Running two garage remotes on pushbutton mod?

[Justjuice]

Hi guys.

So you all know the garage door mod, theres a bunch of threads on it around the various vw sites
DIY: Garage Opener Button Golf R - VW GTI MKVI Forum / VW Golf R Forum / VW Golf MKVI Forum / VW GTI Forum - Golfmk6.com

I thought it would be nice to install the switch for a little more comfort when coming/leaving home. Thing is that I have two garage doors to get through, one communal and one to my place.

The only way I thought it would work off the one internal button is to get two garage remotes, have them programmed for each separate door and then hook them both up to the new pushbutton switch in the car.

So I put it all together, soldered and tucked away nicely. It didnt work. It seems that while both remotes are connected to the same circuit neither will send a signal to open either garage door. As soon as I disconnect either remote from the setup the internal button works as its meant to.

What do you guys think I've done wrong? I'm not too electronically minded but I'm wondering if maybe there is something I can put inbetween both the remotes (a relay?) that will cut power to one, then swap the power to the other automatically?

I've attached a diagram of how I've set it up for some constructive criticism!

[tonymy01]

You are bridging the two remotes circuitry to each other.
One possible way to isolate might be an inline diode in there somewhere, but you really need to see which remote has which voltage where (and does the switch bridge a voltage to ground for example).
You can certainly use a double pole relay, which has two separate circuits it will switch, and put your car switch on the relay trigger (switch to, say ground with 12V connecting to relay input). This will cause the relay to trigger and for a dp relay, it will allow you to switch two independent circuits.

[zei20t]

You can certainly use a double pole relay, which has two separate circuits it will switch, and put your car switch on the relay trigger (switch to, say ground with 12V connecting to relay input). This will cause the relay to trigger and for a dp relay, it will allow you to switch two independent circuits.

that will work. but I would imagine youre transmitting on the same frequency (or pretty close) but two different codes and they may be drowning the other out.

[Lucas_R]

Yikes my head hurts with all this electrical talk. Easy way is to buy another push button so you have 1x button for each door.

[Justjuice]

Yikes my head hurts with all this electrical talk. Easy way is to buy another push button so you have 1x button for each door.

Unfortunately that would require a second push button which I would avoid like the plague.

Thanks for the reply Tony and Lucas. Seems like my best bet is to walk into a Jaycar and ask them about which double pole relay will do the job I am seeking.

Do you think the relay could be powered by the remote batteries which are 12V? If at all possible I'd like to avoid messing with any of the cars existing electronics.

[greg32]

I have a similar setup at home. I wired the gate to the button and use the control for the garage. There is a vw sunvisor with multiple programmable set of buttons. I think ecs were selling them.

[tonymy01]

Check your remotes don't both operate on the same frequency, else, as has been said before, they may both send signal interfering with each other. You can test this without your switch setup by simply pressing and holding both at the same time on the standard remotes.. if the door opens, you have hope. I can sketch up a simple dpdt relay diagram, but you will need power to either the switch or relay input to get it going (12v for many larger typical car like relays).
A diode or two might be all you need for your existing setup, but will require someone with a multimeter and a bit of a clue to work it out for you (diode to stop one remote circuitry impacting other, won't stop rf interference!).

[Justjuice]

Well it seems like both signals interfere with each other

Surely there must be a way!

[tonymy01]

Not if both run on the same frequency...

[zei20t]

separate buttons is the only way. or change the remote and receiver to another frequency. maybe change the oscillator or completely change the transceiver units.