How can I cut power to my garage door when I’m not home?

Seeking Advice
1

I’m looking for ways to secure my garage when I’m away from home. Is there a way to shut off power to the garage door remotely? I’m thinking of getting a 3/4 HP remote switch, something I can plug my garage door into so I can power it off when I’m not around. The garage doesn’t have backup power, so I need a reliable solution.

2

In an emergency, you could use a couple of C/G clamps to block the wheel rail. This would also make it harder to physically move the door.

3

Dara said:
In an emergency, you could use a couple of C/G clamps to block the wheel rail. This would also make it harder to physically move the door.

A 4x4 piece of wood cut to size can fit between the top of the door and the rail supports. It’s not a permanent fix, but it’s easy to insert and remove when needed.

4

Dara said:
In an emergency, you could use a couple of C/G clamps to block the wheel rail. This would also make it harder to physically move the door.

I’ll give this a try when I’m home at night. My main worry is that the previous tenants still use their garage door opener when I’m away. I probably won’t have the money to replace the opener until next year though.

5

@Nile
An app like MyQ could help you control the door remotely. You could also reprogram your garage door opener to clear the old remotes.

6

@Nile
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7

@Nile
You really need to clear the old remotes from the opener and program the ones you have. That will help prevent unauthorized access.

8

You could use any smart plug that you can control with your phone. I use one for my hot water tank.

9

Rory said:
You could use any smart plug that you can control with your phone. I use one for my hot water tank.

Make sure to check the motor’s peak and average current draw in the manual. Then, find a smart plug that can handle that load. Some plugs are made for low-power devices like lights and could melt or catch fire if they aren’t rated for the motor’s power draw.

10

Rory said:
You could use any smart plug that you can control with your phone. I use one for my hot water tank.

I didn’t know smart plugs could handle that kind of power. I always thought they were just for low-power stuff like lights. Do you have any recommendations for plugs that can handle 3/4 HP?

11

@Nile
[deleted]

12

Thorn said:
@Nile
[deleted]

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13

@Nile
I use Wyze plugs for lots of things. They’re rated for 15A, and I think they can handle up to 1.5HP in normal use before reaching the 15A limit.

14

You could just turn off the breaker that powers the garage door.

15

You could use a smart plug or replace the entire outlet with a smart outlet.

16

A simple zip tie on the lever that disconnects the door from the drive could be a quick fix.

17

If your door is a Chamberlain, you can use a ratgdo controller to lock the door remotely so that remotes and keypads won’t work.

18

Jaden said:
If your door is a Chamberlain, you can use a ratgdo controller to lock the door remotely so that remotes and keypads won’t work.

I use HomeAssistant to lock the garage doors at night and unlock them in the morning. This prevents anyone from breaking in while the car is parked outside. It also checks if my phone is at home, so if we come back late from a concert, the remote still works.

19

Almost all smart plugs can handle this. For a 3/4HP motor, you’d need around 5A. Just don’t use the plug while the motor is running. Use the regular controller for that.

20

A manual slide latch added to the door track is a great security option. It can’t be bypassed by hackers or lockpicks.