Garage door closers

[Stan Calow]

Anybody have a good recommendation for an automatic garage door closer? That is, a device that senses the overhead door has been left open and after so many minutes, closes the electric overhead opener. I had a Garage Butler for awhile but it would not work with my new garage door opener. The installers of the opener had no suggestions. I called a few other door service companies that could only suggest the G Butler.

[Doyle Alley]

What about replacing the opener with one that is Wi-Fi enabled? You could probably find a smartphone app that would either close it or at least notify you that it was still open.

[Lee DeRaud]

What about replacing the opener with one that is Wi-Fi enabled? You could probably find a smartphone app that would either close it or at least notify you that it was still open.My new Chamberlain has that. But it also has a "timer-to-close" menu entry (defaulted to 'off'). It's part of the control panel, so the non-WIFI units may have it as well.

As far as retrofitting an existing opener, try this: https://www.chamberlain.com/smartphone-control-products/smartphone-connectivity

[Stan Calow]

Thanks guys. Not ready to replace opener since its new, but hoping to work with what I've got.

[Lee DeRaud]

Thanks guys. Not ready to replace opener since its new, but hoping to work with what I've got.The retrofit widget I linked to is $100. Unless you're really in love with your existing new opener, I think I'd be tempted to get the integrated package (~$225 IIRC) and sell the other one on Craigslist for enough to cover the difference.

[Stan Calow]

Thanks Lee. I misunderstood the site and thought it was only for chamberlain/liftmaster.

[Dennis Peacock]

I have Liftmaster openers on both garage doors. Battery backup, wifi enabled, and timer to auto-close. Really nice when nobody's at home and you need a service tech to work on the A/C or Heating unit. ;)

[Lee Schierer]

I had a Garage Butler for awhile but it would not work with my new garage door opener. The installers of the opener had no suggestions. I called a few other door service companies that could only suggest the G Butler.

After looking at the installation instructions, all the Garage Butler does is close the contacts the same as the wall mounted push button would do. It is essentially another push button installed in parallel with the existing wall switch. If your new opener has a wall mounted button that is hard wired it should work, despite what you may have been told by the door opener installers.

[Stan Calow]

Lee, yes it should have. It didn't. I can't explain it, but I tried rewiring it multiple times. Even shorting the terminals did not activate the opener. Tried with another new device - also didn't work.