Gr8, I just used my old remote and soldered wires to the switch and placed it inside the Sonoff 4ch pro r2 . Also a nice tip is I use a Alexa input that's in my car and power it up with usb and aux through the stereo system on my car and have the data on my mobile and hotspot it to the Echo input , working great. I just say Alexa (name of door) turn on shed door and it opened up , then again Alexa turn on shed door and it closed it and I'll received notifications.
Hey thanks so much for this. I have had a Sonoff on my garage for about a year now but didn't realize that you could change the mode to inching mode to auto turn off the switch so have been trying lots of different hacks to try to get it to switch off after a period of time which just hasn't worked ... and has caused the wife to be pretty grumpy :) Now working as I always wanted it to. Many thanks!
Great info, with the new firmware upgrade you can have 2 on inching mode for siren and garage door, so set ch1 as garage door and rename it in app and set inching on app to 0.5sec and siren on ch2 and same rename it and set inching on app for siren to 20sec . Every time it get trigger it sounds for 20sec till turned off. The other two ch3 and ch4 can be set as normal latching on and off switches. Don't forget to turn inching on in app for ch1 and ch2.
I used your guidance but did not open the sonoff to change the switches, i had mine powered by a 9v adaptor and connected the garage connectors with inching on for 0.5 seconds. Then connected it to my google home, ran into an issue where google just thinks it needs to turn it on to open and on to close so made 2 routines which i called open Garage and close garage and it worked perfectly after that. The next part of the project is to power it on mains and have the lights work on switch 2, but will have to check no mains power is coming on switch 1. What exactly do the dip switches and the other switch you changed do on the sonoff?
Great video!!! Thanks for the tips. I am planning to install a 4CH Pro for my garage but using Tasmota firmware instead the Sonoff built-in firmware so I can have more control and register it locally with my local Hub (OpenHab or Home Assistant) using MQTT protocol.
To help you catchup I am testing based on this Tutorial that I think is the easiest way to flash Tasmota on sonoff: th-cam.com/video/UDnNI5wkNNY/w-d-xo.html
Hi Ron, just to update you... I wanted Alexa to control my roller shutter garage door and after watching your video's went ahead and purchased the Sonoff 4Ch Pro R2. Thank you for taking the time to share your expertise - much appreciated - everything works great. However, I am now thinking of installing a fused spur just to power the Sonoff. Over here in the UK we operate on 240V and I am unsure as to what size fuse to use in the spur unit. Can you offer any advice please?
The power required by the 4CH Pro R2 is fairly minimal. I just checked the specs for the 4CH Pro R2. the only reference I can find is what the relays can handle in terms of current. If you have access to a clamp meter, that is the best way of finding how much power the 4CH Pro R2 will pull. I would be surprised if it would take more than 1 or 2 amps to drive the electronics. That is just a get on my part. Installing it on a fused circuit is a good idea. Not sure how clean your power is, but would suggest plugging in the Sonoff to a surge protector just in case.
Be aware that relays are cycled on-off during the power (AC or DC) on sequence. This may result in unexpected activation of equipment such as opening the garage door. Typically, power-on after power interruption blanks the automatic garage door opener electronics long enough to avoid inadvertent activation. The Sonoff 4CH Pro Rev2 initializes quicker - in about one second - than the garage door opener circuits. It is prudent to test this by cycling power off and then on.
That is a good point. Thanks for bringing it up. That is a good reason for powering the 4CH Pro with a battery on trickle charger or a small UPS to help avoid that. An idea at worth considering.
Thanks for the video, I have a question.. k6 all need to be on? Let say i only have 1 garage door and i have a light on R2. Rev2 has an inching duration setting do we still need to do this? Thanks in advance.
Hi Ron, great tutorial! I’ve just picked up one of these. Enabled inching mode but not wired up yet. Do the wires go straight from the chosen channel direct to the garage door motor OR to the wall switch? Concerned the power output is to high to go straight to the garage motor itself.. thank you!
Thanks for your comments. You should be able to go to either. I went with connecting the wires to the back of the wall switch because that was the easiest way to get access to the wiring for garage doors without running wiring up the wall and across the ceiling.
Thanks for the video, very helpful. I installed the Sonoff Pro to control my garage door but have discovered an issue, hope you can advise. If power is lost then restored the relays appear to cycle and my garage door opens.
Ritch: Sorry I am just now getting to this. Would suggest plugging int the Sonoff to a surge protector. This might help lessen the incoming power rush from tripping the relays. If you continue to have the problem, please reach out to me and I will contact the folks I have been working with at Sonoff to see if they have any suggestions.
You just need to set the power state in the settings to "off" It does not have anything to do with surges. This will prevent the relay from switching on when the power comes back on
Hello TechBytes, with the 4CH Pro R2, the control of my 2 garage doors (opening and closing) is now possible. To open or close I have to send a pulse, actually open or close a circuit that I think is 12 or 24v. Is it feasible without the addition of components with the 4CH? Thank you!
By making the change to "latching" mode, that is about as close as you can get to sending a pulse. The relays can handle either 12 or 24v, so that should be a problem.
Hello, Ron!! I set this up and it works OK--but I've run into some unexpected "rough edges" in this setup. I have a Smartthings Multifunction sensor setup as a tilt sensor on each of my 3 garage doors. SO in ST, I can see if the doors are opened or closed. But even when I have gotten ST to talk to eWeLink app and created Applets to work the independent switches, still have not figured out how to control it all and see door states in one place. Do you know if anyone has written a SmartApp for ST that wil create custom interface and show garage door icons opened and closed? I would also tell others here that I"m using an old DC power adapter--almost any DC voltage will work and don't think that polarity even matters--so long as the connector fits well. But with that DC adapter, mine never cycles thru relays when rebooting. I've even upgraded firmware and watched and it just reboots and reconnects back to the router.
Tom: That is the same problem I had run into. I haven't been able a solution as you mentioned in your comment. I may have an option.Just received a solution on New Years Eve that may be an option. I want to run it through the paces and then I should have a video done on it. Thanks for watching the videos and leaving a comment !
Quick question, Id like to install these on my 6 door car garage. How many doors can run off one switch? In other words, will I need one for each door or can I get away with only installing 2 having them run 3 doors each?
You will need 2 of them. You can divide them up to whatever arrangement suits you. You can do either 4 doors on one and 2 doors on the other or 3 doors on each Sonoff 4CH device. Just name each door something unique and you should be fine.
TechBytesRN thats what I thought. Last question. I have a few of the sonoff basics on lamps and ceiling fans in my home, but Ive never played with the 4ch Pro. Can these run off a tethered data connection from a cellular device. My internet doesn't reach my garage. I could install a repeater to extend the signal, but using a cellular data connection seems more secure. What happens to the switches when they do not have a internet signal connected to them for an extended period of time. I'm wondering if they would reset for any reason. I really do appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions. Youve earned yourself a new subscriber today.
Thanks for subscribing. I enjoy working with new tech and helping others avoid some of the challenges I have run into. As long as it can connect to a wifi signal, it doesnt care how it gets to the internet. If you are using Wifi with WPA2, you are about as safe as cellular in terms of encryption. When the Sonoff devices loose internet access, they cant do anything. Dont see them resetting unless you have some type of power hitch. I would suggest that you get some type of good surge protector strip to plug both of the Sonoff's into. I have one of them in the description for this videos. Cheap insurance if nothing else.
I had another thought of how to get the network to the garage without using Wifi. I have several of these running and this extends the network using the houses own AC wiring - amzn.to/2KNRvnB. This is a Trendnet powerline adapter. I have had good luck with streaming the video live to my channel with no drops. etc.
TechBytesRN I guess with password protection both are equally secure. My worry is Ive already installed a couple Wi-Fi repeaters in the house, adding another might be stretching things too thin. On the other hand, from what Ive experienced the sonoff basic doesnt need much of a signal to operate. Ill take a look at the devices you suggested and determine If that option is a good fit. Maybe if you have some time this would be a good idea for a video. A tutorial on how you suggest going about wiring multiple devices to one 4 ch pro module. Even a diagram or picture would be a huge help if you dont have a readily available place to install one for the same type of use I have so many questions about. Ive actually considered starting a small business installing these for people. I live in Florida and I can think of 100s of uses for Sonoff products, especially considering the large elderly and part time resident population.
Gr8, I just used my old remote and soldered wires to the switch and placed it inside the Sonoff 4ch pro r2 . Also a nice tip is I use a Alexa input that's in my car and power it up with usb and aux through the stereo system on my car and have the data on my mobile and hotspot it to the Echo input , working great. I just say Alexa (name of door) turn on shed door and it opened up , then again Alexa turn on shed door and it closed it and I'll received notifications.
Hey thanks so much for this. I have had a Sonoff on my garage for about a year now but didn't realize that you could change the mode to inching mode to auto turn off the switch so have been trying lots of different hacks to try to get it to switch off after a period of time which just hasn't worked ... and has caused the wife to be pretty grumpy :) Now working as I always wanted it to. Many thanks!
Great info, with the new firmware upgrade you can have 2 on inching mode for siren and garage door, so set ch1 as garage door and rename it in app and set inching on app to 0.5sec and siren on ch2 and same rename it and set inching on app for siren to 20sec . Every time it get trigger it sounds for 20sec till turned off. The other two ch3 and ch4 can be set as normal latching on and off switches. Don't forget to turn inching on in app for ch1 and ch2.
I used your guidance but did not open the sonoff to change the switches, i had mine powered by a 9v adaptor and connected the garage connectors with inching on for 0.5 seconds.
Then connected it to my google home, ran into an issue where google just thinks it needs to turn it on to open and on to close so made 2 routines which i called open Garage and close garage and it worked perfectly after that.
The next part of the project is to power it on mains and have the lights work on switch 2, but will have to check no mains power is coming on switch 1.
What exactly do the dip switches and the other switch you changed do on the sonoff?
Great video!!! Thanks for the tips. I am planning to install a 4CH Pro for my garage but using Tasmota firmware instead the Sonoff built-in firmware so I can have more control and register it locally with my local Hub (OpenHab or Home Assistant) using MQTT protocol.
Kirk, thanks for the kind words. I have it on my list to look at Tasmota but havent gotten to it yet.
Well we are close. I just learn how to upload Tasmota on the Sonoff Basic. I am checking how to do it on the 4CH Pro as we speak :)
To help you catchup I am testing based on this Tutorial that I think is the easiest way to flash Tasmota on sonoff: th-cam.com/video/UDnNI5wkNNY/w-d-xo.html
hey ron, great video, is this compatible for a Merlin MT100EVO?? also is it possible to still use the remote control that comes with unit?
Hi Ron, just to update you... I wanted Alexa to control my roller shutter garage door and after watching your video's went ahead and purchased the Sonoff 4Ch Pro R2. Thank you for taking the time to share your expertise - much appreciated - everything works great. However, I am now thinking of installing a fused spur just to power the Sonoff. Over here in the UK we operate on 240V and I am unsure as to what size fuse to use in the spur unit. Can you offer any advice please?
The power required by the 4CH Pro R2 is fairly minimal. I just checked the specs for the 4CH Pro R2. the only reference I can find is what the relays can handle in terms of current. If you have access to a clamp meter, that is the best way of finding how much power the 4CH Pro R2 will pull. I would be surprised if it would take more than 1 or 2 amps to drive the electronics. That is just a get on my part.
Installing it on a fused circuit is a good idea. Not sure how clean your power is, but would suggest plugging in the Sonoff to a surge protector just in case.
Be aware that relays are cycled on-off during the power (AC or DC) on sequence. This may result in unexpected activation of equipment such as opening the garage door. Typically, power-on after power interruption blanks the automatic garage door opener electronics long enough to avoid inadvertent activation. The Sonoff 4CH Pro Rev2 initializes quicker - in about one second - than the garage door opener circuits. It is prudent to test this by cycling power off and then on.
That is a good point. Thanks for bringing it up.
That is a good reason for powering the 4CH Pro with a battery on trickle charger or a small UPS to help avoid that. An idea at worth considering.
Just change the power state in the settings to "off"
Thanks for the video, I have a question.. k6 all need to be on? Let say i only have 1 garage door and i have a light on R2.
Rev2 has an inching duration setting do we still need to do this?
Thanks in advance.
Hi Ron, great tutorial! I’ve just picked up one of these. Enabled inching mode but not wired up yet. Do the wires go straight from the chosen channel direct to the garage door motor OR to the wall switch? Concerned the power output is to high to go straight to the garage motor itself.. thank you!
Thanks for your comments. You should be able to go to either. I went with connecting the wires to the back of the wall switch because that was the easiest way to get access to the wiring for garage doors without running wiring up the wall and across the ceiling.
Thanks for the video, very helpful. I installed the Sonoff Pro to control my garage door but have discovered an issue, hope you can advise. If power is lost then restored the relays appear to cycle and my garage door opens.
Ritch: Sorry I am just now getting to this. Would suggest plugging int the Sonoff to a surge protector. This might help lessen the incoming power rush from tripping the relays. If you continue to have the problem, please reach out to me and I will contact the folks I have been working with at Sonoff to see if they have any suggestions.
You just need to set the power state in the settings to "off" It does not have anything to do with surges. This will prevent the relay from switching on when the power comes back on
Hello TechBytes, with the 4CH Pro R2, the control of my 2 garage doors (opening and closing) is now possible. To open or close I have to send a pulse, actually open or close a circuit that I think is 12 or 24v. Is it feasible without the addition of components with the 4CH? Thank you!
By making the change to "latching" mode, that is about as close as you can get to sending a pulse. The relays can handle either 12 or 24v, so that should be a problem.
i just have 1 question, if you are powering the PRO using 240 VAC, do you still power the motor with the same 240vac?
Hi Ron
I connect the sonoff to my garage door it’s work fine from the phone but disabled the remote control for the garage. What do you think?
did this get fixed? i also want to know if this works?
Great info, constructive feedback to help with a younger crowd...edit edit edit
Thanks for your comment. I stream each of my segments live, so I will work on keeping things more on point.
Hello, Ron!! I set this up and it works OK--but I've run into some unexpected "rough edges" in this setup. I have a Smartthings Multifunction sensor setup as a tilt sensor on each of my 3 garage doors. SO in ST, I can see if the doors are opened or closed. But even when I have gotten ST to talk to eWeLink app and created Applets to work the independent switches, still have not figured out how to control it all and see door states in one place. Do you know if anyone has written a SmartApp for ST that wil create custom interface and show garage door icons opened and closed?
I would also tell others here that I"m using an old DC power adapter--almost any DC voltage will work and don't think that polarity even matters--so long as the connector fits well. But with that DC adapter, mine never cycles thru relays when rebooting. I've even upgraded firmware and watched and it just reboots and reconnects back to the router.
Tom: That is the same problem I had run into. I haven't been able a solution as you mentioned in your comment. I may have an option.Just received a solution on New Years Eve that may be an option. I want to run it through the paces and then I should have a video done on it.
Thanks for watching the videos and leaving a comment !
Quick question, Id like to install these on my 6 door car garage. How many doors can run off one switch? In other words, will I need one for each door or can I get away with only installing 2 having them run 3 doors each?
You will need 2 of them. You can divide them up to whatever arrangement suits you. You can do either 4 doors on one and 2 doors on the other or 3 doors on each Sonoff 4CH device. Just name each door something unique and you should be fine.
TechBytesRN thats what I thought. Last question. I have a few of the sonoff basics on lamps and ceiling fans in my home, but Ive never played with the 4ch Pro. Can these run off a tethered data connection from a cellular device. My internet doesn't reach my garage. I could install a repeater to extend the signal, but using a cellular data connection seems more secure. What happens to the switches when they do not have a internet signal connected to them for an extended period of time. I'm wondering if they would reset for any reason.
I really do appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions. Youve earned yourself a new subscriber today.
Thanks for subscribing. I enjoy working with new tech and helping others avoid some of the challenges I have run into. As long as it can connect to a wifi signal, it doesnt care how it gets to the internet. If you are using Wifi with WPA2, you are about as safe as cellular in terms of encryption.
When the Sonoff devices loose internet access, they cant do anything. Dont see them resetting unless you have some type of power hitch. I would suggest that you get some type of good surge protector strip to plug both of the Sonoff's into. I have one of them in the description for this videos. Cheap insurance if nothing else.
I had another thought of how to get the network to the garage without using Wifi. I have several of these running and this extends the network using the houses own AC wiring - amzn.to/2KNRvnB. This is a Trendnet powerline adapter. I have had good luck with streaming the video live to my channel with no drops. etc.
TechBytesRN I guess with password protection both are equally secure. My worry is Ive already installed a couple Wi-Fi repeaters in the house, adding another might be stretching things too thin. On the other hand, from what Ive experienced the sonoff basic doesnt need much of a signal to operate. Ill take a look at the devices you suggested and determine If that option is a good fit.
Maybe if you have some time this would be a good idea for a video. A tutorial on how you suggest going about wiring multiple devices to one 4 ch pro module. Even a diagram or picture would be a huge help if you dont have a readily available place to install one for the same type of use I have so many questions about.
Ive actually considered starting a small business installing these for people. I live in Florida and I can think of 100s of uses for Sonoff products, especially considering the large elderly and part time resident population.
An actual visual on an install would go a long way
I have been making some changes to my studio setup, so I will try to do more of that in future videos.
You lost me at “create needed account at SONOS”….
No thank you to vendor lock-in with ‘on-line, app required’.