Wiring info wanted

ldj

Well-known Member
In my garage I have a ceiling light controlled by a 3 way switch in the house. Right next to the light is a plug that the door opener plugs into. Is there a way to make that switch in the house control that plug?
 
Simple enough, as the other posters replied.
Now the question is why you want to do this. Only thing I can think of is to prevent someone with a remote that happens to match your opener from opening the door.
Bear with me for a minute. With the opener powered from the light circuit, the light would have to be on for the opener to work. That means the light would have to be on whenever the car is out.
Follow the steps-
1- open the door, back the car out.
2- using the remote, close the door.
3- if you don't want the light on all day while gone to work, get out of car, walk back inside to turn off the light, walk back to car & drive away.
4- when you come back home, get out of car, walk inside, turn on light so you can open the door. Walk back to car & drive in. This defeats the purpose/convenience of having an opener.
Easy to do, & much more convenient to operate, add a seperate switch near the house door to control power to the opener.
Willie
 
If you do this, I suggest you break the jumpers between the two outlets; that way you'll have both switched and unswitched receptacles. You should mark them, unless you want to drive the next owner nuts.

I, too, have trouble understanding why you want to do this. It basically means you have to leave the light on all the time. Maybe you're thinking of removing the bulb or using a motion detector. That introduces a new problem: How will you know when the receptacle is turned on without looking at both switches? Every time you have visitors, they'll mess with the switches, for sure. Why? I don't know, but that's what they do: flip switches and run the garage door up and down.
 
(quoted from post at 02:39:52 03/19/13) If you do this, I suggest you break the jumpers between the two outlets; that way you'll have both switched and unswitched receptacles. You should mark them, unless you want to drive the next owner nuts.

I, too, have trouble understanding why you want to do this. It basically means you have to leave the light on all the time. Maybe you're thinking of removing the bulb or using a motion detector. That introduces a new problem: How will you know when the receptacle is turned on without looking at both switches? Every time you have visitors, they'll mess with the switches, for sure. Why? I don't know, but that's what they do: flip switches and run the garage door up and down.

OK, I hadn't thought about all that. I am retired and home all day. I go in and out a lot. Also have a cat that goes in and out a lot. My wife goes out some. Each time any of us go out the light comes on. My light bulbs only last a short time. I was thinking it was because go on and off so many times. Any other way to disable that light with a switch?
 
(quoted from post at 06:33:33 03/19/13)

...."My light bulbs only last a short time. I was thinking it was because go on and off so many times. Any other way to disable that light with a switch?

I am a little confused however, it sounds like you use the three way switch to open and close the garage door. The short life of the light could be caused by vibration from the garage door opener - standard incandescent bulbs are very sensitive to vibration. A rough service bulb would last much longer in this application, if vibration is the problem. CFL and LED bulbs would also be an option. CFL and LEB bulbs use so little power it does not manner if they burn a few extra hours per day - you would likely never recover the cost for an electrican to separate the socket from the outlet.

As to disabling the light, the hardware stores used to sell an adaptor with a pull chain switch. You unscrew the bulb from the light socket, screw it into the adaptor then screw the adaptor/with bulb into the light socket. To disable the light you switch it off with the pull chain switch.
 
(quoted from post at 07:56:15 03/19/13)
(quoted from post at 06:33:33 03/19/13)

...."My light bulbs only last a short time. I was thinking it was because go on and off so many times. Any other way to disable that light with a switch?

I am a little confused however, it sounds like you use the three way switch to open and close the garage door. The short life of the light could be caused by vibration from the garage door opener - standard incandescent bulbs are very sensitive to vibration. A rough service bulb would last much longer in this application, if vibration is the problem. CFL and LED bulbs would also be an option. CFL and LEB bulbs use so little power it does not manner if they burn a few extra hours per day - you would likely never recover the cost for an electrican to separate the socket from the outlet.

As to disabling the light, the hardware stores used to sell an adaptor with a pull chain switch. You unscrew the bulb from the light socket, screw it into the adaptor then screw the adaptor/with bulb into the light socket. To disable the light you switch it off with the pull chain switch.

No, don't use 3 way switch to open and close door. I mentioned that just to show there was a light right next to the plug. Light and plug aren't connected in any way. Short bulb life not because of vibration. I hardly ever close the garage door. Mostly only when going to be gone overnight. Told wife we shouldn't close it then because that was a sign we are gone LOL. The adapter with a pull string sounds good. I know exactly what you speak of, just didn't think about that.
 
I hope you don't think Pete Black is joking. You will have to go to a supply house {I'm guessing] .I doubt Lowes will have that
 
thanks dr. electrical equipment, including light bulbs are rated at a given voltage. time was your electric supplier provided you electrical service at 220/110 voltage. system improvements such as newer substations located closer to the load, bigger wire sizes, better voltage regulators and larger capacitor banks have all led to higher voltages at the point of use (homes, factories, business). typical residential voltage now run in excess of 240/120 volts with 126-130 volts being the norm thus shortening the life of electrical equipment. fortunately nearly all electrical equipment is rated for voltages greater than 120 volts, not so for incandescent light bulbs, thus shortening the life of the bulb. simple to prove, place a voltmeter on an electrical outlet and read voltage or call electric utility and have them read it at your meter.
 
After rereading your post several times, it sounds to me like you have a motion sensor light somewhere. If I remember right I think they are adjustable as to what motion they pick up. Been a few years since I put one up. If it is non adjustable, I would just replace the whole fixture.
 
If you don't want the bulb to come on (I'm assuming it is the one that is in the garage door opener itself), then just take it out. :)
 

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