retired17 Premium Member join:2007-01-24 Anaheim, CA |
disabling garage door opener at night timeI have a Genie 8600 garage door opener that I would like to disable at night by wiring an off-on switch into the unit. I'm afraid somebody with an universal remote can open the door and enter the house while I am asleep. I'm disconnecting the power by pulling the electrical cord to disable the opener but that is such a hassle. An on-off switch would be more convenient. Thanks for your help. |
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seaquake MVM join:2001-03-23 Millersville, MD |
Yes?
I don't see a question in your posting. My garage door is on the same circuit as my outdoor motion sensor lights. That circuit is on a switch which I only turn off if there's high winds or we are away from the house on vacation. Otherwise, the garage door opener is on at all times.
The openers now have a couple billion codes to get in. I think the chances of someone getting in with a remote are rather low compared to breaking a window or forcing a door. But if you still want the peace of mind that the door is disabled at night then by all means, wire in a switch.
Another option you have is to plug the door opener into a timer. This will automatically cut power at a given time at night and turn it on at a given time in the morning. The drawback here is that if you lose power, the timer will lose the current time (the cheap ones) and your window of on/off for the opener will be skewed until you fix it. |
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Jtmo Premium Member join:2001-05-20 Novato, CA |
to retired17
How about just locking the door from the garage into the house at night. |
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PrntRhd Premium Member join:2004-11-03 Fairfield, CA |
to retired17
Turn on vacation mode, that locks the door and cannot be opened via the remotes. |
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retired17 Premium Member join:2007-01-24 Anaheim, CA |
My question was 'is it possible to wire in a switch?' But I like the idea of installing a timer, so that is what I'm going to do. Thanks for your replies. |
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Lurch77 Premium Member join:2001-11-22 Green Bay, WI |
to retired17
You really have nothing to worry about at all. The 8600 changes it's code each and every time it is used. Even if some sophisticated theif used a code grabber to record the current code on your door, it would no longer work to open it for them. The odds of someone being able to use another remote to open it are billions to 1. quote: Rolling Code Systems for Garage Door Opener Security
A rolling code system changes your garage door opener code every time you use it. Billions of code combinations are randomly chosen by your rolling code system. This makes it impossible to capture your code into any kind of code grabber system used by a thief.
Read more: »www.doityourself.com/str ··· 5r0mpQoI
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SparkChaser Premium Member join:2000-06-06 Downingtown, PA |
to retired17
is this what you want?
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jjoshua Premium Member join:2001-06-01 Scotch Plains, NJ |
jjoshua
Premium Member
2010-Nov-20 2:57 pm
Most garage openers plug in to an outlet in the ceiling. I doubt that switch is going to work. |
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retired17 Premium Member join:2007-01-24 Anaheim, CA |
to Lurch77
I was thinking somebody with a duplicate Genie remote could open the garage door but now I recall the installer had to press a button on the head while holding the remote next to it. I guess that is Genie's way of telling the remote that I will respond to your signal and no other. Thanks again for the replies. |
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Hall MVM join:2000-04-28 Germantown, OH |
to retired17
The old openers with a few dipswitches (that you match between opener and remote) are prone to people with a remote driving around but as others have said, newer openers really don't have that risk.
In case someone with an older unit wants to do the same, you certainly can wire it through a switch. |
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Warzau Premium Member join:2000-10-26 Naperville, IL |
to Lurch77
Yeah it's so good even my Homelink in my car has a issue with it once in a blue moon. |
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Dennis Mod join:2001-01-26 Algonquin, IL |
to retired17
Personally I'd use an x10 appliance module or something if you want. |
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nunyaLXI 483 MVM join:2000-12-23 O Fallon, MO |
to retired17
If it were on a timer, it would be a serious PITA if you were out late one night and wanted in. You'd have to get out, over-ride the timer, then go back to the car.
I think Lurch's information should be sufficient enough for your situation. |
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Nick_L Premium Member join:2003-01-22 Pittsburgh, PA |
to retired17
If it were really a problem, you would be reading about it all the time, as there are millions of garage door openers installed in this country. If you really need a little more piece of mind, I would look into a small "local alarm". Something similar to what small retail shops might use to let them know someone has opened the door. Transmitter goes on your door, receiver can go somewhere in the home where it will wake you if you are sleeping. Here is one example (note: I have no experience with this site or system, it's just a quick google example) » www.specialtyalarms.com/ ··· t/70-524 |
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prag join:2000-12-19 Sherwood, OR |
to retired17
My garage door opener on the wall looks similar to this. I think this would work well for you. No timers and you just have to press a button to lock/unlock. » www.bizrate.com/remote-c ··· 942.html |
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bkjohnson Premium Member join:2002-05-22 Birmingham, AL |
to retired17
My garage door opener has a dedicated breaker. When I let my dogs in the garage because of the weather, I just turn the breaker off to prevent someone in the family from opening the door with a car remote thereby letting the dogs loose. |
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retired17 Premium Member join:2007-01-24 Anaheim, CA |
to prag
Prag, I wish I had something like that on my wall, but I don't. All I have is a wired switch with two wires. Press to open, press again to close. I don't have the latest opener head. |
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retired17 |
to Nick_L
I have lived in my house for over 29 years with no break-in but alas my luck ran out. Was burglarized back in August during the day. He tried the garage side door then two windows before getting in. I'm happy my wife and I were not home. They caught the guy with my stuff so right now he and his gang are going through the slow, slow, justice system. Won't get my stuff back until he is convicted, pleads guilty, or is found not guilty. So I worry when I go out or go to bed. I need the switch for my peace of mind. |
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to retired17
Switched extension cord |
I used one of these. I used to unplug like you. Quick and easy install... |
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Lurch77 Premium Member join:2001-11-22 Green Bay, WI |
to prag
said by prag:My garage door opener on the wall looks similar to this. I think this would work well for you. No timers and you just have to press a button to lock/unlock.
»www.bizrate.com/remote-c ··· 942.html Ya know, that reminded me that my Chamberlain LiftMaster opener has a lock feature too. I never use it so it never crosses my mind. I just press the button and the door cannot be opened with a remote.
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DataDocMy avatar looks like me, if I was 2D. Premium Member join:2000-05-14 Hedgesville, WV |
to retired17
At my old house I put a bicycle lock through the roller channel so it only could lift about an inch then stopped when it hit the lock.
My current house has a dual deadbolt door lock, which serves the same purpose. |
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tobyTroy Mcclure join:2001-11-13 Seattle, WA |
to Jtmo
said by Jtmo:How about just locking the door from the garage into the house at night. Have you ever seen some accidentally try and use the opener while its physically locked? EEEEK, it'll bend the door in half. |
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HarryH3 Premium Member join:2005-02-21 |
to DataDoc
said by DataDoc:At my old house I put a bicycle lock through the roller channel so it only could lift about an inch then stopped when it hit the lock.
My current house has a dual deadbolt door lock, which serves the same purpose. You have to be very certain that the lift force on the opener is set really low when you do that or you can ruin the door. |
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PrevailerFreeze a poopy. Premium Member join:2001-10-03 Your Mom |
to toby
said by toby:said by Jtmo:How about just locking the door from the garage into the house at night. Have you ever seen some accidentally try and use the opener while its physically locked? EEEEK, it'll bend the door in half. Yes. It's rather ugly for the owner and rather nice for the installer/repair guy. Locking the roller channel would cause some damage also. I don't know that I would even trust a low force with it. Use the lock on the opener or unplug the unit. If you have a keypard, you'd be more likely for someone just to see which four numbers are worn off and then take a few seconds to try the combinations until one opens. If the numbers are starting to wear, change the code. |
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to retired17
said by retired17: So I worry when I go out or go to bed. I need the switch for my peace of mind. Then get an alarm system... |
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JahntassaWhat, I can have feathers Premium Member join:2006-04-14 Conway, SC |
to retired17
My chaimberlain opener can be 'locked' via the hardwired opener on the wall, just hold down the 'Lock' button and it disables any wireless remote from opening the door.
Does the Genie not have something like that? |
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mikefxu join:2004-10-05 Titusville, FL |
to retired17
Just lock the entry door and be done. Or purchase one of those cheap wireless alarms and set it up on the garage door. |
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