Garage door - fridge-light style switch?

I have a door from utility room into my garage (in which my bike resides
- to keep this on-topic). The garage has a couple of fluorescent tubes
operated by a regular switch on the wall. The door opens "into" the
garage.

I am an impatient sod - when I flick the light switches, I want instant
illumination but with the tubes, there is a delay while they flicker
into life.

It struck me that it'd be really rather nice if I could rig up another
light which would be automatically switched on/off as the door is
opened/closed. And as I keep my beer in there in winter it really is a
fridge, isn't it...

Anyone got anything similar (no, not the fridge) or do I just head off
to Maplin and browse the swicthes there? It could be as simple as a
switch mounted above the door with a lever that is tripped by the top
edge of the door.

--

jeremy
'01 Triumph Sprint ST in green
_______________________________________
jeremy0505 at gmail.com

 

Change the ballasts to the electronic type. You get instant on then.

 

Ikea used to make door switches on some of their products.
Although you might consider something like
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-PIR-Globe...ryZ94941QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
which will give you the necessary illumination until the main lighting kicks
in

 

Jeremy wrote

Slicker to get a burglar alarm type magnetic switch (to operate a relay
to turn on the mains) and screw a magnet on the door.

Or, keeping with the burglar alarm theme: one of them motion sensor
devices what is designed to turn on the mains driven infra red lights so
you can film the scrotes. All the technology you need in one box that
is.

 

Measure the length of the tubes and i'll get you some electronice ballasts
FOC.

JB

 

Thanks - I'll take a look later.

--

jeremy
'01 Triumph Sprint ST in green
_______________________________________
jeremy0505 at gmail.com

 

You can get a PIR activated floodlight for under a tenner - should do
the job nicely. I've just stuck one in my garage as it happens, giving
me a total of four PIR activated devices in there. If you can't catch
the fuckers, irradiate them.


--
Krusty.

http://www.muddystuff.co.uk
http://www.muddystuff.us
Off-road classifieds

'02 MV Senna '96 Tiger '79 Fantic 250

 

The message <>

Magnetically-operated reed switch which you let into the upright, and
the magnet into the door. Will need to activate a relay, as AC mains
would probably just arc across the gap when it breaks.

Obtainable from any burglar-alarm stockist. (and Maplin)

 

Reed switch in the door frame triggering a DIN mounted relay in a small
mounting box.

Or, **** all that, just get a single PIR and use it to switch on a 100
watt bulb.

 

Jeremy wrote :

In my garage I have a PIR operated flourescent fitting, one of the
eight in there. As PIR units by themselves are rather expensive, I used
one removed from a PIR halogen flood light.

Open the main front door or the side entrance and the light comes on
after a small delay, assuming the garage is in darkness. It saved me
some wiring, plus the light goes out if the door is left open garage
unoccupied. Walk/drive in and it goes back on. No need to put up with
the delay, if you use a fitting with an electronic ballast, or you
could use a bulb instead.

 

Move the light switch from inside the garage to the near end of the
utility room.

Flick the switch as you go past, and by the time you've got the door
open the light'll be on.

 

Could you use mains-driven UV lights to make it hard to see[1] and give
them a sun-tan to help with the identification?

[1] When I've looked at UV lights they seem to be bright without being
bright, IYSWIM. Enough of them would make it very hard to see if
you're used to a very dark room.

 

Bits of spring-loaded 2x4 covered in nails & mounted at head height
have a similar effect, albeit a tad more permanent.

--
Krusty.

http://www.muddystuff.co.uk
http://www.muddystuff.us
Off-road classifieds

'02 MV Senna '96 Tiger '79 Fantic 250

 

<g>

--

jeremy
'01 Triumph Sprint ST in green
_______________________________________
jeremy0505 at gmail.com

 

The message <>

How would very bright UV lights show you if he was used to a very dark room?

 

Spikes in the bottom of the inspection pit, and a cover of cardboard?

 

Not quite getting your banter, old chap. The point is exactly the
opposite.

UV lights make your iris contract, like a properly visible light source
would. Thus, it makes it "feel" like there's a bright light in front
of you (i.e. makes you squint), even though you can't see the light as
it's UV.

Matey, who's snuck into the dark garage, sets off the PIR which turns
on the UV light array. His eyes are used to the dark, so he'll find a
certain amount of discomfort of unknown source when the UV hits him.

This would only work if there's no UV-reactive things knocking about in
the garage, as that would provide enough normal light to illuminate the
room.

 

The message <>

Oh dear. Whoosh!

 

Well, what do you expect if you're going to be so obtuse?

 

The message <>

Me?

Or do you mean abstruse?