Universal Remote System: Can It Be Re-Wired to Ignition or RAP for Its Power Source?

[Scrappycrow]

Y'all,

For security purposes, I don't keep garage door remotes in my vehicles outside and I'd like to have the Universal Remote System work in my Tahoe, but not at all times, just when the ignition is on or RAP is active.

I haven't found a wiring diagram or pulled the overhead apart to look at the harness, but I do see on page B-27 of the 2013 Electrical Manual that it gets power from Pin/Wire 9/"PDM Fuse." Is it as simple as re-routing the wire to an ignition/RAP circuit at the fuse block?

All this assumes it doesn't lose the coding memory if power is removed, in which case this would be unworkable.

Thanks,
Scrappy

 

[petethepug]

Is there a phone app that can open / close garage doors? Damn! I never realized the consequences of having a remote in the truck to have a field day in the garage and or house.

10 Stars to you today for bringing that up.

 

[RST Dana]

I always park inside my garage, and lock my ride. Even in my garage.

 

[Scrappycrow]

I always park inside my garage, and lock my ride. Even in my garage.

That's great, but we've got 5 vehicles and only two indoor spots, so 3 have to be outside. I always lock all of them, including the two that are inside.

Is there a phone app that can open / close garage doors? Damn! I never realized the consequences of having a remote in the truck to have a field day in the garage and or house.

10 Stars to you today for bringing that up.

Thanks for the stars!

Yes, you can open/close garage doors via an app, via: 1) home automation systems, or 2) newer openers that have wifi and an associated app. WRT the latter, I have a Chamberlain with their "myQ Smart Home" feature, but am not a fan of wifi-everything, so I haven't implemented that or the app. FWIW, the app also allows you to give one-time or time-limited passcodes so someone can open/close the garage door.

 

[RST Dana]

That's great, but we've got 5 vehicles and only two indoor spots, so 3 have to be outside. I always lock all of them, including the two that are inside.


Thanks for the stars!

Yes, you can open/close garage doors via an app, via: 1) home automation systems, or 2) newer openers that have wifi and an associated app. WRT the latter, I have a Chamberlain with their "myQ Smart Home" feature, but am not a fan of wifi-everything, so I haven't implemented that or the app. FWIW, the app also allows you to give one-time or time-limited passcodes so someone can open/close the garage door.

WiFi can be made most difficult for unauthorized access, but it’s not something most folks understand and attempt to configure. Once you have the app setup, you can wipe your vehicles universal remotes. Unless they work on ignition power without losing memory.

 

[K2 Kaiju]

This is something that has always bugged me, but does it still work if the alarm is going off? I need to test that. I do know I have had my battery disconnected for quite a while, and the homelink worked without reprogramming. This would be a great mod to do. Maybe do a kill switch that cuts both homelink and fuel pump...

 

[Scrappycrow]

I do know I have had my battery disconnected for quite a while, and the homelink worked without reprogramming.

Great! That's what I needed to know, thanks!

 

[j91z28d1]

I could only get my newer car to work with my opener, sad too because the last owner definitely put new openers up and nice doors in before we go it. Just one model before wifi. the 2011 yukon or 08 c6 couldn't program, only my 14 car. so keeping remotes in them was a worry. we get random rashes of kids coming thru the neighborhood checking for unlocked doors, they don't break in or take the vehicle, just looking for unlocked cars and rummage through, I'm told they look for trucks first as they are mostly likely to have guns in them. that's the real target, and of course being tx it's almost all of them, but seems very irresponsible to leave it in your truck and not locked, but that's what the cops say drive this stuff around here.

I was always worried me or the wife would forgot to lock a door and they could open the garage door. it's not something they seem to do, but still.

between that and wanting the extra foot of overhead space for lifting the yukon up, I got a new side mount opener with wifi. works great super quite and the over head light can be mounted anywhere. so now it's phones only to open the garage. it also reminds me if I forget to close it, which has only happened once, but it was when I left on a road trip. was 2 states away before a neighbor called. luckily they were able to hit the button and run out, but definitely like to avoid that again. being old and losing your mind is rough haha.

 

[Jimmyy]

Here's a cheap way to add the ability to open your garage door, plus you can get notifications when the door is open.

Amazon.com

 

[Doubeleive]

lol, I have parked 1 car in the garage 1 time in the last 40 years, needless to say the onboard door opener is not programmed.
if someone wants in your home or garage a window is easily broken, people get a false sense of security from doors

 

[j91z28d1]

lol, I have parked 1 car in the garage 1 time in the last 40 years, needless to say the onboard door opener is not programmed.
if someone wants in your home or garage a window is easily broken, people get a false sense of security from doors

I had a friend in FL that was adamant about the same thing. left everything unlocked till eventually they walked up and went thru his unlocked car, open garage and looked in his house but didn't take anything in there while he was asleep in his bed. dig finally woke them up and he ran down the steet after them. he now keeps everything locked up.


doors work pretty well at keeping things out if sight out of mind. you can't stop a pro. but a good Criminal isn't after your junk, they got real shit to steal. but the bold and stupid are everywhere just taking random stuff for no good reason. inviting it seems like a bad idea.

 

[j91z28d1]

Here's a cheap way to add the ability to open your garage door, plus you can get notifications when the door is open.

Amazon.com

I know 2 people that's use cameras like this.. not 100% sure it's the same brand and they don't have the opener option. but my only concern over the cheap 30-50$ home cams, especially the ones that don't charge you is most people don't realize there's gotta be a server behind all this, almost nothing and peer to peer and you'd need to pay for a static ip address to setup your own network. that server costs a lot of money to run. how are they making money off selling 30$ cams that work great and cost nothing to use that server? if I don't understand a business model, I try to avoid it.

same for cheap baby monitors and stuff.. people have access to all those live video feeds and I'd bet all the servers are off shore somewhere. outside it seems OK, but don't put one inside your house unless you know who's running it. I have some ring stuff and it's really nice to see what's happening at home when you're not there,(I know it doesn't stop crime, you just get to watch a video of your stuff getting stolen) but even those I pay Amazon a monthly fee for access, I'd never trust one inside my house.

 

[mikez71]

My cousin bought some 'Galayou' brand cameras, works very well, 360 degree rotation so it's nice for checking up on things.
Fast and easy setup for remote viewing. Don't need to pay to check on your camera, but if you want recording or monitoring you would..
I thought these types (IP camera's) are connected to internet, they have their own static IP, shouldn't need a server?
Too bad they don't have the monitoring/recording software for your computer, but that's where they charge for the cloud service..

I just installed a Viofo A229 Plus dashcam because someone smashed my house window...
but they need light at nighttime, so I'm stuck leaving my lights on outside. (Someone also smashed my taillight a month ago.. )

 

[Doubeleive]

I had a friend in FL that was adamant about the same thing. left everything unlocked till eventually they walked up and went thru his unlocked car, open garage and looked in his house but didn't take anything in there while he was asleep in his bed. dig finally woke them up and he ran down the steet after them. he now keeps everything locked up.


doors work pretty well at keeping things out if sight out of mind. you can't stop a pro. but a good Criminal isn't after your junk, they got real shit to steal. but the bold and stupid are everywhere just taking random stuff for no good reason. inviting it seems like a bad idea.

I am not saying to leave everything unlocked (that's just asking for it) I am saying a window is easier to break than a door.
most the break in's that get reported around here anyway is they go around back and the 1st thing they do is break the sliding glass door.
business's that get broken into? guess how they got in........
cars that get broken into? same answer............
you are correct though, keep shit out of sight and it's less likely to happen

another common break in point is the garage side door, mine is nailed shut.

 

[Scrappycrow]

if someone wants in your home or garage a window is easily broken, people get a false sense of security from doors

Those are valid points, but I'm just looking to minimize ease of opportunities for ne'er-do-wells. I don't think any individual piece of security is a 100% solution.

 

[Jimmyy]

I know 2 people that's use cameras like this.. not 100% sure it's the same brand and they don't have the opener option. but my only concern over the cheap 30-50$ home cams, especially the ones that don't charge you is most people don't realize there's gotta be a server behind all this, almost nothing and peer to peer and you'd need to pay for a static ip address to setup your own network. that server costs a lot of money to run. how are they making money off selling 30$ cams that work great and cost nothing to use that server? if I don't understand a business model, I try to avoid it.

same for cheap baby monitors and stuff.. people have access to all those live video feeds and I'd bet all the servers are off shore somewhere. outside it seems OK, but don't put one inside your house unless you know who's running it. I have some ring stuff and it's really nice to see what's happening at home when you're not there,(I know it doesn't stop crime, you just get to watch a video of your stuff getting stolen) but even those I pay Amazon a monthly fee for access, I'd never trust one inside my house.

To access all the features you need to pay for the cloud service. With a SD card you can still view recordings and open/close the door. If someone in China wants to watch my garage door, I hope they enjoy themselves. I can count on 1 hand how many time I have been nude in the garage, well maybe 2 hands.

 

[Doubeleive]

Those are valid points, but I'm just looking to minimize ease of opportunities for ne'er-do-wells. I don't think any individual piece of security is a 100% solution.

i honestly never messed with the garage door opener on these myself just because for one I never use the garage for parking anything.
you would think it would be powered off if the key is not on? it is powered on 24/7?

 

[Scrappycrow]

it is powered on 24/7?

Yes.

 

[Doubeleive]

Yes.

if you want to wire to key on power then you can take the power wire from the remote and connect it to the passenger airbag indicator light. ground should be fine as it is, but I would check it with a meter to verify.

 

[Scrappycrow]

if you want to wire to key on power then you can take the power wire from the remote and connect it to the passenger airbag indicator light. ground should be fine as it is, but I would check it with a meter to verify.

Great, that'll be fairly easy, then. Thanks!