Hello:

I have a single-car detached gagage w/an overhead electric door. The garage has a dawn to dusk light fixture mounted above the overhead door and hard wired to a second fixture on the side.

When I am inside the home (at my back door), I cannot see the front of the garage or its door thus, I do not know if the door is up or down.

I wish to remove the dawn-to-dusk and replace it with a standard spotlight fixture. What I would like to know is... do you have a thought or two about how I might hard wire a 110v switch that turns on this new fixture using the door's movement of (UP for ON) or (DOWN for OFF)?


I can only think of placing a switch in a receptacle box near the edge of the moving door with some sort of stiker attached. Somehow, I think that may be a bit too... easy?

Your thoughts are welcomed.

Mike P in Cleveland

I read your post and I kind of know what you want... but not sure what you want to accomplish. If you want to have a signal that tells you of the door status, there are many wireles devices which can do that. If tyou want the door status to be displayed by a light, you will probably need a low voltage switch, with a relay to do what you want. If your door opener has a built in light, you may be able to use that with some creative wiring to do what you want. Is it your intent that you won't have ANY lights on if the door is closed? That is just one of the questions I have. With some creativity you can do just about anything. But being sure of the result is what will put up some roadblocks.