoring
• ✅ Battery status monitoring for door sensor
• ✅ Integration with Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant
• ✅ Works alongside existing garage door remotes and wall buttons
• ✅ Visual confirmation in Home Assistant dashboard
• ✅ Can be combined with garage camera for visual monitoring

Troubleshooting

Relay doesn't trigger the door:

• Verify inching mode is enabled and set to 0.5 seconds
• Check wire connections to NO and COM terminals
• Test the relay manually in the eWeLink app

Door sensor not updating:

• Check battery level
• Verify the sensor is within WiFi range
• Adjust sensor mounting for better magnet alignment

No local control:

• Ensure LAN mode is enabled in eWeLink app
• Verify SonoffLAN component is installed in Home Assistant
• Check that devices are on the same network

Safety Notes

• This project interfaces with garage door electrical systems - ensure you understand your garage door opener's wiring before proceeding
• Test thoroughly before relying on it as your primary access method
• Keep backup access methods (physical remotes, wall button) functional
• The relay only simulates a button press - your garage door's safety features remain active

License

Feel free to use and modify this project. Attribution appreciated but not required.

Contributing

Found an improvement or have suggestions? Feel free to open an issue or pull request!