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How to Automate your Chamberlain or LiftMaster MyQ Garage Door Opener with Home Automation Controller like the Vera

16/9/2014

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Cost:
Approximately from 200 US$

Hours needed to install:
1 Hour

Difficulty:
1 - 5 Wrenches. 3 =

Things you will need:

(1) G arage Door Sub Controller
(1) Home Controller
Wire Staples or Zip Ties
Additional length 2 conductor 22 gauge or similar wire.
(2) Wire barrel connectors or crimp caps for your size wire.

Tools you will need:

Computer with access to your Vera
Soldering Gun
Wire Crimpers
Screwdriver
Staple Gun
Ladder

We have had several people in the past few months that have purchased our Garage Door Sub Controller write us and see why it does not work their MyQ system.
We now have a solution.

In this How To, I will discuss how to install your Relay Control Kit to your Chamberlain or LiftMaster garage door opener MyQ wall button.
The photos were supplied by customers that have done this. Thank you.

First off, let me explain what the MyQ add on is.
The MyQ system is made for LiftMaster and Chamberlain Garage Door Openers (GDO).
The system consists of an internet gateway, wall button and various add on's for lighting.
Parts:
The gateway connects to your wireless router and provides a gateway to connect to from your computer or the MyQ app on your smartphone.
What it does:
The MyQ system allows you control and monitor your garaged door, gate and lights through the MyQ app.
The difference with MyQ and standard GDO triggers:
The MyQ gateway uses a radio frequency to trigger your door opener versus our RM10 and the short it puts on the trigger inputs on your GDO.
The MyQ systems also has power from the GDO on the wire going from the GDO to the wall button to power various items contained in the wall button.
The problem:
A short on that wire or the trigger input of the GDO will cause the wall button to malfunction.

Installation Overview:
You will need to connect the RM10's output wires from the RM10 to the wall button directly instead of the GDO.
You will need to remove the wall button from the wall, open it and solder 2 wires to a surface mount circuit board button then re-assemble the button, re-install the wall button, secure the wires and RM10 and then test.

For the install example we will be using pictures from a LiftMaster MyQ wall button model #882LM

Your MyQ wall button and circuit board may be different but similar as they have different wall buttons for their different MyQ systems.
We are assuming you are mounting the RM10 on or near your GDO. If you are not, please make the necessary changes for your particular installation.

Let's get started.
For this install template, let's go with a test run first and then secure everything after we know it will work.

First you will need some 2 conductor wire around 22 -24 gauge solid core, long enough to go from the wall button to the RM10. If your run is longer than 30' go with the 22g, if shorter than 30', go with the 24g wire.
Cut some of this wire longer than you will need because you may need to wind it around things getting it to the RM10. Better to be a foot long than a inch short.
Let's take the wall button off the wall.
Crack open the wall button case by removing any screws holding it together to expose the circuit board.
Remove the circuit board but leave the wires going to the GDO attached if possible.
NOTE: Notice the push button soldered to the circuit board on the mid left hand side of the image below. This is the button we will be soldering to.
This button has 4 mounting legs that are also contacts to the circuit board.

Determine which 2 of the 4 legs to solder your wires to.
Look for the 2 legs that are open when the button is not pushed but closes when the button is pressed.
TIP: You may further be able to tell which posts you want, by looking to where the circuit mounted buttons legs leads go to and which ones are connected together.
As you can see in this example photo of the button that the top and bottom right legs of the circuit board button are connected together meaning they are the ground. The Top Left leg goes up and to the left meaning it is a good candidate for one of the posts we are looking for.

After looking at the legs leads and where they go, it looks as if in this example that the top Right and top Left are the ones to solder the wires to.
Use a meter to verify these contacts are open when the button is not pressed and closed when the button is pressed. If so, these are the posts you will solder the wires to.

Now to further verify you are on the correct legs, with the circuit board still connected to the GDO, take a small bit of wire and touch it to the two posts you have selected.
If the GDO triggers you are ready to go to the next step. If not, try another two and re check.

Strip your solid core wires about 1/8" and prepare them for soldering onto the board mounted button.
NOTE: This image below shows the wires stripped about 3/8". I do not suggest stripping them that much as they have more chance to short on something else in the wall button box.
Find a good way to run your wires out of the wall button box when it is assembled and mounted on the wall so the wires will not be damaged when you re-attach the wall button to the wall. You might have to drill a hole in the side or top of the wall button box for this.
Feed the wires through the hole in the wall button.
Solder the wires to the posts making sure that the wires do not make contact with any other electrical contact on the circuit board or the switch
NOTE: Notice this person bent the wires so that more of the wire could be soldered onto the button posts and they would not short to each other. This makes for a better solder connection.

Now temporarily connect the other end of your wires to the RM10.
Now test your install by plugging the RM10 power supply into an active 110v power outlet.
Your GDO should trigger. If it does, continue. If it does not, check your connections.
Unplug the RM10 from the outlet. DO NOT LEAVE IT PLUGGED IN!
Assemble and re-attach the wall button to the wall.
NOTE: Now at your wall button should have (2), two conductor wires coming form it. One should be for the GDO and one should be for the RM10.
Secure the RM10 wires going from the wall button to the RM10 by stapling or zip tying (preferred) them to the ceiling or beams. Staples can some times short the wires together.
Permanently connect your wires to the RM10 using butt connectors, crimp caps or solder and shrink tube.
Secure your RM10.

Plug your RM10's power supply into your 110v trigger.

You are done. Test again.
Show your friends, family and neighbors.

I hope this How To helps you connect your MyQ controller GDO to your Home Control, Automation and Monitoring System (CAMS).

We have more How To's here.
I would like to thank Mark Carey for his photos and his contribution to this post.
Thank you.
007 Systems

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How to Automate your Chamberlain or LiftMaster MyQ Garage Door Opener with Home Automation Controller like the Vera

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How to Automate your Chamberlain or LiftMaster MyQ Garage Door Opener with Home Automation Controller like the Vera

1st Ever Weekend Warrior Sale

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MiCasa Verde Vera Lite 10$ OFF

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