Arduino to push button on remote control

Forum 2005-2010 (read only) Hardware Interfacing
1

Hey Guys

I have a garage door opener remote control which uses a small 12V battery. I would like to use the Arduino to push the button on the remote. The Arduino is obviously powered by 5V (USB power)

Can anyone tell me how to do this? So far I have thought of:

  1. 4016 Quad Bilateral Switch
    Datasheet: Intelligent Power and Sensing Technologies | onsemi
    If I read the datasheet correctly, you can only switch up to your supply voltage (Vdd), i.e. supplying it with 5V, and switching a 12V circuit will break it. Otherwise, supplying it with 12V and it will be able to switch the circuit, but the control pin then needs at least 11V for a HIGH which the Arduino won't do.
    Am I misreading the datasheet? Can I supply it with 5V and still switch a 12V circuit? Does VIN refer to the CONTORL or IN/OUT pin?

  2. I can use a 2N2222 transistor to control it, but I have very little knowledge of how to do this. If someone can draw me a basic circuit it would really help. As I understand it, the collector would wired to the 12V side of the switch and the emitter to the other side of the switch, and the base through a 1K resistor to the Arduino pin?
    Do I need to connect the Arduino GND to the remote control battery or make any other connections between the remote control and Arduino except for the transistor's base pin?

Thanks for the help.
R

2

I would use a photocoupler, that way your Arduino and the remote are isolated from each other.

3

Do I need to connect the Arduino GND to the remote control battery

If you are not using an opto isolator then yes.

Method 2 might work but it would be better if you could use a logic level FET in place of the transistor.