Garage Entry/Night Lighting

[nafterclifen]

Since I turned on the heater in the garage, we have been using the man door to get in/out of the garage/house instead of opening the large garage doors. Electric heat is not cheap!

First I installed a dusk to dawn CFL bulb in the exterior fixture to have some light at the door as we walk to the house from the driveway. First we were using keys to unlock the door and that got to be a pain so I installed an electronic door lock. So much easier!

So now we can get to the house with light, access the house easier but once we're in the garage...it's DARK. The walk from the garage door to the house door is only a few steps, with some stairs but we need some light.

We've been turning on the ceiling-mounted florescent lights but they are overkill. We really just need some path or night lighting to walk those few steps/stairs. There is an outlet near the garage entry door and also on the ceiling. A fixture or bulb with both motion and photocell would be ideal. Any suggestions?

 

[6t7gto]

This?
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Cooper-Lighting-110-Plug-in-Motion-Sensor-Light-in-Grey/19630467

 

[vwlfan]

Look at a home automation system like Casa Verde or Nexia. Simple systems to setup and then you can do things like entering the unlock code on an electronic lock automatically turning on a given light. Our you can use you cell phone to control your lights.


Bob

 

[nafterclifen]

This?
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Cooper-Lighting-110-Plug-in-Motion-Sensor-Light-in-Grey/19630467

That's way too much light but thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Jinks]

The cheap answer would be one or two solar path lights. A better answer would be low voltage LED path lights with a timer. Both available at any big box or hardware store.

 

[Git]

I posted this in another similar thread. It is an LED bulb with a motion sensor built into the tip. It actually works quite well. I have one in a light fixture by my front door

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LBPFUF8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Pardigital]

I'm having the same issue. I ordered this light from Amazon on Friday- it'll be here tomorrow. I'll mount it above my side door inside the garage so that when I open the door, I'll be able to see the light switch.

 

[ripperd]

In my garage I took the original two bare bulbs and their light switch and replaced the light switch with an occupancy/motion sensor. These two light up anytime there is motion in the garage and shut off after 5 minutes of no motion. It works awesome for the wife coming home and/or me grabbing a wrench or taking the trash out (trash bins are on far end of garage). Then when I actually want to do anything in the garage I have a separate light switch for all my T8 fixtures.

 

[dfiler2]

Occupancy sensors work well, just be sure you have a neutral at the switch. I installed one of these in my shop, it works well. There is a light switch by the door but I find it gives me plenty of light to navigate most of the time. Keep in mind the bulb type or the one I installed require power all the time.

 

[nafterclifen]

I posted this in another similar thread. It is an LED bulb with a motion sensor built into the tip. It actually works quite well. I have one in a light fixture by my front door

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LBPFUF8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

This is exactly what I was looking for, I'm going to order one. Thanks!

 

[mark11]

I've got two recessed lights in the garage wired through a Lutron motion sensor on the wall opposite the man door. When the door swings open the lights come on. It's one of the best things I ever did.

 

[BD1]

Get a couple of night lights . Works well.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EJSBK26/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Dustball]

This is exactly what you need.

http://amzn.com/B002VF9POY

I bought mine a few weeks ago to plug into an outlet located above my front door. It's motion activated only in the dark and provides the perfect amount of light to see where you're going.

This is a pretty accurate picture of the amount of light it puts off-

 

[nafterclifen]

This is exactly what you need.

http://amzn.com/B002VF9POY

I bought mine a few weeks ago to plug into an outlet located above my front door. It's motion activated only in the dark and provides the perfect amount of light to see where you're going.

I bought (2) of them. If I don't use them in the garage, I'll find other uses.

Thanks!

 

[jmiller_2308]

I put an older lighted exit sign over my man door. I rewired it to use 15w equivalent LED bulbs and leave it on all the time. This throws enough light for 10 to 15 feet.

But the door is another 15 feet so I also have a 20W equivalent LED under cabinet light mounted under a shelf along the wall to the door. This throws a bit more light than I would like but it does light up the entire garage nicely enough that I won't be surprised by anybody. I also figure that the two of these consume so little energy that I just leave them on all the time.

 

[sberry]

Yes, motion light.

 

[Dustball]

I bought (2) of them. If I don't use them in the garage, I'll find other uses.

Thanks!

What do you think?

 

[nafterclifen]

What do you think?

I just received them today actually. They don't put out enough lighting for my liking in the garage so I'm going to use them elsewhere.

The ChinChinLighting motion bulb is what I installed in the garage and it is the cats meow. I no longer have to turn on the overhear fluorescents just to go out into the garage for something and when I enter the garage from the outside at night, the bulb turns on giving more than sufficient lighting to move about the garage and get into the house.

Thank you everyone for your help and suggestions!