open Garage door using bluetooth module

Projects General Guidance
1

I have done quite a lot so far trying to control the garage door to my house using a bluetooth module connected to my phone. The approach I am taking is to hook up the arduino to the garage controller board (receives signal from the radio frequency remote, and controls the motors that open the 2 doors)

Anyways, this is the approach I was initially exploring.

I would use a bluetooth module that is connected to my phone. A servo that is connected to the arduino nano. Whenever the bt module receives a signal, it would make the servo turn at a specific angle such that 2 wires would touch.

The 2 wires that touch each other whenever the servo is activated are supposed to be the wires that allow for a user to oppen the garage door using a wall switch.

So instead of fixing an on/off switch, to let current go through, I want to use the servo as the switch, such that whenever it receives a signal, the 2 wires would connect.

I am aware that this is not the best way of doing it, so I was thinking that I needed a module that could basically induce current into the wire that acts as a switch.

I dont know if connecting one of the switch's wire to the arduino and outputting a HIGH voltage to that pin would act as a switch and open the door.

I am sorry if what I wrote makes no sense, or is confusing to understand. I would love to know what you guys think, and if there is something I was not clear about, please let me know and I will try to re explain it the best I can!

thank you in advance for the help !

2

Is it your goal for the arduino to simulate pushing the button to open/close the garage door? Use a relay for that and wire it in parallel with the real button such that either can be used.

3

If my understanding is correct you want the bluetooth module to open the door when your phone connects to it.
Providing that I have understood your intentions correctly, I believe the normally open contacts of a relay would be simpler and easier.

The normally open relay contacts would be wired parallel to the garage door button on the wall. The arduino would trigger the relay for 100mS then release it.

4

Thats a great idea ! I have never heard of relays before, I have been trying to understand how they function and I kinda get the hang of it.

So now, I have a bluetooth module, an arduino nano. I am unsure of how to power everything. I dont know if it would be better to hookup the relay and the bluetooth module to the arduino's 5v and gnd pin ? while the arduino is connected to the garage board's 5v output.

I am trying to understand how much current and voltage each component is going to require in order to function properly.
What would be the best way to go about this?
Should I connect the arduino nano to the board's 5v and gnd and then have the relay and bt module connected to the 5v and gnd of the arduino ? or just use a 9v squarish battery to power the arduino and have the relay and bt module connected to the arduino.

the downside of having a battery, is that I would need to replace it every now and then. but I am unsure about how much power the board's 5v pin outputs. How can I know if it is enough to power an arduino nano, a bt module and a relay both connected to the arduino.
To wrap this up i am trying to understand how much the arduino, relay and bt module consume. And if the 5v pin on the garage board is enough to power everything.

Thanks in advance for the help !

5

Hi.

Do you know what voltage is used to operate the door?

6

The board has this thing that reduces the 230V input to 23V output

7

What do you really want to do here?

Do you really need a remote control for your garage door?

Or is this a project you've selected in order to develop Arduino skills?

It might be unwise to go near 230V not being an electrician.

If you're seeking Arduino skills there are many other project ideas that don't involve mains power.

8

Not really, I already have a radio frequency remote controller to open, the garage door. i thought I could get more ardino experience, attempting to open the garage door using my phone through bluetooth. I understand that 230V is dangerous, but I always make sure everything is unplugged before working on the board.

I would be open to any arduino projects I could explore. I am open to new suggestions as well! Thanks !

9

I am an electrician by trade. AC and DC don't play well together when they physically meet. if you follow through do a relay in parallel with the push button for the garage. You can use a small signal relay because the garage door button carries little to no load.

For power you can use a 5 volt DC wall transformer or a USB charger.

With a relay you can switch anything your heart desires; LED light strips, some form of lighting down side of driveway. or lighting in the garage.

With 2 HC-05 bluetooth modules configured correctly you dont even need to use the TX and RX lines. Be more secure than smart phone connection.

I highly reccomend researching relays and some arduino videos on you tube.

10

How about using the phone to turn on & off the Arduino on-board LED?

That isn't a practical use but it requires mastering both a sketch and Android app.

Then control a piezo buzzer.

You could make an app that sounds the buzzer when the phone receives an SMS. Now that's a practical application.

John.