I have a Chamberlain / Liftmaster LA400UL driveway gate and a MyQ internet gateway. I am currently able to open and close the gate via the MyQ app or the manual remote controls.
I would like the gate to have the following behavior / capabilities:
Have the gate default to the closed position (i.e. auto-close is enabled with a specified lag after the last open command)
Remotely be able to activate “Party mode” (which holds the gate open in spite of the auto-close feature until a close command via the MyQ app or remote is received). The default way to activate party mode is via a manual press of the rest button on the side of the gate controller when the gate is open.
Have the gate auto-close at a specified time each evening.
I’m able to accomplish #1 & 3 above, but cannot find a way to accomplish #2.
I saw some prior forum posts debating whether to pair the gate with ADC, the MyQ app, or other third party options. I am open to integrating with whatever systems would enable this, but I see that Chamberlain / Liftmaster have disabled most third party integrations (i.e., Home Assistant and IFTTT).
One work-around is to disable the auto-close feature, which would allow the gate to stay open upon an open command from the app or remote, but this leaves a vulnerability in that anyone who opens the gate would need to remember to close it behind them, which is not ideal (e.g., delivery drivers that come at odd hours).
The options you have for a “gate” in Alarm.com (that I’m aware of) are:
Alarm.com MyQ Integration: You need an 828LM and you lose the MyQ app along with any features MyQ has that aren’t in the Alarm.com integration. This adds $1 to your plan.
Alarm.com Flex IO: Wires to your LA400 and has built-in cellular to communicate with Alarm.com. Assumes the gate is self-closing, you can only send an open command not a close command. This adds $3 to your plan but you can keep the MyQ app.
Qolsys/DSC PGM Output: Requires an IQ Hardwire PowerG or IQ Pro. This method can control the gate but it doesn’t have a sensor to tell if the gate is open or closed. It’s a blind push button to open the gate and the gate must self-close. You can use a sensor separately to monitor gate status but it’s not integrated into the gate icon in Alarm.com.
Alarm.com Commercial Access Control: Works but then you need a commercial plan and access controller.
Alternatively, you can probably use a Z-Wave garage door controller like the Ecolink GDZW7-LR. It would show in Alarm.com as a garage door but I think it would work. You would connect the relay output and wired sensor input to the gate.
As for remotely activating party mode, I don’t have direct experience with it but I’ve read that people wire a key switch to the OPEN and COMMON terminals on the LA400 for party mode. You could do that same thing with a Z-Wave relay, another Flex IO, or PGM output (with additional relay). When you want to activate party mode just turn on the switch in Alarm.com to close the relay, which would hold the gate open. Disclaimer: this is in theory, I’ve not done it myself.