Unique Garage Switches

[Bearkat]

I think I saw a post on here where someone had a fire alarm wired for a light switch. I would like something unique/antique for my shop lights. What out of the ordinary switches do you guys have in your garage. Interesting tool switches too, since right now my only idea is a push button on and off like an old table saw.

 

[sxk122]

Good Chance the fire alarm switch was me, so I'll throw it up here. It controls the Halogen lights that I use as my 'shop' lights.

 

[kbs2244]

Maybe this?

 

[AndyL]

My hackerspace has a LOVELY Huge (think Frankenstein (original not new versions)) blade switch that's soon destined to light the lights

 

[rkevins]

do a search for "Images for wooden mechanical light switch covers

 

[Lippyp]

I considered re-using some old round bakelite switches I have in various outbuildings but common sense has prevailed and I've gone with modern metalclad switches. Lovely though they would have looked they wouldn't meet modern standards and wouldn't be robust enough for me. Now if I could find some of the old wartime vintage industrial metal toggle switch type those I would use.

 

[Crazy68Dart]

Old house had this style (original not reproduction like these!).

http://www.houseofantiquehardware.c...22090_a_7c472_a_7c4342_a_7cR_d_010FD_d_S_d_3&

Always thought they were cool. I replaced them with modern when we rewired the house.

 

[Bricen18]

I have an olde elevator push button. Was going to wire it up to my garage door. Haven't done it yet. I got it when I worked construction






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[Norcal]

The fire alarm pull stations are intended for 24 VDC, unless you use low voltage control instead of line voltage it's being used improperly.

 

[Norcal]

I one day hope to do something like this. I have thought about things like mounting a B&M ratchet shifter on the wall so I shift into drive to turn the lights on and then downshift into 2 or 1 to dim the lights to 1/2 or 2/3 brightness. I have thought about mounting a steering wheel to the wall and you push the horn to turn the lights on and off. If I used a newer steering wheel with wheel mounted accessory buttons I could use the extra buttons to turn on the shop stereo and other accessories as well. All done with relays of course.

Am I the only one that thinks it is a very bad idea to use a fire alarm pull station? If there ever is a fire, someone in the shop that doesn't know any better could look around frantically and then run over to the pull station and pull down on the handle to trigger the fire alarm. All that will happen is the lights in the shop will turn off making the problem worse. I would think any fire marshall that saw something like that would tear the owner a new one, and I would expect that any insurance company would not be happy seeing that either, especially if the shop burned down and you are trying to make a claim for the damage.

NO. Should have stated that in my above post.

 

[bhays]

If it's the old style fire alarm switch that broke the glass when you slammed it in, you can just remove the glass tube, drill a hole and install a push button switch behind it so that it depresses the push button when you push on it. This is a trick we use at the haunted attraction I run to trigger props while hiding the button in the scenery. We use momentary switches, but you could use an on/off just as easily.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I have a "Walk/Don't Walk" pole mount switch box complete with the little silhouette of a pedestrian I bought for this very purpose, I've just never installed it.

The button in it is spring loaded so I suppose I'll have to swap that out for so either kind of button(?)

 

[Bearkat]

Interesting Ideas. Thanks for the input everyone.

 

[Bearkat]

Looked around on eBay and found a candidate for my workbench lights at least.

 

[icenfire01]

Am I the only one that thinks it is a very bad idea to use a fire alarm pull station? If there ever is a fire, someone in the shop that doesn't know any better could look around frantically and then run over to the pull station and pull down on the handle to trigger the fire alarm. All that will happen is the lights in the shop will turn off making the problem worse. I would think any fire marshall that saw something like that would tear the owner a new one, and I would expect that any insurance company would not be happy seeing that either, especially if the shop burned down and you are trying to make a claim for the damage.

You guys kill me. Probably shouldn't drink beer in the garage either, imagine explaining to your insurance agent there was alcohol in the fridge next to power tools.

 

[Notch1988]

I know the first thing I look for in a buddies garage is where the fire alarm pull station is located. The second is a fire proof cabinet for his spray cans... if neither are there, I walk.

 

[Ragged Earl]

I look for the beer fridge and a comfy place to sit.

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

Is anyone familiar with Sunmulon push button switches?

http://www.sunmulon.co.jp/english/products/switch_e/index.html

I think they are 12/24v so they would have to control a relay. I've seen them on high end Prevost motorhomes ... very cool.

 

[tshetter]

I've got one similar to that, but with different buttons.

Haven't found something appropriate to control with it yet though.

 

[tshetter]

I know the first thing I look for in a buddies garage is where the fire alarm pull station is located. The second is a fire proof cabinet for his spray cans... if neither are there, I walk.

And the fire cabinet should also be grounded....

 

[69supercj]

You guys kill me. Probably shouldn't drink beer in the garage either, imagine explaining to your insurance agent there was alcohol in the fridge next to power tools.

No kidding. Geez guys its his home workshop not a pep boys shop.
Better make sure your tags are still on your pillows too while your at it.lol

 

[BellyUpFish]

I know the first thing I look for in a buddies garage is where the fire alarm pull station is located. The second is a fire proof cabinet for his spray cans... if neither are there, I walk.

Like, in a personal shop?

 

[BellyUpFish]

Looked around on eBay and found a candidate for my workbench lights at least.

That's pretty sweet.. What did you search for to find something like that?

 

[raddksn]

Did all you guys forget about THE CLAPPER?

 

[Bearkat]

That's pretty sweet.. What did you search for to find something like that?

I am pretty sure that "marine control" was what led me to that. I also searched marine switch panel. I originally wanted something from an old Chris Craft or the like, but what I did find was more than I wanted to spend.

 

[BellyUpFish]

I've got one of those automatic light switches on my lights now, I love it. Lights on the instant I walk in the door and off in 5 minutes after no movement is sensed.

I would like to add something cool like the control to my bench lights.

 

[Bearkat]

Fishing is near the top of my hobbies, and one bay of the shop will store the boat, so what I found was perfect. I already ordered it for my workbench lights. I didn't think about the backlight on the gauge, that's a great idea. I wanted to do something with the oil pressure light too.

 

[Lippyp]

I found some lovely old industrial light switches on ebay, cast iron boxes with a fancy front with a brass toggle switch in the middle, can't quite justify £27 each though which is a shame as they'd look great in my garage and suit the vibe I'm aiming for just right.

 

[bigpokie]

what kind of places could go put my eyes and hands on things like this? i know of surplus and demo salvage places. but i dont know of a construction type place

 

[FJ 432]

I had a friend help me with an industrial look using Allen Bradley low voltage buttons. I have 2 points of entry/exits in my garage. I have this set up at each door. The top two button box is nothing more than buttons that control my garage doors; front and back. The three button box is my 3 sets of lights that are lit when off and the light goes off when I turn on the respective bank of lights.

 

[zkling]

I know the first thing I look for in a buddies garage is where the fire alarm pull station is located. The second is a fire proof cabinet for his spray cans... if neither are there, I walk.

Just make sure to dawn the hard hat, safety glasses and steel toes before entering, right?

 

[James_B]

I was passed the link to this crowd on Etsy that makes the above switch cover and some similar designs.

The person that passed me the link wanted a similar styled outlet plate, but the Etsy crowd didn't make any. He did know that I've been working on a Steam Punk style cover for (initially) Decora switches and outlets, and wanted to know if I could produce the outlet plates.

 

[Identaltech]

1978 GE 700 remote X-ray timer.
I use it for my garage door opener.
Set the time on the right inpulse time and push the exposure button and the door opens.


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[Bearkat]

That X-ray timer is awesome. I wanted a GE stove control- I saw one in a 1960s era house that was original. Push button to turn each burner on and the GE logo was lit when they were on. Haven't found one yet, but would be awesome for my main lights.

FJ 432- any links to those switches? I assume the low voltage switch controls a relay that turns on the lights.

 

[Notch1988]

http://www.otrattw.com/index.php has cool automotive switches

 

[James_B]

Once you've decided to use a relay/contactor to do the actual switching, all sorts of possibilities turn up.

Things like guarded toggle switches (sometimes referred to as "missile launch switches", and which are dirt cheap) to complete sections of automotive dashboards.

The old "mad scientist lab/Frankenstein" type knife switches can be nasty/dangerous in a dark environment, as they have bare conductors that traditionally carried the full voltage ... but if all you are doing is using them to switch low voltage to a relay, then there's no problem with those bare conductors. For good visuals, you want a 3 phase knife switch.

 

[Falcon67]

Never really thought about it, but I've used these Grizzly switches on some machines:
https://www.grizzly.com/products/H8238