Garage Door Opener Using High Beam Switch

bartorob · Jul 1, 2009

First off credit where credit is due. I borrowed pictures from this site and the shopping list. I didn't take pictures of mine while I was making it so you can check here if I missed anything.

http://cbrforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62473

Shopping List
-Garage door opener (Mine was a Genie, but this should work with any 12v opener)
-Regular 12v relay (one that can be soldered to a circuit board) http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062482&cp=&sr=1&origkw=relay&kw=relay&parentPage=search
-16g or so wire
-Pre-punched circuit board http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2104052&cp=&sr=1&origkw=board&kw=board&parentPage=search
-1K uf capacitor http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102511&cp=&sr=1&origkw=1000%B5F&kw=1000f&parentPage=search
-3 10K resistors http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062330&cp=&sr=1&origkw=10k&kw=10k&parentPage=search
-Project enclosure to protect the relay board http://www.radioshack.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=2032276
-Quick Splice Connectors (picture below)
-Zip Ties of assorted sizes.

Tools
-Soldering iron and solder
-Wire cutters and strippers
-Heat shrink or electric tape

You have to have a 12V opener to do this project the way I have written the instructions. The basic idea here is to creat a momentary relay that will activate only for a second when you swtich to your high beam. You can skip the relay section and just wire it to the high beam, but really I wouldn't want my opener button always pressed when I have the high beam on. You could use any remote if you relied on the battery that comes with it. Just don't wire a 9v opener to the 12v bike.

Diagram for momentary relay:

I modified the above diagram to allow both the relay box and the opener to use the high beam power to power both. Take the Constant 12V (red in diagram) and wire it to the Switched 12V (Green line inthe diagram). This gets ride of an issue with the turning off of the high beam activating the opener again.

Circuit Board wired up:

Solder everything on the cirucuit board as shown in the above 2 pictures. Taking into consideration where the components will sit in the black plastic case. I had to rework the positioning of mine (I may have used a smaller case because of where I mounted it).

Finished Project:

Now all I had was 2 (ground and 12v) wires to hook to the bike because I used the High beam as my "constant 12v" as talked about above. You can wire to the back of the high beam relay under the seat. I used the quick splice connector to make it easy. I can't remember which wire was high beam. If nothing else use a simple 12v light tester to see what wire is active when you press the high beam switch.

Quick Splice (found at autozone/advanced auto/walmart/target)

Mounting on Bike:

Honestly you can mount this anywhere, under the seat would work just fine. I may even move it under the seat.

Sorry if I missed anything, but I bet all you guys will tweak the install to fit your specific needs. Let me know if you have any questions.

Moeman · Jul 1, 2009

Awesome job man thanks for the write up

kordo · Jul 1, 2009

i'm so doing this... but think i'll add a new switch

jbautista · Jul 1, 2009

hahaha. Sweet. I installed mine in my GMAX 68s helmet. Came stock with lights, but wired mine for my garage door opener

bartorob · Jul 1, 2009

kordo said:
i'm so doing this... but think i'll add a new switch

If you add a new switch you won't need the relay box, just the remote hard wired to a 12v source and a dedicated switch wired to the remotes switch points.

I like the helmet idea nice!

bartorob · Jul 1, 2009

BTW this can be done on any bike (don't flame I realize you guys have figured this part out already). I just said it because the thread was moved and as you can see its done on an 07. Also did it on my previous bike (ninja 250).

randomwalk101 · Jul 2, 2009

OMG...all that...

**or**

http://shopcheapcycleparts.com/prod.../productdetail.htm?productId=7788337&ez=Flash2Pass~q=bidaa2586zz~r=bidaa2586zz~

Flash2Pass Garage Door Opener

The guys here at CheapCycleParts.com are not necessarily a lazy bunch, per se. We just appreciate anything that helps eliminate life’s little annoyances. One such nuisance is the need to get off of your motorcycle at the end of each ride to open your garage door.

I recently had the chance to hook up my Kawasaki ZX-14 with the Flash2Pass transmitter system. With the help of my dogs shop assistants Monty and Julep, the entire installation took about an hour, and that was working pretty slowly to ensure everything was done right. The only difficult bit could be locating your highbeam wires, depending on how tucked away they are on your particular make and model.

The transmitter itself is barely 2" square and about ½" deep, making it easy to hide inside a fairing or behind a frame section. Flash2Pass includes all necessary hardware to complete the job, and even includes a zip-tie for securing the transmitter to your chosen mounting spot. The only tools needed are a screwdriver and whatever tools you need to access your headlight wiring.

On the receiver end, the Flash2Pass system replaces your existing hard-wired garage door button. This is easily done and does not interfere with your existing transmitters. If your current remote system includes additional functionality beyond opening the garage door, the Flash2Pass receiver can be piggybacked on top of your existing system and will allow for both systems to run concurrently. Additional transmitters can also be purchased in case you have multiple cars or bikes you'd like to use with the Flash2Pass system.

Once installed, the results were exactly as expected, and that's a very good thing. With a simple double-flash of the ol' highbeams, I was immediately able to open and close my garage door. No more getting off the bike to open the door. No more stuffing a big remote into my riding jacket. Those of you who've been caught in a surprise summer shower and just want to get the bike (and you) into the garage as quickly as possible, know exactly how valuable this bit of convenience can be.

As you can tell, we're big fans of the Flash2Pass system. It's a simple idea that really works, making your life just a little bit easier in the process. That's exactly how we like it at CCP. Highly recommended.

The base Flash2Pass system will cost you $67.96, with additional transmitters available for $29.71.

Chip O · Jul 3, 2009

Hmmmm, I may have to get this FTP version since I can't get a small transmitter for my gennie (it's 1 year too old).

how much did the OP cost? and could I even do it that way since the keychain transmitter isn't available.

Awesome write up by the way! thanks.

bartorob · Jul 6, 2009

There are a few products out there, and I haven't seen one for less that about $50. It only cost me about $30 total to do this and about 20 minutes to wire it (including the few solder points on the board.

If you want you can tweak the instructions so that you just use the internals of the remote which would make the whole thing quite a bit smaller. I originally had a ton of room to mount it.

Not a bad device, but I couldn't justify $70 to do it.

Chip O · Jul 9, 2009

No doubt, me either. you think you could help me with mine? (walk me through it anyway?)

omar · Oct 9, 2009

Sorry to revive the thread, but does anyone know which wire specifically is the switched 12v power to the high beam?

I'm trying to access it from under the seat but i don't have nearly enough room to look for it. Am i going to have to remove the tail section?

HighlyFavored0420 · Oct 9, 2009

If you have a voltmeter it is easy to find. Turn the bike on and start testing the wires on the headlight relay. The one that has power when you switch the high beams on and doesn't when you switch it off is your wire.

KnightRydeRR · Oct 9, 2009

It should be a black/blue wire going from the headlight relay to the high beam

KnightRydeRR · Oct 9, 2009

and.... it will be located in between the headlights

omar · Oct 10, 2009

Thanks, Ill try it out with the voltmeter. Ideally I want to tap into the wire below the seat, not from behind the headlights. Is the high beam relay beneath the seat near the battery?

HighlyFavored0420 · Oct 10, 2009

Yes. The relay is right next to the battery. For an '08, you want the blue wire with silver dots on it.

omar · Oct 11, 2009

Alright so I finally did this and there is no relay for the headlights/high beam beneath the seat (05 600rr). The relay itself is located between the headlights behind the upper fairing, which I didn't feel like removing. The wire you need is visible from the back of the high beam, and is in fact black/blue with silver dots. I tested all the wires by the battery with a voltmeter to no avail, and the service manual verifies its in the front of the bike as well.

I ended up just tapping into the connector for the high beam lamp itself and running the wires back to underneath the seat. Thanks for the info/help.

Garage Door Opener Using High Beam Switch

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