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YOU CAN CONTROL YOUR CHAMBERLAIN GARAGE DOOR LOCALLY, WITHOUT THE CLOUD, WITH A SMALL OPEN-SOURCE BOARD

A small board that wires into the terminals of a Chamberlain or LiftMaster opener and gives you local control over your own network, no cloud involved.

by Paul Wieland

FULL CAD BOM FIRMWARE DOCS

HomeAutomation

difficulty
●●○○○
time
an evening
license
GPL-2.0
repo
repo ACTIVE1,335 stars

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Videos
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COMPAREE VERDICT

ratgdo restores local control to Chamberlain, LiftMaster and Merlin openers whose Security+ 2.0 serial bus blocks ordinary relays. You wire it to the opener's terminals, flash the firmware (MQTT, ESPHome or HomeKit), and connect it to Home Assistant, NodeRED or Apple Home over your own WiFi. The hardware ships preassembled and, on Security+ 2.0 openers (and Security+ 1.0 with a compatible wall panel), reads door state straight from the signal wire, so this is an evening of wiring and configuration, not a board build. The one thing most likely to go wrong is buying it for the wrong opener: the project states that Security+ 3.0 openers are not supported. If you have a Security+ 1.0 or 2.0 opener, or a dry-contact one, and you are tired of cloud integrations that break or charge fees, this is a well-established local option. If you are shopping for a new opener, check the model before you buy the door or the board.

GOOD TO KNOW

  • —Wiring diagrams, documentation and a browser-based firmware flasher are in the repository; MQTT, ESPHome and HomeKit firmware live in separate repos under the ratgdo GitHub organization.
  • —BOM is a single line item: a preassembled ratgdo control board with installation kit from the project's shop (the README still lists the v2.5 kit; the shop now sells the ratgdo32).
  • —On Security+ 1.0/2.0 openers door position comes from the signal wire; for dry-contact openers you add two reed switches yourself (not included).
  • —Works with Security+ 1.0 and 2.0 Chamberlain/LiftMaster openers plus dry-contact openers. Security+ 3.0 openers are not supported, per the project FAQ.
  • —Licence is GPLv2, allows commercial use with attribution and source disclosure.
  • —The main repository at PaulWieland/ratgdo holds docs and the flasher; the MQTT, ESPHome and HomeKit firmware live in separate repos under the ratgdo GitHub organization.

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Can I build this?

Printnothing required
Buya preassembled ratgdo control board with installation kit from the project's shop (check the current version and price), plus two reed switches only if your opener is dry-contact
Toolsscrewdriver, wire strippers, USB cable for flashing ESPHome firmware, Home Assistant or MQTT broker
Skillsbasic wire termination and YAML editing; the serial protocol reverse engineering is already done
Timean evening to wire, flash, and integrate
Cost$$, dominated by the preassembled control board
SafetyMains voltage inside the opener housing. Unplug the opener before working on it. The low-voltage control wiring that ratgdo connects to is safe once the opener is unplugged.

This build involves mains voltage — for adults comfortable with electrical work only.

Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.

Videos

Third-party review and install from Reed's Smart Home, showing why ratgdo replaces MyQ.

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Gallery

Start here

Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.

  1. 1.Check your opener model (Security+ 1.0 and 2.0 openers are supported, as are dry-contact openers. The project FAQ states that Security+ 3.0 openers are not supported.)
  2. 2.Order a ratgdo control board with installation kit (the shop currently sells the ratgdo32) (Ships preassembled. Reed switches are only needed for dry-contact openers and are not included. Check the README for the current vendor link.)
  3. 3.Follow the wiring guide (Wiring photos show exactly which terminals on the opener to connect. Unplug the opener first.)
  4. 4.Flash the ESPHome firmware (The ESPHome configuration lives in the ratgdo/esphome-ratgdo repository; point it at your WiFi and Home Assistant.)

Resources

Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.

KNOWN ISSUES

  • Buying it for a newer Chamberlain opener: Security+ 3.0 openers are not supported, per the project FAQ — check the learn button colour and model before ordering.
  • Skipping reed switches on a dry-contact opener: without them ratgdo cannot tell whether the door is actually open. Security+ openers report position over the signal wire and do not need them.
  • Not checking the model number before ordering: Security+ 1.0, Security+ 2.0 and dry-contact openers work (Security+ 1.0 needs a compatible wall panel for full features), but newer Security+ 3.0 models are not supported.
  • Wiring it live: the control terminals are low voltage, but the opener housing has mains voltage inside. Unplug it first.
  • Assuming it bypasses the opener's safety sensors: ratgdo triggers the same open/close command the wall button does. The door will still reverse if something is in the way.
  • Expecting MyQ app features from it: ratgdo gives you local control through your own home automation; it is not a MyQ integration.

Does this work with Security+ 3.0 openers?

No. The project's FAQ states plainly that Security+ 3.0 openers are not supported. Security+ 1.0, Security+ 2.0 and dry-contact openers work.

Do I need Home Assistant?

No. ratgdo works over your local WiFi with MQTT, ESPHome or native HomeKit firmware. You can use Home Assistant, NodeRED, Apple Home or any MQTT client. The ESPHome firmware lives in the ratgdo/esphome-ratgdo repository.

What is Security+ 2.0 and why does it matter?

Security+ 2.0 is an obfuscated serial protocol Chamberlain and LiftMaster use; openers with a yellow learn button are generally Security+ 2.0. Ordinary relay devices cannot trigger it. ratgdo decodes that protocol so you get real control and door state feedback.

Can I build this from scratch or do I have to buy the preassembled board?

Buy the board. The repository holds documentation and firmware, not PCB fabrication files, and the boards are sold preassembled by the project's shop — check it for the current version and price.

Is this legal?

You are wiring a control board to your own garage door opener. There is no bypassing of security features, and the opener's safety sensors still work. The firmware is GPLv2.

Community builds

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Discussion1

FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM

The board runs on your own WiFi with no cloud involved, with ESPHome, HomeKit and MQTT firmware to choose from. What would you integrate it with first?

CompareeTEAM2mo agoedited

Practical notes from our verification: the main ratgdo repository is still under PaulWieland and holds the documentation and flasher; the ESPHome, HomeKit and MQTT firmware live in separate repositories under the ratgdo GitHub organisation. The compatibility check comes first: ratgdo supports Security+ 1.0, Security+ 2.0 and dry-contact openers, and the project FAQ states plainly that Security+ 3.0 openers are not supported. There are no PCB design files in the repo — the board is sold preassembled. On Security+ openers the door status comes over the opener's own bus with no extra sensors; reed switches are only needed for dry-contact openers and are not included with the board. We did not verify current vendor stock or pricing. Correction (4 October 2026): we re-checked this page line by line against the project's own repository, documentation and videos, and fixed errors in earlier versions.

Paul Wieland

Paul Wieland built ratgdo to get local control of Chamberlain and LiftMaster openers whose Security+ 2.0 serial protocol blocks ordinary relays. The main repository and docs live under his GitHub account, while the MQTT, ESPHome and HomeKit firmware are maintained in separate repos under the ratgdo organization.

GitHub

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  • Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
  • Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
  • Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
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