Modern Vespa

As my other posts would suggest, I am prepping for some major (for me) mods on my bike.

My question this time is this: Can I do this...

Onboard garage door opener

with any switch for a bike?

More specifically, this momentary on/off switch:

http://www.watsons-streetworks.com/news/one_switch_does_all.html

I guess my concern is 9v battery vs 12v switch.

As I am not an electrical wizard, I do not know what is protocol in this situation.

Thanks to all per usual.

Seems like a lot of work. I just velcroed it to the inside of the glovebox door. As I am coming up the drive I just open the glovebox and there it is.

It's actually not that difficult once I get past this issue.

Yeah but mine took all of 5 mins

mine will have a shiny button with pretty lights on it... hopefully.

I get all ADD sometimes. I'd just start playing with it.

Honestly I'll watch this tread though. Seems like a nice mod.

It looks like the momentary switch is what you would want. I don't see any specific documentation that shows how the switch/light is wired, but you can make it work. If the light and switch are seperate, your golden. Run the light off the scotter power (12v) and use the dry contacts to operate the GDO (9v). On the other hand, if it's integrated it can still be done. Drive the GDO with 12v (eliminating the GDO battery) or use the switch to drive a relay that drives the GDO. There's a dozen ways to skin this cat. Just depends on how bad you want that shinny light.

Personally, I like the idea of driving the GDO with the scooter's switched 12v. This way you have to have the key and turn the scooter on the operate the door.

Based on the description, that is not a simple momentary switch. Or perhaps it is and you are paying for the relay setup as well.

It does look cool though and might be available cheaper at an electronics dealer.

I did the first, non-lit button approach and love it. My preference was to make it go away, especially for a garage door opener, so I found even a nicer, all black, low profile momentary button at Radio Shack. Also, I located mine to the right of my 12v cigarette lighter accessory plug instead of on the top like the example.

I took a simple switch approch to mine as well.

I was just reading over at Modern Buddy forum.One thread has a guy who just installed the Flash2Pass Garage Door Opener System on his buddy scooter.The system opens the garage door by pressing the high beams on your scooter,car etc.Pretty cool.Look here:

http://www.modernbuddy.com/forum/topic8878.html

Website of Flash2Pass:

http://www.f2ptechnologies.com/category//

You can buy just the switch for $30 or whatever. Granted thats a lot of money for ONE switch, but I am going to have a few and I think aesthetically it will end up being RAD! The light and switch are separate. I agree with you, wiring to the switched 12v is a better idea. This dummy (me) might be getting in over his head. We'll see. If anyone knows of a thread or link that tells you how to power the GDO to a switched 12v, PLEASE feel free to post it here.

Thank you ALL

I just hang my Sears pocket-sized garage door opener from my key ring. It doesn't hit the scoot during normal riding, it's handy to use--and takes absolutely no installation other than the 10 seconds to attach it to my key ring!

Cary

With an X10 home control system wired to your garage door managed by your home server, the G1 phone can trigger the garage door when you get within wireless range of your garage.

A little late, but this has been done, and I can point you in the right direction of the Android code that will make this work.

Hey, djstonerokk: thanks for checking out my post!

The switch I used was a momentary switch - push and hold to close circuit, release to turn the circuit off. It was rated for 125V and something 0.5 amps. They were like $3.50 for four - two red and two black - in each package at RadioShack. My garage door opener has a little 3V size N battery in it.

This is the other type of button that Radio Shack sells. I liked it because the button is low profile, all black, and you just push it once. Also, I have attached a photo of a hardwire GPS mount I just completed...nice to not have the wire dangling all over the place!

The article is finally out:
http://gizmodo.com/5091046/android-hacked-to-be-a-garage-door-remote

Same here and it works like a champ. It did take roughly 20 seconds to program, but it was a piece of cake.

My problem with the keychain openers are they end up in my pocket and buttons that are in my pocket seem to mysteriously get pressed. My wife's panic alarm seems to go off all on it's own!

I used a momentary switch and wired a 9v GDO directly to the battery. The 12v from the bike seem to give the GDO a little extra oomph, and I can open the door from the street, instead of right in front of it. A benefit of having it wired directly to the battery, instead of IGN switched source is that it works anytime. Ever leave your bike out, thinking you'll be going somewhere later, but don't go, realizing it at 11pm, and run outside to put it to bed? Saves a trip back into the house to grab the keys if you forgot them.

Simple is good. I just got a mini opener and put it in the chest pocket of my jacket. It's always with me when I'm riding and it doesn't matter which bike I'm on (as would be the case with a keyring). One press right through the jacket and I'm in. Most jackets have a little pocket that isn't good for much so you can always leave it in there.