Automate Your Garage in Spain: Open the Door with Your Phone (Shelly 1 Plus, Mini, Gen3, Gen4)

Why automate your garage door with Shelly?

Automating your garage door isn't just a matter of convenience, but also of security and efficiency. Here are some key advantages:

• Total convenience: Open and close your garage from anywhere with your smartphone. Forget lost remotes or waiting in the rain on stormy days.
• Improved security: Get notifications if the door is left open. You can close it remotely, which gives you peace of mind when you're not home or when you go on vacation.
• Energy savings: Avoid leaving the door open unnecessarily, which can affect your home's climate control or the security of your belongings.
• Simple integration: Shelly devices are compatible with voice assistants such as Google Home and Amazon Alexa, as well as with other popular home-automation systems in Spain.
• Easy installation: Designed for a simple installation, even if you have no previous home-automation experience.

Choose the Ideal Shelly for Your Garage

All the devices mentioned are excellent options and work as a "dry contact". This means they activate or deactivate a circuit without supplying power, mimicking the action of your remote's button or your motor's wall keypad.

Shelly 1 Plus and Shelly Plus 1 Mini

These are devices from the "Plus" line, offering Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity (to make pairing easier).

• Power versatility: Both let you power the device at 12V DC, which is the usual voltage on the control board of many garage doors in Spain. This greatly simplifies the installation, since you don't need to run a 230V cable to the Shelly. They can also be powered with 24-48V DC or 110-240V AC.
• Compact size: The Shelly Plus 1 Mini is incredibly small, ideal for tight spaces inside your motor's control box.
• Improved connectivity: They have a more powerful processor and improved Wi-Fi connectivity for greater reliability.
• Security: They allow connecting door sensors to their digital inputs (I) to check the door's status (open/closed) and set up automations, such as closing the door automatically if you forget.

Shelly 1 Gen3 or Gen4

The Gen3 and Gen4 generations are the most recent of the traditional "Shelly 1" line.

• Basic functionality: They offer the same "dry contact" capability to activate your garage door.
• Versatile power: Like the Plus models, the Shelly 1 Gen3 and Gen4 can also be powered at 12V DC, 24-48V DC, or 110-240V AC, which makes them suitable for most garage installations, both modern and older.
• Connectivity: They offer Wi-Fi connectivity. The Gen4 introduces Matter and Zigbee in some models (like the Shelly 1 Mini Gen4), expanding interoperability with other home-automation systems you may have at home.

Step-by-Step Installation Guide (General)

The installation may vary slightly depending on your garage motor model and the Shelly device you choose, but the basic principles are the same. Always disconnect the motor's electrical power before handling any wiring to avoid risks!

1. Identify the control terminals: On your garage motor's control board, look for the terminals where the manual open/close button or your remote's radio receiver connects. These are usually marked "PUSH", "INPUT", "START" or similar. You need to identify the two terminals that, when momentarily contacted, activate the door. You can confirm it by bridging the terminals with an insulated screwdriver (with the motor powered off, of course).

2. Connect the Shelly:

   • Shelly power: Connect the 12V DC supply (or whatever your Shelly uses, such as 24-48V DC or 110-240V AC) to the L and N terminals (for AC) or + and LJ/GND (for DC) of your Shelly device. Ideally, take advantage of the 12V DC supply that garage motors usually provide.
   • Relay output (dry contact): Connect the I (Input) and O (Output) terminals of the Shelly to the control terminals you identified in step 1 on your motor board. The Shelly will act as a button, momentarily closing the circuit between I and O.
   • Switch input (SW): If you want additional manual control via a physical switch (besides app control), connect a momentary push-button between the Shelly's SW (Switch) terminal and your Shelly's power line (e.g. L or +).

3. Set up the Shelly in the app:

   • Download the Shelly Smart Control app from the App Store or Google Play.
   • Add your new Shelly device and connect it to your Wi-Fi network following the app's steps.
   • Set the Shelly to "button" mode ("Momentary" or "Button") in the app. This is essential so the Shelly only sends a short pulse, mimicking the action of your remote or button.
   • Optional: Door sensors: If you use a magnetic door sensor (such as a dry-contact sensor or a Shelly Door/Window 2), connect it to the digital input I of the Shelly 1 Plus, Plus 1 Mini, 1 Gen3 or 1 Gen4 to know at all times whether the door is open or closed.

Tips for a Perfect Setup

• Button mode: We stress this point, it's crucial to set the Shelly to "Momentary" or "Button" mode in the app. A mistake here could keep the relay activated and damage the motor.
• Useful automations: Set up scenes in the Shelly app to simplify your life:
  • A single button for "Open/Close Garage".
  • Smart notifications: Get alerts on your phone if the door stays open for more than X minutes.
  • Automatic closing: Schedule the door to close automatically if it detects it's been left open after a specific time or at a certain hour!
• Integration with voice assistants: Connect your Shelly to Google Home or Amazon Alexa to control the door with voice commands like "Ok Google, open the garage door" or "Alexa, close the garage door".
• Additional security: Consider installing a motion sensor or an IP camera in the garage for complete monitoring of your space.
• Local support: At ShellyMadrid.com, we're here to help you with any question or query during your installation. We also have deals and discounts. Don't hesitate to contact us!

Transform Your Garage Today!

Automating your garage door with Shelly is a smart investment that will give you convenience, security and peace of mind. At ShellyMadrid.com you'll find all the Shelly devices needed for this project and many deals.

Ready to take the step toward a smarter and safer home in Spain? Visit our online store and discover the full range of Shelly products. See you at ShellyMadrid.com!