Push Button Garage Door Switch
 

I hadn't seen a DIY for this particular option and thought this would be a good opportunity to start my first DIY thread for my first DIY mod :icon17:

The first set of rocker switches I bought were really slick but too large for the console (you can actually see them in the first photo). And because I had trouble finding the standard momentary SPST rocker switch in stock at local electronics stores, I decided to try the push button route. I purchased a momentary OFF - (ON) push button switch from Altex. Everything else I had already - wiring, solder, soldering iron, crimp blade receptacles, drill, and drill bits.

**EDIT** Created an album for this here Nissan 370Z Forum - JARblue's Album: Garage Door Switch Mod

STEP 1: Remove circuit board from garage door remote, determine your soldering points, and prepare to wire up the switch (see Pics 1-3).

Pic 1
http://www.the370z.com/members/jarbl...ure61053-a.jpg
Notes: I made the decision early on to use the 9V battery connection for now. Once I actually attempt my lofty dream of adding two USB connections and the rear fog light w/ switch, I will at the very least rewire the connection to the fuse box or accessory power.

Pic 2
http://www.the370z.com/members/jarbl...ure61071-a.jpg

Pic 3
http://www.the370z.com/members/jarbl...ure61072-a.jpg
Notes: Here you can see the how the circuit will go together. The push button switch has contacts designed for soldering. However, for ease of removal during future mods, I crimped the wires to some small blade receptacles to slide on the switch contacts. If you solder the connections, be sure to wait until after you install the switch into the blank plate.



STEP 2: Install the push button switch in one of your existing blank inserts (see Pics 4-5). I really didn't have the correct tool available, but the main challenge is to clear out the plastics fins inside the blank insert (some small snips or wire cutters might work better than the razor blade and small chisel I used). To drill the hole, a step bit would be ideal. But since I couldn't find one, I just used a smaller bit as a pilot and then used a bit that matched the thickness of the switch. This allowed me a better opportunity to center the hole in the blank insert, especially since the plastic fins right where you want to drill are the harder ones to remove. The switch has a notch to keep it from rotating once installed, so I made a small matching notch with a razor blade. This step was pretty easy, but you can scratch up the top of the blank insert if you aren't careful. Make sure you clear out enough room inside the plate to cinch the washer and nut all the way down when installing the switch.

Pic 4
http://www.the370z.com/members/jarbl...ure61073-a.jpg
Side View

Pic 5
http://www.the370z.com/members/jarbl...ure61081-a.jpg
Bottom View - You can see a little of the torn up plastic inside the blank insert.


STEP 3: Connect the switch to the circuit and locate a place in your console for the circuit board (see Pic 6-7).

Pic 6
http://www.the370z.com/members/jarbl...ure61082-a.jpg

Pic 7
http://www.the370z.com/members/jarbl...ure61084-a.jpg
Notes: As I mentioned before, I decided to use the 9V battery temporarily, partially because the location I found seemed to be perfect for the circuit board to stand on end with the battery sitting on a shelf immediately adjacent to it. I used foam on the back side and a small amount of tape on a bare portion of the circuit board to hold it in place as well as some tape on the bottom of the 9V. Velcro would be another acceptable solution here I imagine.


RESULTS:
http://www.the370z.com/members/jarbl...ure61085-a.jpg
Note: The switch is not perfectly centered but it's definitely closer than this image appears to show. For most people it might be just fine, but I am already thinking about other options.

FINAL THOUGHTS: I may switch out the push button for a momentary rocker switch that will match the ON-OFF rocker switch I have for the rear fog light. However, if I keep the push button, I may consider using another blank insert and installing two push button switches - garage door switch to remain, but I could easily add another one in the same plate that could manually flash the rear fog light (I already plan to have it turn on and flash while in reverse automatically). The flash switch for the fog light would need to be momentary ON - (OFF) which is reverse of the one I used for the garage door opener. I will post any modifications I make as well as link to any of my other DIY plans if a new thread is warranted. Thanks for looking and hope it helped some of you out.

Hi, please add pics. Thanks.

Server crashed again recently, and I actually lost all of the pics of this install. I'll have to dig them out of a back up and repost. I think I can do this later this evening after work.

I had multiple computer failures over the holidays and updating pictures never happened. I just recently restored all of the photos of this project (way more than I posted) from a back up. My plan is to upload all of them to an album and then link it here - I am hoping to be able to do this sometime this week.

Many garage door opener provide installations kit with their package. The installation is not difficult process as if manually install than this installing of push-button door switch only takes 30 minutes.

I'm not quite sure what you're trying to communicate here...

I didn't buy my garage door (it came with the house), so I never received any "installations kit".

DIY updated with album pics :tup:

I did something like this on my motorcycle. I bought a small keychain remote garage door opener that takes a 12volt (MN21/23) battery. I got it from Lowes, I have a Genie Intellicode door opener. I soldered the button contacts together so it was like the button was pushed all the time and connected power and ground from the bike. I had it connected to the high beams so all i had to do was flash my high beams on for a second and my garage door would open. You could do connect it to a button and wire it to accessory or battery power and not have to worry about replacing a battery. Also after I connected it to the bike the range on it was amazing, maybe because it had a little more than 12 volts, not sure. You could also reduce the 12 volts down to whatever you need for your remote, the diy is written up on the R1-forum.

Thanks for this. I replaced all 3 blanks. I used a momentary switch for the door opener, and then have 2 on/off, 1 for the rear fog and the other for future.

Correct me if I am wrong. But don't they all come with a garage door opener button on the windshield mirror?

Not on a Nismo

IIRC, it's part of the Touring package. Base and Sport-only don't have it. But my memory ain't what it used to be.