Electronic Alarms and Home Security Devices - Controlling my garage door from Vista20 se via X10

In an effort give back a little to this great forum, I decided to document my attempt to monitor and control my overhead garage door via my ADT Safewatch Pro 2000 (Ademco Vista 20se). **THIS POST IS A WORK IN PROGRESS

Maybe this will benefit the other gadget-geeks out there. :)


Problem: Having to get out of bed each night to verify that my garage door was closed.

Solution 1: Get one of those wireless garage door monitors
http://www.smarthome.com/7168m.html

Solution 2: Make use of my ADT branded Vista20se and X10 powerline carrier technology to monitor and control my garage door from any keypad in my house.

Solution 3: Make use of my alarm and the relay control features in addition to an Ademco 4204 relay board.

I opted for solution 2 because it made more sense to me and I will have the X10 universal module to play around with for other projects. Plus, I got the 4300 and the X10 module for less than I found the 4204 relay board. :-)

What I had:
ADT Safewatch Pro 2000 (Vista20se) with various wired and wireless devices
6137B keypad
6160rf keypad ** Needed to program the Vista
Stock AC transformer
Unmonitored overhead garage door

What I needed (afaik):
Overhead garage door magnetic contact (I opted for the Sentrol 2315A that mounts to the door rails instead of floor)
Ademco 4300 X10 transformer (replaces the stock transformer)
Approx 50 feet of 22/4 alarm wire
(Less than $100 for everything....your mileage may vary.)

Links:
Ademco 4300: http://www.homesecuritystore.com/ezStore123/DTProductZoom.asp?productID=342
Universal X10 Module: http://www.smarthome.com/2010.html (check eBay for better prices)
22/4 solid wire: http://www.alarmsystemsdist.com/22-4-SOLID-WHITE-JACKETED-500FT-SPOOL-p8823.html
Sentrol 2315A door contact: http://www.alarmsystemsdist.com/Sentrol-Overhead-Door-Contacts-c123.html
Original post: http://forum.doityourself.com/showthread.php?t=342516

My Google search returned this info that got this whole X10 thing started:
From Gregory Jones in Florida:
http://www.hometoys.com/tips/tips06.htm

What I plan to do:
1) Mount the 2315A to my door rail and door.
(http://www.centry.com.ar/Geinterlogix/Aplicaciones/Instrucciones%20de%20Instalaci%F3n.pdf)
2) Run a single home run of 22/4 from my garage door contact to my Vista and into a Zone with a zone type of 23 (No alarm response). **Remember that you will need an alpha numeric keypad to get to the programming area on a Vista.
3) Replace my stock Ademco ac transformer with the 4300.
4) Plug my X10 Universal Module into an outlet near where my wall-mounted door opener is located.
5) Wire the X10 module to the door opener wires.
6) Learn how to program the Vista20se to control the door. :-)


Geek Log...
5/19/08 So - at this point I have ordered my wire, theX10 transformer, the door contact and the X10 module.


==================================================
I will update this post as I progress (I hope) through this project.

If at any point you see that I am way off course on this project, please let me know !! I am learning as I go here. Thanks !

Thanks for reading - JW

Geek Log Update...

5/21/08 Received my 4300 (aka 1361x10) transformer
Received my Sentrol 2315A-L Overhead door contact
Received my 22/4 solid wire spool
Received the X10 universal module (yesterday)

Will update when I get these items installed.

Geek Log Update...
5/21/08 Got the Sentrol Overhead door contact mounted. Man ! That was easy ! Highly redcommended.

Geek Log Update...
5/22/08 HomeSecurityStore.com sent the wrong transformer.
They are sending a new one, but will be next week before I see it. :mad:

I have been busier at work but plan to get back on this project very soon. Maybe this afternoon !

I have all the parts needed now and just need to reaquaint myself with the programming.

Sounds like you have a plan and on the right track.
Just a suggestion since you are an automation
freak like the rest of us. How about installing a
Carbon monoxide detector in the garage with a
NO relay and upon alarm, it shorts and opens the garage
door? If the door is already open, what are the chances
the detector will trip and close the door?

Good idea on the CO sensor. I guess you could run the power of the X2 relay (that would open the door) on an X2 that is only hot when the door is closed.

That way, the relay to open if CO is there would ONLY have power in a closed state. ???

On another note: I had to replace my backup battery last night. My local Batteries Plus had a replacement 5mAh for $29.99 plus tax. (Just in case anyone was curious of a price).
1 battery every 10 years = not too bad.
Will post more as I progress through the project.

WOW - Didn't realize that I had been SO lazy on this project.
10 months later and I still haven't progressed.
I did, however, install some IR cameras and a DVR.

When the weather breaks a little, I'll crawl back into the attic and crawl space to finish this project, I promise.

Or you can spend 15 minutes hooking up something like the Garage Butler that will close the garage door if it sense that it is dark outside, or will close the garage door after a pre-determined amount of time - 3-10-20-30-45 or 60 minutes.

Got mine cheap for like 20 bucks new off eBay.

Automatic Garage Door Closer The Garage Butler attaches to your garage door opener button and will close your garage door (http://www.imdoors.com/garagebutler.htm)

Or.....

1 6150RF keypad: free for me
2 5804 keyfobs: existing
40' 22/2 wire (wiring from keypad to opener): had laying around

being able to open and close the garage door without using X10: priceless!

Already have one.
Unfortunately, I frequently forget to turn the light off.
Bad - i know.
Besides... just want to figure it out.
Geeks like me will understand.
:-)