Help with this idea..

[pioneer1]

From these pics you can see I have a recessed area where my lights are, I would like to get lights to the sides of my cars. I was thinking of using an adapter to screw into the opener light, run some metal raceway to the light, wire up a plug to the end of the Romex to plug into the adapter. I could probably tie right into the back of the wires coming off the control board of the opener, but the adapter seems easier and non permanent.

Using Techbrite fixtures (see above post)

Anyone see anything wrong with this? Have another idea?
Attaching a plug to the end of the Romex wire?
What size Romex should I use?

Kinda like the idea of having them come on with the opener and also being able to turn them on from the wall controller.
I will mount the lights down the side so they are not blocked when the door is up.

If I have posted this in the wrong thread please excuse me.. And a mod can move it

And then there is the other area.....

 

[Bert_]

Wire your new lights to a switch or motion sensor if you want them to be automatic.

Romex plugged into the light socket of the door opener is not acceptable.

 

[alfredeneuman]

There is no grounding connection on the socket adapter.

 

[Norcal]

Wire your new lights to a switch or motion sensor if you want them to be automatic.

Romex plugged into the light socket of the door opener is not acceptable.

There is no grounding connection on the socket adapter.

Above is just a couple of reasons not to do it, there are more...

 

[pioneer1]

OK, so I kinda get it, but help me understand something here? The light fixtures on the ceiling that I replaced only had 2 wires connected to them. There are other wires connected together that are shoved up into the box.I am sure those are the grounds. So, all I did was disconnect and plug those 2 wires into the connector of the LED tube fixtures per the instructions.(Black to Black, White to White) The LED Fixtures only have 2 wires.
Do I need to take them down and run a ground wire to the green screw of the LED fixture? I would think if that was necessary it would have been included in the instructions. They don't even mention a ground wire. .

That's what got me to thinking. The light on the opener only has a Black & White wire. Of course it is plugged into an outlet that has a ground. So, why couldn't I just tap direct into those wires coming off the opener and connect them direct to the LED tube fixtures just like the ceiling?

Or, just attach a heavy gage (14 or 16) 2 prong cord to the end of the wires of the LED fixture and use the adapter in the opener?

I don't see the difference.

The opener says to use a 75 watt bulb, and the LED tubes are only 18 watts each ( 2 tubes per fixture so that's only 36 watts, correct? ) I'm only going to be using 1 LED fixture per side of the opener to replace the bulb on that side.

What am I missing here?

 

[Norcal]

If you have metal parts they need to be connected to a grounding conductor, it is very important.

 

[Bert_]

Ground wire is assumed, no need to mention it. Any metal part of a fixture needs grounded.

Putting cord ends on Romex is not ok. If you had a plastic or double insulated fixture with a 2 prong plug then it could be plugged in.

 

[pioneer1]

If you have metal parts they need to be connected to a grounding conductor, it is very important.

Ground wire is assumed, no need to mention it. Any metal part of a fixture needs grounded.

Putting cord ends on Romex is not ok. If you had a plastic or double insulated fixture with a 2 prong plug then it could be plugged in.

Ok, The fixtures I took down are plastic, so that's why they didn't have a ground, correct?
I will get a ground wire and extend the ground wires from the box to the green screw of the fixture. since they are metal. That will correct my celing fixtures.

FOR OPENER:
And now I see that it's just that they are metal fixtures so they need to be grounded and just using the adapter is not a good idea.

So, what about taping into the 2 wires(Black & White) going to the bulb of the opener with Romex or insulated wire and running a ground wire to the frame of the opener?
Or, if I can tap into ALL 3 of the power wires to the bulb of the opener, then it should work and be OK, correct?

I know this may be pretty basic stuff to you guys, but I appreciate the help. I am glad I asked about this or I would not have know to ground my ceiling fixtures.
I would just like to use my opener lights as another source of light for the garage by using the LIGHT ONLY button of the controller on the wall as a switch and have more light when I pull my car in or out.

 

[Bert_]

Unless you use a hanging light with a factory 2 wire plug nobody is going to tell you it's OK, even then it's kind of hack but not nearly as bad as what you want to do. Wiring a permanent fixture to a residential style opener is not OK.

If you want it to come on when you pull in use a motion sensor.

 

[Shiftless]

pioneer:
Listen to the guys who have given you advice. They know what they’re talking about. Go with a motion detector. You can buy a decent 4 foot long LED fixture with a built in motion detector.