Keeping the Garage Door Shut (Part 2)

Posted September 2, 2003

Keeping the Garage Door Shut (Part 2) By Steve Mundy

I have been having a problem with finding my garage door open from either a neighbour with a similar frequency, or someone with a signal generator.

X10 to the rescue!

I purchased a Wall Receptacle Module, and replaced the existing receptacle in my garage which took about 5 minutes. Then I plugged my garage door opener into the controlled outlet. Used in conjunction with the Transceiver Module I already had, I was able to create the following improvements:

The sun visor on my vehicle has 3 programmable buttons for garage door openers. The first button is programmed to transmit the garage door opener frequency, and I used an X10 remote to program the other two buttons to turn off the receptacle, and turn on the receptacle.

When I leave now, I close the garage door as always with button #1, and then I power off the receptacle with button #2. With the receptacle off, not even a frequency generator can open the garage door. When I return, I press button #3 to activate the receptacle, and then press button #1 to open the garage door.

At night when I press "all units off", the receptacle is turned off. I have not had the garage door open once unexpectedly since installing the Wall Receptacle. I also have added security when leaving the house unattended for any period of time.

Thanks X10 !

Steve Mundy
Mississauga, Ontario

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Editor's Note: If your car doesn't have programmable buttons, you can use any standard X10 remote. We recommend either the Credit Card Controller or the SlimFire Remote. Both are sleek, small, and fit on your keyring.

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