Garage door opener

[mitch_04]

I'm finishing my garage and have a question regarding the door opener. I'm a picky person, and I don't really like the idea of having just a hole in the wall that the garage door opener wire comes through. It's an old opener that just runs a basic 2 wire switch. I am running it through a low voltage box by the opener, but I'm having trouble deciding what to do with the switch. I'd like to run another low voltage box, but all of the push button switches are small and meant to be mounted w/o a box. I also thought of putting a blank cover on the LV box and mounting the switch to that, but even that would look sort of tacky.

Any ideas for a solution?

 

[Chitown_hillbilly]

Put the hole for the wire behind the button and surface mount the button. Wires hidden behind drywall, hole covered by button.

 

[upndown]

Plate with a round hole, or blank plate and drill your own hole. cheap round button from HD (make sure button is plain..no light, light won't work on certain older openers) fasten to drywall, wah lah all done

 

[mitch_04]

Chitown, that is exactly what I'm trying to avoid.

Upndown, thats the way I was leaning. I was trying to think of a way to dress it up a bit, maybe find a neat old button.

 

[upndown]

You can use any kind of switch or button as long as it's momentary contact. If you find a button you like, just make sure you remove the light bulb, the bulb completes the circuit.. the same as if you wire nutted the wires together (phantom operation)

 

[Chitown_hillbilly]

Yea I must be missing something. I thought you were just worried about the wires showing. I can't figure out how a switch on a cover plate is going to look that much better that its worth all the effort. Take some pics when your done though, and I'll probably change my mind

Although I've got LM 8500's and their switches are kinda complicated, I'm guessing I couldn't do the same thing anyway.

 

[mitch_04]

Yeah, I'm not huge on the idea of just a plate with a button. It's the right concept, but I just need to figure out how to "pretty it up" a bit.

 

[mitch_04]

Ordered some things, I'll drill a hole in the middle of the plate and mount the switch in it. Should look better than a blank plate with a cheap button.
Wall Plate
http://www.lowes.com/pd_297606-8122...=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&facetInfo=Blank
Button
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008DFYEZQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Chitown_hillbilly]

Ordered some things, I'll drill a hole in the middle of the plate and mount the switch in it. Should look better than a blank plate with a cheap button.
Wall Plate
http://www.lowes.com/pd_297606-8122...=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&facetInfo=Blank
Button
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008DFYEZQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Alright, that might be worth the effort and the extra expense.

 

[ShawnJ]

Personally, I'd go with a stainless blank over that white one.

 

[mitch_04]

Thought about that too, but all of my other outlet covers are white, so it'll match a little better.

 

[mitch_04]

I have the button but won't get the plate for a little bit. Going to make a trip to Lowes sometime (it's 2 hours away) and stock up big time. Need drywall, insulation, couple windows, few receptacles I missed, etc etc...

 

[kenfath]

While you are getting your materials together, give some consideration into installing a second button. One suggested location would be to the side of the vertical door tracks and about two feet above the floor. It provides an easy way to close the door if/when you exit the garage via the door. It is placed low just in case you have fallen and can't get up and want to open the door. An ideal switch is what I've heard called a bank alarm switch. The button is on the bottom of a small housing which protects against accidental pressings. They cost around $10, are inconspicuous and most people will never see it or know what it is.

 

[mitch_04]

My father mounted a switch on the inside of the garage, then he mounted a sign on the outside with a very, very long screw. When he wanted to open the garage he would push the screw that appeared to hold the sign, but really just passed through the wall and pressed the inside button. Works great, although I'm curious how many people have seen me use it!