Hi everyone, apologies if this has been asked before but doing a search didn't find anything.

I'm looking for something that I could you to open/close my entrance gate remotely (i.e. to let someone in/out while I'm at the office etc.). I've seen some smart rf transmitters/remotes but none of them support code-hopping so won't be suitable for my gate motor (Centurion D5 Evo), even better if it can tell me if the gate is open/closed etc. and if I can remotely do full open or just passenger gate open (my motor has a setting where it only opens partially for someone to walk in but won't fit a car.

Any suggestions, only one I can find is this unit but there doesn't seem to be much info on it and what it can/can't do etc.

https://www.sonoffafrica.co.za/product/ewelink-1ch-wifi-switch/

Or some units that need to be plugged in to a wall socket and cables run from the motor to the controller which isn't really feasible (well, I guess it is doable but I'd need to get someone to install it etc.)

G Ultra by Centurion gate motors...https://www.centsys.co.za/g-ultra/

 

This may work if you're running home assistant with the Tuya integration.

In fact, you may be able to use it without home assistant and just use the Tuya App.

If you went the home assistant route, you could install tailscale to access home assistant remotely.

Thanks @Steve87 and @Muttley, unless I’m mistaken those both require wires to be run from my motor to indoors? Kinda hoping to avoid that because there’s no easy way to do that, any existing wiring is all underground with no easy access and no idea how I would draw them, I think it just goes straight to my DB.

I was hoping for something like a smart remote (basically the same thing as my current remotes to open close by sending RF to the motor but connected to Wi-Fi), or something I could install inside the gate motor box. 
 

Not sure if the G-Ultra could be hooked up near the motor but then it would need to be rated for outdoors use I presume and also not sure how it would be powered?

 I’m surprised there’s no smart RF transmitters that can control gates, perhaps a remote can be hooked up to some kind of smart switch? Basically the non mechanical version of having a little robot arm hooked up to Wi-Fi push the button on a remote 😂

Perhaps the sonoff thingie is my best bet, was just curious if something else existed, but there’s also no downloadable manual or installation guide for the sonoff gate controller so don’t know how it works, I assume it can be fitted in the motor but perhaps not

Check out HYYP by IDS, if you have their alarm system it allows you to do exactly that, with the app. It connects to the existing wiring to the gate and the alarm panel. 

Edited September 15, 20232 yr by abd7

 

Any suggestions, only one I can find is this unit but there doesn't seem to be much info on it and what it can/can't do etc.

Has been done with what you suggested provided wifi is available at the motor and for added security a camera facing the gate with remote access (to make sure gate does not stay open or any unlawfull entry).

That's how I have it

Edited September 15, 20232 yr by SYC

 

Thanks @Steve87 and @Muttley, unless I’m mistaken those both require wires to be run from my motor to indoors? Kinda hoping to avoid that because there’s no easy way to do that, any existing wiring is all underground with no easy access and no idea how I would draw them, I think it just goes straight to my DB.

I was hoping for something like a smart remote (basically the same thing as my current remotes to open close by sending RF to the motor but connected to Wi-Fi), or something I could install inside the gate motor box. 
 

Not sure if the G-Ultra could be hooked up near the motor but then it would need to be rated for outdoors use I presume and also not sure how it would be powered?

 I’m surprised there’s no smart RF transmitters that can control gates, perhaps a remote can be hooked up to some kind of smart switch? Basically the non mechanical version of having a little robot arm hooked up to Wi-Fi push the button on a remote 😂

Perhaps the sonoff thingie is my best bet, was just curious if something else existed, but there’s also no downloadable manual or installation guide for the sonoff gate controller so don’t know how it works, I assume it can be fitted in the motor but perhaps not

The G- Ultra is powered by the motor & it's battery & fits within the same enclosure. It uses GSM tech so a sim card with data does all the networking. I have had my Ultra in my D5 for 5 yrs. Still going strong. The Centurion gate main board has pins that the G Ultra integrates with & the entire operation is seemless & there is an app that runs on iOS & Android that allows remote control, gate status as well as allow you to give other users access via their number if they call the GSM unit. 

For tech that was launched 7 yrs ago this device is amazing. 

@Carnajo the one you mentioned works very well.I have installed mine in the gate electronics enclosure, just ran the 4 wires from my excisting remote receiver the the boar, positive, negative and NO or NC depending on your receiver. Paired to ewe link app. 

 

I sometimes need to open my gate remotely, look at my security cameras and poen the gate all from the office, even open and close the garage and turn alarm on and off

Oh, just make sure you have WIFI at your gate/electronics box.

Edited September 15, 20232 yr by Kevin Lourens

@Carnajo Use a Sonoff SV, pretty inexpensive for what you get.

If you want more info, post here or PM me.

 

I'm looking for something that I could you to open/close my entrance gate remotely (i.e. to let someone in/out while I'm at the office etc.). I've seen some smart rf transmitters/remotes but none of them support code-hopping so won't be suitable for my gate motor (Centurion D5 Evo), even better if it can tell me if the gate is open/closed etc. and if I can remotely do full open or just passenger gate open (my motor has a setting where it only opens partially for someone to walk in but won't fit a car.

I am using a sonoff SV.   It connect to my WIFI. It is powered from the gate motor battery.

I reflashed it with Tasmota and it has been running for months without any issues. I have a Centurion D5 (old model)

I set it up with an integration to my home assistant and have integrated it with telegram.

If I need to let someone in I can simply  send my home a message on telegram and it will open the gate either in pedestrian mode or in normal mode.

The gate also sends me telegram notifications if someone issued a command to open it, that way I can keep tabs on the gate being opened. My cameras also reports any person detected in my yard in the same way. 

Edited September 15, 20232 yr by iiznh

I use a Sonoff Mini , U need to cut one of the traces on the circuit board so that you don't sent 230V to the gate opener electronics but it is cheap and works well :-=) 

 

I purchased these for my garage door motors (Centurion RDO) and it works well, can control it via Tuya app and Tuya does integrate into Home Assistant. I do not see why it would not work on a Centurion gate motor.

 

https://www.geewiz.co.za/gate-and-garage-door-automation/161350-smart-wifi-garage-gate-motor-controller-opener-compatible-with-alexa-and-google-home.html

 

There is power required for the device, however there would be 230v for the gate motor as well. What I like about this is that it also is able to confirm whether the gate is open / closed with the contact sensors it comes with. I have set it up so that if my garage doors are left open for more than 5 minutes it must close the doors automatically (incase we press the wrong button at the main gate and open the garage door by mistake).

Edited September 15, 20232 yr by PsyCLown

Thanks for the advice an input guys, Sonoff Gate Controller seems like the simplest and easiest and quite cheap. Or one of the ones with open/close sensors that I can be powered at gate motor (either 220V or from motor battery). I have good wifi where the motor is so happy with that.

The G-Ultra also seems like a great option but is a fair bit more expensive so happy to just try out the R250 or so Sonoff type things in the meantime.

Only reason I'm leaning towards Sonoff/Ewelink is I'm trying to avoid having so many apps to control different things, but perhaps I can consolidate them in google home or something.

Do Tuya devices need a hub? I recall seeing that for some of them but these gate controllers don't seem to mention it so I would assume they are stand-alone.

 

Only reason I'm leaning towards Sonoff/Ewelink is I'm trying to avoid having so many apps to control different things, but perhaps I can consolidate them in google home or something.

Do Tuya devices need a hub? I recall seeing that for some of them but these gate controllers don't seem to mention it so I would assume they are stand-alone.

If you install Home Assistant then that will integrate everything into a single app. Google Home / Alexa as well perhaps - I have not looked into it.

No hub needed for Tuya device I linked you to.

 

I specifically wanted something where I could monitor whether the gate was open or closed, the app can also give you pop up notifications each time the gate is opened / closed.

 

If you install Home Assistant then that will integrate everything into a single app. Google Home / Alexa as well perhaps - I have not looked into it.

No hub needed for Tuya device I linked you to.

 

I specifically wanted something where I could monitor whether the gate was open or closed, the app can also give you pop up notifications each time the gate is opened / closed.

 

Thanks, it's relatively affordable and as you say has the benefit of the sensors to determine whether it is open/closed.

Just to add to this, if you have a relatively new Centurian Gate Motor, you could connect the Status LED pin from the motor to a GPIO pin on the Sonoff SV and either through Tasmota/ESPHome, use it to determine whether the gate is open/closed. 

I use ESPHome with the Sonoff SV , here is my YAML config if anyone would like it

And this is how I have it setup in HA with mushroom cards.
I also have a telegram automation in NODE RED that notifies me if the gate is open for > 1 minute.

gate-motor.yaml

Edited September 20, 20232 yr by muaawiyah

So I wired in my gate opener, works great. Tested by pressing to open button on my phone and the gate opens. Pushed the close button my phone and the gate closed.

Tried pedestrian on my phone and it opens only a small piece as expected, but didn't close again 😞 

Thought I will check it out later as I needed to leave. Jumped in my car and opening the gate with the remote doesn't work. Seems the remote doesn't work at all. Quickly removed the opener and now the remote works again. Any idea what I'm doing wrong as I need the opener and remotes to work.

Any help will be appreciated 👍 

I've used standard ESP8266 with Tasmota successfully.

Wifi and MQTT server required but works great.

 

About R65 at Botshop - https://www.botshop.co.za/shop/mod-052-esp8266-wifi-relay-module-5v-819?search=esp8266

 

 

 

 

Edited January 13, 20251 yr by Marius2001
spelling

@Vanman did you found the reason?

I would say that the opener was holding the "stop" or "close" contact in a closed state. Therefore, gate does not react to subsequent commands from remote.

 

On 2024/10/07 at 12:49 PM, Vanman said:

So I wired in my gate opener, works great. Tested by pressing to open button on my phone and the gate opens. Pushed the close button my phone and the gate closed.

Tried pedestrian on my phone and it opens only a small piece as expected, but didn't close again 😞 

Thought I will check it out later as I needed to leave. Jumped in my car and opening the gate with the remote doesn't work. Seems the remote doesn't work at all. Quickly removed the opener and now the remote works again. Any idea what I'm doing wrong as I need the opener and remotes to work.

Any help will be appreciated 👍 

I went with the Sonoff SV also after reading this post, but it doesnt work. Gate only opens a short distance. Its effected the remoted now which also only open or close it for a short distance, they also seem to ignore the limits and the gate gets stuck. 

 

On 2025/01/13 at 8:05 PM, Marius2001 said:

I've used standard ESP8266 with Tasmota successfully.

Wifi and MQTT server required but works great.

 

About R65 at Botshop - https://www.botshop.co.za/shop/mod-052-esp8266-wifi-relay-module-5v-819?search=esp8266

 

 

 

 

Do you mind sharing your code and wiring configuration?

Hi,

 

First is to flash the ESP8266 with Tasmota - I've actually used the online version and seems to work quite well.

You will need a USB adapter to perform this - check the Youtube as you need to solder 2 pints in order to perform a flash else it will be Read-Only.

https://www.botshop.co.za/shop/mod-144-usb-to-esp8266-adapter-board-esp-01-boards-1588?search=esp8266

 

For some reason I had to use the [Inversed] relay, but believe normally it should be relay_i

 

 

Then some rules - there are quite normal on single-relay ESP8266 but got this from my device.

"Rules":"on System#Boot

do Backlog Baudrate 115200; SerialSend5 0 endon  

 

on Power1#State=1 do SerialSend5 A00101A2 endon  

on Power1#State=0 do SerialSend5 A00100A1 endon

"}}

 

And then the pulsetime command ; this is to release the relay after x milli-seonds ; the esp8266 should only "signal" to open, should not keep the relay open.

 

 

Hope this helps!

 

 

 

 

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