Garage door opener lighting

[bowlofturtle]

I have the normal 2 car garage door opener for my 20x20.

I got a craftsman unit that has a spot for a 60w bulb.

When coming home at night it's rather dark inside the garage only that little bulb is lighting up the whole garage.

Any way to increase lighting for the brief moment one pulls in aside from using the car as lighting.

I've used a 100w bulb before and it kinda melts the plastic cover. Lol.


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[aandpdan]

How about putting a motion detector light switch in, so the car triggers it.

 

[bowlofturtle]

Throw plastic cover away.

The cover spreads the light a little better. Least that's what I think.



The motion light might make sense.


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[pattenp]

Use a higher wattage of CFL or LED bulb. Do not use higher wattage of incandescent. Or
use a screw in socket adapter and plug in an LED light strip.

 

[cybrdyke]

Get yourself a 100 watt equivalent LED bulb. It will be around 14 watts or so. It wont get hot enough to melt the plastic and will give you lots more light that the 60w incandescent.
Good luck
CD

 

[bowlofturtle]

Use a higher wattage of CFL or LED bulb. Do not use higher wattage of incandescent. Or
use a screw in socket adapter and plug in an LED light strip.

Any link or picture of these adapter? I'm exploring all options


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[Muzzy]

I used a relay to tie an old 8' twin bulb T12 fixture into the light circuit of my opener. I suggest using the same circuit as the opener for the fixture.

 

[Richard Cranium]

just a screw in adaptor, it screws in where the bulb used to, then you plug a cord in.

 

[pattenp]

Socket to plug adapter.

 

[D45]

^^^^^^^this

socket to plug adapter, connect it to an LED shop light.........instant on power and lighting

 

[matt_i]

I'd go with the socket-to-plug adapter as long as you don't over-amp the circuit. In other words I wouldn't use it to turn on a 200+ watt T5HO 4 bulb fixture.

Using a relay coil is minimal amp draw from the opener itself and you could then use its contacts to potentially switch on 20 shop lights, if desired.

 

[383]

I installed an outdoor floodlight with motion detector in my garage for this reason.

 

[Newell33]

I tried installing an LED mogul base bulb in my Sears/Craftsman garage door opener built around 2007 (if I remember correctly). If you look at most LED bulbs that are intended to replace their incandescent counterparts, they have a larger diameter near the top of the mogul. I'm assuming this is for the built in driver. Due to this larger diameter, the bulb wouldn't screw into the plastic holder. I'm not sure if the newer openers are designed this way, but none of the LED bulbs that I found at the big box stores would work.

 

[lakeroadster]

Another proponent of a motion detector light... they are slick. We have them in our attached garage and on the front of the garage and around the house. I never have to turn lights on or off, it's automatic.

And if somebodies in the garage... you know it.

The one's we have won't come on during daylight hours and can be set for 1 minute or 10 minute "on" time. We have them set at 10 minutes.

Last night the mail lady showed up after dark and brought a package to the front door. As soon as she pulled in the driveway... the lights came on.

 

[sprchrgd1]

This is not the proper way to address the new led bulbs not fitting but works. Grab a penny out of your pocket and sandwich between the lower contact and the led bulb of your choice. Just take notice that some have complained that garage door remote no longer works correctly or works sporadically due to the circuitry inside the leds and the frequency of the opener conflicting. I have not had this issue but I use the Chamberlain MyQ.

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[doorfx]

What if your in Canada? No more pennies lol

 

[ambenz]

I also have a Chamberlain.
I installed a socket to plug adapter, added a 3 way plug, and connected two 4 foot LED shop lights to the unit.

Now when I pull into the garage, it as bright as day.

 

[SARG]

I have a 500w outside light outside of each garage door that triggers through relays when the door opens.

 

[homebuilt burner]

I put a motion sensor in the garage hooked to a pair of LED bulbs. Works great cost very little.

 

[imagineer]

^^^^^^^this

socket to plug adapter, connect it to an LED shop light.........instant on power and lighting

I did the same thing. The only hiccup on mine is the vibrations from the opener will jar the plug loose in the adapter after a month or so. I have zip ties on there now, keeping the plugs supported.