Difficulty: 
(4/5)
This is a bit different then my other “Smart Home” projects since it uses an ESP8266-12F to host a standalone web server. That means you don’t need to install any of that fancy stuff like HAP-NodeJS or a MQTT Broker. Using the HC-SR04 Sonar Range Finder it can detect how far away your garage door is, or if it doesn’t detect it at all to determine whether it is open or closed. There is a Thermistor connected with a Resistor to make a voltage divider to calculate the temperature. During startup the ESP connects to your network and will get your local time if your network has internet and you set the proper timezone in the Arduino Sketch.
To power it there are a couple of options. If you are using a 5V Power Supply then all you will be needing is the LM1117 3.3V Linear Voltage Regulator to step down the voltage for the ESP8266, this is the most efficient option in this build. If you don’t have a 5V Power Supply you can use anything from about 6V to 12V with the addition of the LM7805 5V Linear Regulator, my design allows for both options with a jumper to disable the 5V Regulator if required.
You will need to use 5V Relay Board or something similar to connect two wires from the unit to almost any garage door opener’s wall mounted switch, or directly to the motor itself. Then simply enter the address that can be configured in the Arduino Sketch, mine was garage-home.local and the web page with the controller will show up. everything up with some and some . You will also need a variety of Electrolytic Capacitors, Ceramic Capacitors, LEDS, Resistors, Header Pins, Transistors, etc. that some people might have already on hand or salvaged from some old electronics. You can download my model from Thingiverse and I may design a board in Eagle if there is enough interest for those who either etch your own boards, or would like to just send it away to a board shop to get made by there preferred board manufacturer.
Now if everything went well you should be able to open up any web browser on your network and enter the address that was set up during programming, by default it is set to garage-home.local. A controller should show up on a webpage displaying things like run time, temperature, and door status. Here is where you also setup the threshold distance for the HC-SR04 Sonar Range Finder to calibrate the distances. Once everything is tuned all you have to do is push the large open / close button on the remote and your door should operate over WiFi.
Parts List
- Download 3D Model
- ESP8266-12F WiFi MCU
- HC-SR04 Sonar Range Finder
- Copper Prototype Perf Board
- Male/Female Header Pins
- 10K Thermistor
- 10K Resistors
- 1K Resistors
- Male/Female JST Connector
- (2x) 5mm LED
- LM7805 Voltage Regulator
- LM1117 Voltage Regulator
- 6x6 Tactile Push Button
- Electrolytic Capacitors
- Ceramic Capacitor
- 2N2222 Transistors
If you’d like to see more please drop a comment below, email me directly using admin@triplemike.com or hit me up at any of my social links with your comments and suggestions.
