Miata Mailing List: December 1998, Message #2838

I did the same thing in my Ford Explorer but still use the battery.  I only
have to change the battery once every two years.
Pat

David Gish wrote:

> At 01:56 PM 12/14/98 -0500, you wrote:
> >List,
> >
> >Has anyone permanently installed their garage door opener in/under the
> >armrest console?  I remember seeing a post where someone velcro'd it
> >underneath the armrest and installed a switch but I could not find the
> >post in the archives.
> >
> >TIA,
> >Craig Duncan
> >95 Laguna Blue
> >
>
> Craig I don't remember this subject being posted before, but I did it to my
> 97M. Not too difficult if you can solder and have basic knowledge of the
> car's electrical system. I bought a small black momentary contact switch
> from Radio Shack. It is mounted on the console on the little lip that is
> under the parking brake handle. It only sticks up about 1/4" and is
> practically invisible. I removed the opener's circuit board from the case
> and removed the battery (12 volt on mine...how convenient) then unsoldered
> the switch from the circuit board. I then soldered a length of wire to each
> of the solder pads on the circuit board where the switch used to be. These
> wires will eventually connect to the switch mounted on the console. Two
> more wires were then soldered to the battery contacts on the circuit board
> to provide power to the unit. I wrapped the circuit board in a layer of
> card stock cut from a shoe box lid, with the 4 wires exiting at one end,
> and the entire assembly wrapped with electrical tape (any tape would
> do...as long as it keeps the card stock wrapped around the board). I then
> taped the assembly to the underside of the console just in front of the
> armrest storage box. Appropriate wires connect to the switch, then the
> power wires are run under the dash to a power source...I used the cigarette
> lighter wires. Like I said not too difficult...took about 2 hours, with
> half of that being head-scratching time figuring out exactly how to mount
> and where to pick up power from. If you need any more details let me know.
>
> Dave