I recently embarked on a project to create a smart garage door system using contact sensors and a dry contact switch, and I wanted to share my experience and findings with the community. This guide is perfect for anyone looking to build their own smart garage door setup using Hubitat.
The Setup
I started by setting up a Fortrezz MIMO connected to my existing garage door opener and a SmartThings multipurpose sensor. The key here was ensuring that the sensor had both acceleration and contact functions. I configured it to detect tilt and discard the magnetic trigger, which was crucial for accurate readings.
App and Device Configuration
I utilized the Virtual Garage Door app and driver, which I found to be incredibly user-friendly. The app is structured as a parent/child app, making it cleaner if you have multiple garage doors. I installed the Virtual Garage Door DTH and created a virtual garage door for each of my doors. Next, I installed the Garage Door Manager parent and child apps, ensuring everything was synced up properly.
Tips and Tricks
One tip I found invaluable was naming my physical devices (the sensor and the actuator) with a leading ~. This makes them appear at the bottom of the device list and reminds me not to use them in other automations or dashboards. It’s a small detail that makes organization much easier.
Challenges and Solutions
Initially, I faced some syncing issues, but after a few trials, everything fell into place. The app worked seamlessly, and I was able to control my garage door effortlessly. While my 1940s garage is too small for vehicle storage, this setup has been incredibly useful for other purposes.
Community Contribution
I want to give a shoutout to @stephack for their work on the device driver, which made this integration possible. I hope this guide helps others looking to achieve a similar setup. If anyone has questions or runs into issues, feel free to reach out—I’d be happy to help!
Happy automating! 