Low voltage opener light with Liftmaster 8500?

[eljay]

So, my builder installed the 8500 in my new garage. However, because the electrician's pre-wired the garage for a traditional opener, the electricians only put a low voltage wire in the middle of the ceiling for a low voltage light.

The light that comes with the 8500 requires a 120V AC plug, so the installers just installed it on the wall right next to the opener, which is not very practical.

Can I get a low voltage fixture for the ceiling to be controlled by the 8500? Can anyone recommend a suitable fixture that will put out good light? Perhaps some LED light?

Thanks.

 

[LifeLongWNYer]

You can use a relay with a low voltage coil to control the 110 power to the light.

I did that with the coil feed coming from two door operators. They both turn on/off the same light in the garage and outside the door, no matter which one runs.




JBP


.

 

[justsam]

Seems like if they pre-wired for a "conventional" opener that there would be a 120VAC receptacle in the center of the ceiling, which is always hot and would be fine for the regular Liftmaster remote light.

The low voltage wire you mention, is typically used with conventional openers to control the ceiling mounted opener, not for lighting, which again on a conventional opener is integrated in the opener housing. I also suspect it is very small gauge wire and really not suitable for carrying enough current for a low voltage light, even if LED. It could be used for a control lead however to operate a relay for example. Where does the other end go?

I really do not know of any low voltage fixture that can be directly controlled by the RF signal from the Liftmaster. I suspect the original fixture could be re-engineered to do it, but would require some internal re-work. Check with Liftmaster as they may have developed a separate control module, but I suspect it too will be 120VAC.

 

[eljay]

Thank you both.

justsam, that's exactly the issue - that there's only the small gauge wire running from the 8500 location to the middle of the ceiling. They want to charge $175 to install a regular 120V plug there at this point.
So, I guess that wire is really useless there then.

 

[Trey T]

If your builder install the "low-voltage" wire, there should be a power outlet there also or at least notified to you of the deficiency. There should be room for negotiation, IMO.

Did you pay extra labor cost for the 8500 installation?
Do you have attic space above the garage?

 

[justsam]

Liftmaster does make a module, the 825LM, that plugs into any 120VAC receptacle and has a receptacle on it that controls any 120VAC device, such as a lamp. Intended use is to light a lamp inside your house when garage door opens. It could be used to power a lamp in your garage, or with a little work could power a relay to light your overhead garage lights if you have them. It really is just the control portion of the remote light fixture that came with your unit. Cost is about $30.

https://www.liftmaster.com/For-Homes/Accessories/MyQ-Accessories/model-825LM-(1)

 

[wssix99]

I can't imagine what a low voltage wire would do for you at all. (Unless you want to install your door switch in the middle of the ceiling.)

They want to charge $175 to install a regular 120V plug there at this point.

This is a bargain - take it! This is typical for new home ownership.

I spent the whole winter ripping out walls and other assorted missed items on my new abode. It really feels odd when you are doing demolition on a new house... Anyway. I'd gratefully accept a $175 adjustment. It's a lot better than a $400 missing plumbing drain, etc.

 

[Trey T]

... They want to charge $175 to install a regular 120V plug there at this point.
So, I guess that wire is really useless there then.

...
This is a bargain - take it! This is typical for new home ownership.

I spent the whole winter ripping out walls and other assorted missed items on my new abode. It really feels odd when you are doing demolition on a new house... Anyway. I'd gratefully accept a $175 adjustment. It's a lot better than a $400 missing plumbing drain, etc.

It depends, really. Adding an outlet is a junior electrician's job, not a senior electrician. A contract price for that could range from $30-60/hr, depend on location. If there's an attic space above and you can easily tap into the next junction box, it shouldn't cost anymore than $100. This is a junior to mid-level electrician's job, not senior electricians.

Again, it depends. It sounds like i'm nickle-and-dime the situation but there's such an inflation of labor cost in past decade, especially due to the vast amount of DIY TV shows of house flippers.

 

[justsam]

I am not so sure I would hire these "electricians". They should know that whether you have a wall or ceiling mount opener that there needs to be both a power receptacle and a low voltage control lead. Anyone with any sense would question why the installation of a control lead and yet no power. Where did they run the other end? I am assuming to an entry location to operate the opener. Did they run sensor wires as well?

 

[Trey T]

How many set of wires are there? Do you have any photo? Is the 8500 a retrofitted opener (installed after the house was completed) or was it factored into the house build?

 

[eljay]

Thanks for all the responses.
I managed to get the builder to take care of it and just add a plug.
The electrician claims I specifically told him that I want a low voltage wire. As evident by this thread, I had no idea what low voltage vs regular AC would do for me there. I simply said that I will be using a jackshaft door opener and that I want its light to be mounted centrally on the ceiling. So, in the end the builder settled it and told me that they'll put a plug there as I requested at no charge.

And yes, this is a new construction.

Regarding the extra charge, I found that a little excessive given that the attic hatch is right next to the wire, and the panel is 10 feet away and the fact that after billing thousand of dollars for the whole house wiring, they couldn't just either "thrown one plug in" or charge their standard $50/plug rough-in rate.

Anyways, a happy ending and now I know there's no such thing as a low voltage opener light!