Wiring a sign to light up when garage is opened

[trainman1385]

I have a small sinclair gas sign that is lit up with LEDS, I would like to wire in a manner so that it would turn on when the garage door opens and would turn off when the door closes or the lights on the garage door opener turn off, What is the safest and cheapest way to do this?

 

[Gary S]

What voltage powers it? If it is powered off 120v, get an old fashioned magnetic switch and attach it to the door. Wire that switch to a low voltage power supply that powers a small relay that will switch the 120v.
If it is 12v DC or less, you can leave out the relay.

 

[G_P]

What voltage powers it? If it is powered off 120v, get an old fashioned magnetic switch and attach it to the door. Wire that switch to a low voltage power supply that powers a small relay that will switch the 120v.
If it is 12v DC or less, you can leave out the relay.

Exactly. You just need a switch that is closed when the door is fully open. A lever actuated snap action switch would work. You only need a relay if the amp draw of the light exceeds the max amp rating of the switch. Unless the light draws 10a or more you can easily find a switch to handle it.

Edit. Just reread and saw its LED. It should be low amp draw. Seriously doubt a relay will be needed unless you plan on adding more signs in the future.

Sent via carrier pigeon.

 

[lbmcse]

Depending on the scenario and ease of wiring, you could tap off the garage door opener's bulb. If the garage door opener is ceiling mounted and above the garage is attic, this would be fairly simple. Provided it's a dedicated circuit to the garage door opener's bulb; the extra load of LEDs should be negligible. If you did this, run an amperage check with both sign and bulb lit to be sure it doesn't exceed 12 amps, (80% of 15amps), which it almost certainly won't.

 

[Rob_b]

You can't use the garage opener light because it does go off after a few minutes but you could use a contact switch mounted to the frame rail of the door that when it moves up, trips on, down it trips off. Should be a simple wiring and manufacture of the brackets. If the LED's are 120V you'll need to use some protective method to prevent shorts or shocks. Don't get complicated here...KISS method is best
PS. I like the magnetic contact too...

 

[lbmcse]

.. . I would like to wire in a manner so that it would turn on when the garage door opens and would turn off when the door closes or the lights on the garage door opener turn off, What is the safest and cheapest way to do this?

You can't use the garage opener light because it does go off after a few minutes. . . .

This is what he wants. Maybe simple is different to different folks. Both methods are pretty simple IMO.

 

[trainman1385]

I think I will conect it to the light on the opener. here is what the sign looks likehttps://sphotos-a-dfw.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/547436_10201705999392425_502685516_n.jpg

 

[wssix99]

I have a small sinclair gas sign that is lit up with LEDS, I would like to wire in a manner so that it would turn on when the garage door opens and would turn off when the door closes or the lights on the garage door opener turn off, What is the safest and cheapest way to do this?

I think you will find a good solution in this thread: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=171014&highlight=liftmaster

I need to do the same thing with my regular lights and expect to accomplish it by tapping in to the remote unit and then using three way switches and a lighting contactor. (If you have a conventional opener, you should be able to activate a relay or contactor by tapping in to the light socket.)