Garage "Security" light

[BoxMN]

A buddy's dad told me how to do it once, but I don't recall the details - but does anybody know of a good way to do this:

I want a (little) light to be on when my overhead door(s) are open even a little bit. Garage is detached and I can't see my doors from the house. I want the light facing the house, just as an indicator that the doors are up.

I can figure out the wiring fine, just need to know what type of switch/activator type thing to use and how to hook it up to the rail. Buddy's dad had it so that light was on a plunger, so bulb was on when door TOP hit plunger, but that only showed light when door was fully open.

Any advice? Thanks!

[Macgyver55]

It's easiest to mount the switch so that it is "open" (off position) when the door is closed. That way the adjustment is simple and should never change since the door stops at the same place every time. A brake light switch for a car works great if you are using low voltage, otherwise a roller style limiter switch is better for a 110 AC installation (although they are not cheap). The switch can be mounted to the wood frame where the track is attached as long as the mounting bracket is sturdy enough to hold the switch solidly.

I personally bought a Chamberlain wireless system but I've been less than impressed with it since it often gives false indications that the door is open when it really isn't.

[Tom7227]

Would either of these work?

http://www.grainger.com/product/POWER-FIRST-Miniature-Push-Button-Switch-2VLP8?s_pp=false

http://www.grainger.com/product/CARLING-...-llt?s_pp=false

Mount the swtich with a piece of material from the door frame and have the switch set so that it is activated by moving away from the door strengthener stringer jobber do that is lowest on the door. You know that metal piece that sticks out and fills up with dust?

[Tom7227]

I just went down and checked. The door rollers will get in the way do you would have to make a bracket and mount it on the channel that the door rolls on to get it away from the rollers. The switch would have to be like the one that makes your lawn tractor stop if you get up off the seat.

[CAMAN]

Get a 12volt power supply, a 12 volt led indicator lamp and an 8601 magnetic switch. (~$20 for everything)

The hardest part is finding a location on the door so when the door is closed both sides of the magnetic switch are lined up, but when the door is moving it is out of the way from being damaged. If it were me I would install a 6 inch arm coming off the top of the door going towards the ceiling and install the non-wired side of the switch there. Then locate the wired side of the switch in the correct location on the wall , you may need to place a spacer beneath it to build it out.

Make sure nothing gets in the way in all locations of the door, wire it up with the positive wire coming from the power supply to the common of the switch another wire going from the normally closed side of the switch to the positive side of the light, then wire the negative from the power supply to the negative of the light. Plug it in

[Surface Tension]

I installed exterior light fixture off the light on the opener.

With my remote I can turn the light on when I want. Have remotes in the cars of coarse and one in my house.

[delcecchi]

I searched for "security window switch". you could do "door" instead of window. There are a bunch available. Like this one, for example.

I would just look on that large online retail store.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Would it be possible to use the same limit switch that's already on your garage door opener rail? Both my garage door openers have limit switches for when to stop the opener in both open and closed position. Just use the same switch that activates "Closed", for lack of a better term.

Wire power through that switch, to an outdoor light.

Just thinking out loud, and over the keyboard.

Or, a guy could mount a light switch right next to the door with a small arm coming off the door to underneath the switch. Wire power through that switch to an outdoor light. When the door opens, the arm raises, flipping the switch and vice versa when the door closes.

[delcecchi]

The magnetic switches are under 5 bucks. That is what I would go with.

Although I am not sure how someone would get the door up if you have an opener. What is the problem we are really trying to solve?

[ncesi]

Any of the above ideas will work great but my self I would just buy a good LED light anywhere from $95.00 to $300.00 and leave it on all of the time (dusk to dawn) that way you have security and light for less than a penny a day to operate.

[BoxMN]

The magnetic switches are under 5 bucks. That is what I would go with.

Although I am not sure how someone would get the door up if you have an opener. What is the problem we are really trying to solve?

Thanks all for ideas.

Here is the problem I am trying to solve - I can't see my overhead doors from the house, they point towards the street. So if the door is open at night, and I am in the house, I can't check without going out there. I want a little little light, visible from within the house, that tells me if the door(s) is open, even just a little bit. That way I can shut them I already have motion lights, and plenty of "light" but just want a "your door is open, stoopid!" indicator light.

I think the magnetic would work awesome, as I can put them right at the top of the door, on the header and top panel, so as the panel is pulled away, it would "turn on" if indeed they can do that, which I think they can.

[Macgyver55]

This is the exact same scenario that my dad has at his place. I used a 12v transformer and hooked up a small red 12 volt trailer marker light visible from the house, then used an automotive brake light switch that releases the moment the door moves. Its been working for probably 20 years now! Total cost $0 (all stuff I had laying around)

[BoxMN]

This is the exact same scenario that my dad has at his place. I used a 12v transformer and hooked up a small red 12 volt trailer marker light visible from the house, then used an automotive brake light switch that releases the moment the door moves. Its been working for probably 20 years now! Total cost $0 (all stuff I had laying around)

I am going to ask my neighbor, the mechanic, if he has any of this stuff. $0 is better than $12 but even at $12 it is easy peasy. Thanks guys, I have it working in my head now, just the details of getting the stuff now.

[311Hemi]

Or just buy a wireless baby monitor. Up an running in 1 min....and have visual/audio of inside the garage.

Might have to watch what the guys talk about in the garage then though....

[Tom7227]

I think you need to install an alarm bell instead of a light. Box, when you're having a HUA episode a mere light won't be enough. Some really loud horn type jobberdo would get through in those foggy moments.

[BoxMN]

I think you need to install an alarm bell instead of a light. Box, when you're having a HUA episode a mere light won't be enough. Some really loud horn type jobberdo would get through in those foggy moments.

Yeah, true. But I shouldn't have called it a "security" light, more of just a "did forget to close the door again?" type moments without needing to go outside in the rain or cold to check, to protect me from my own stupidity, haha! Heck I have gone away and left it open all weekend before, or don't wait to make sure it goes all the way down - good thing I have good neighbors and we watch out for the stoopid things we each do garage doors open, dogs left out, windows rolled down, the usual dumb stuff...

[Tom7227]

I could well be wrong but I don't think that the security system switch is going to work. It is hot when closed. When you open it you break the circuit. So there has to be some sort of jobberdo that says "whoa, the circuit is open, I better pop up and see what's going on." When it pops up it will then close the circuit that goes to the light. So I think you need some sort of solenoid setup to do the popping up. Has to be a better way.

[Surface Tension]

The way I suggested would work but eventually turn off.

del posted this an it'll work when separated. Cheap way to go too.

[CAMAN]

The mag switch I suggested has both normally closed and normally open contacts. Normally closed is the way to go. Most mag switches you find at the hardware store are normally open.

[BoxMN]

Caman, I gotcha, after looking at them! Easy search found the parts. Thanks again all!

[Down Deep]

There are some very inexpensive home security systems that you can buy at the big box stores that will transmit to a receiver alarm inside your house. This way you get an alarm if you don't happen to be where you can see the light like when you are asleep. They use a magnetic trip switch attached to the door. The old type wire models are still around which are way cheaper than the wireless. Check the BigLIST which usually has some used systems for sale.