+27 votes
by (3k points)
Not Ring related but security related. I have a standard garage set up with remote openers in my car which are parked on the driveway. It would be easy to break into the car and use the remote to open the garage doors. Are there ways to lock down the garage doors at night so the remotes wont work? Any other ways to achieve the same security results? I have both Alexa and SmartThings Hub if that can be used.  
Not Ring related but security related.

22 Answers

+16 votes
by (13.8k points)
Obviously don’t leave the remotes in the car or lock the garage doors at night. We got a blue tooth receiver connected to the opener and a App on our phone don’t use the old remotes anymore.  
https://bluemate.com
+9 votes
by (1k points)
Two things come to mind. 1. From a "keep the garage door shut" viewpoint, some garage door openers have a lock switch. My Liftmaster/Chamberlain for example, can be locked using a button on the opener so the remotes do not work. What brand do you have? 2. from the "My alarm wakes me up" viewpoint (if you have Ring for security), there have been several discussions about using a contact sensor to indicate when the garage door is opened. I installed this myself 2 weeks ago, very easy. It can be set to either be or not be part of your actual monitored alarm. I personally do not have it as part of the home alarm since I'm more interested in when I drive off and wonder if I left the door open, but both are possible.  
by (13.8k points)
@telestich Also got a  attaches to garage door sends us notifications if left open
http://garagedoorbuddy.com/gdbmonit....html
by (1k points)
Interesting, although the contact sensor works well for me right now. Always more than 1 way to skin the proverbial cat.  
by (3k points)
Can you use a smart plug and create an Akexa routine? Maybe something like "Alexa, lock the garage"?  
by (180 points)
Put a pin on the inside In depending what type of door you have thru the side or bottom
+4 votes
by (540 points)
Not sure if this would work but just throwing it out there. Z-wave outlet/plug (so you can tie it into the alarm and control through the app). Not sure if toggling/cutting power to the garage door opener would make it forget its remotes. I don't think it would because it doesn't after brief power outages. So basically turning it off at night.  
by (3k points)
@subantarctic. I wonder if unplugging the garage door would mess with the remote codes/connection?  
by (540 points)
@colbycolbye yeah that's kind of what I meant. But when power goes out because of a storm I've never had any problems when the powers restored. I don't really think about it, because both my cars go in the garage.  
by (3k points)
Can you use a smart plug and create an Akexa routine? Maybe something like "Alexa, lock the garage"?  
by (540 points)
@colbycolbye seems reasonable. I have my switches/outlets in Hubitat and that would work. I don't have anything but my lock in Ring but I'm pretty certain Ring z-wave devices are controllable through Alexa.  
by (670 points)
@colbycolbye it doesnt
by (250 points)
@subantarctic I actually have this set up using a Zwave outlet(replaced original outlet). I use a Vera controller and have set up a scene whereby at a given hour power to the Zwave outlet is shut off and powered up again in the am. Remotes will not open door as power is shut off to the outlet. The remotes are not affected by the loss of power. Down side is if you need to open doors when power is shut off to outlet, you will need to use the controller to turn power back on. Have not tried to do this with my Ring Alarm. Might be possible to do with Ring.  
by (540 points)
@isabeau thanks. Good to know.  
+12 votes
by (2.5k points)
Look into remootio.  
https://www.shop.remootio.com/
+3 votes
by (2.1k points)
Park the car in the garage
+3 votes
by (1.6k points)
Plug the opener into a smart plug and disable the power at night, or put it on a schedule, or use a voice assistant to turn it on and off.  
0 votes
by (2k points)
You could use wifi outlet plugs to remotely disable power too the openers.  
+8 votes
by (370 points)
Ahem, use the PowerPoint switch to which the electronics are plugged into?  
+7 votes
by (6.3k points)
I'd recommend putting the remotes in the kitchen junk drawer and investing in MQ Garage Door Opener $100. You can open and close your garage from anywhere with your mobile phone. If that's too much, I got my retired mom who lives with us a key chain remote so her remote is not left in the car, but she also has the app just in case.  
by (170 points)
@commie that’s what I do. Or if your car is equipped with the built-in garage opener, I think most of them require the car to be on for the remotes to work.  
by (6.3k points)
Yeah, my Audi has it built into the screen, and the car has to be on.  
+8 votes
by (4.6k points)
Get a myq and only use your phone to open garage. Most openers have a lock button when you get in to lock it so openers can’t be used. I’d never keep an opener in my car unless it had homelink which can’t be used while car is off.  
+6 votes
by (380 points)
Bring the remotes in the house at night.  
+4 votes
by (3k points)
Anything i can do with SmartThings?  
by (940 points)
@colbycolbye You received one in your purchase and this "door sensor" (tilt sensor) is for a second door if you go with the full MyQ Chamberlain package which includes a monthly charge for remote access to the garage. If you go with the MyQ Lite solution (free) with SmartThings then these Chamberlain door sensors cannot be used and you will need two tilt or contact sensors for your door to communicate directly with SmartThings. You would be better off continuing this discussion and research in the "SmartThings Users" group. Many members have implemented the MyQ Lite solution to learn from before spending any more money.  
by (3k points)
@isabeau Wong So which is better: Alexa (whatever comes with the MyQ basic $40 package) or SmartThings for MyQ?  
by (940 points)
@colbycolbye I cannot answer that for you. You can get many opinions from the SmartThings users that actually installed and are using it.  
by (3k points)
But MyQ can be used just with Alexa? I have both.  
by (3k points)
Alexa is easier to install and use, I think but ST can probably do many more things.  
+10 votes
by (580 points)
I bought key chain remotes and use those instead of the ones you keep in the car.  
+13 votes
by (400 points)
What about the manual latch inside the garage. Pre technology but it works
+16 votes
by (390 points)
Some wall mounted garage door controllers have a lock button that will lockout the remotes.  
+13 votes
by (3.6k points)
Manual method - garage door push button, has 2 extra buttons on it - one is to lock the mechanism !  
0 votes
by (370 points)
I have TP Link outlets for both doors so I can turn power off whenever I want. But with my Ring security system I use Alexa with a rule so that when I say set Ring to home, say for the night it automatically turns off the TP Link outlet to the doors. Works like a charm and zero issues  
+3 votes
by (2.5k points)
Yes unplug the wire the garage is connected too, the gate be on the ceiling.  
+3 votes
by (4.8k points)
I have the MyQ. You can also add other family members. My son and daughter both have their own homes with the MyQ and with the “guest” feature, I can open their garage door and they can open mine. It will also sent me an alert if we forget to close the garage door. Very reasonably priced.  
+9 votes
by (3k points)
Or you could get Garage door alarm. They're cheap and usually battery operated.  
+6 votes
by (660 points)
Every Garage Door Opener I've seen is plugged into a power outlet - unplug it. If it is a switched plug, even better. 100% fool proof and simple.  
+18 votes
by (990 points)
There should be an inside locking mechanism that works much like a deadbolt
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