Door opened. Light went on.

proofer

I just saw the neatest thing. Someone showed us the door to their kitchen pantry. When they opened the door, the light automatically went on. I believe it had some special type of wiring, because it had to do with that metal catch on the side of the door close to the door knob. Does anyone know what type of light/wiring I need to buy to set mine up that way?

gregzoll

You can either use a switch that opens when the door closes, or use a Sensor that senses a person. Friends of ours have a Proximity switch with a sensor that allows for the light to turn on when someone gets near the switch. Plus for their Hallway, and Pantry.

BigJimmy

Proofer-

This was discussed at length a few months ago herein. Try this:

Automatic Closet Lights

If that doesn't work, do a search for "automatic closet switch." There was a lot of good information in there.

Good luck,
Jimmy

__________________
The very existence of flamethrowers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves,"You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done." - George Carlin

Ash

A simple microswitch will do. Just put it in a plastic box for protection

Charles

One of my friends has an older farmhouse with the closet switches and I think they would probably be your best bet.

joed

You need a door jam switch like one of these.'

http://www.residential-landscape-lig...b_switches.htm

fw2007

If you're going to use such a switch, it must be mounted in an approved wiring box (preferably plastic for safety, i would think), and be connected using approved wiring (Romex, etc)
Alternatively, you can use surface raceway and THNN wiring. Just make sure it's in some sort of approved enclosure and wiring meets code. I've seen such hookups done with SJ cord or even lamp cord. This is not recommended, or allowed.

FW

fw2007

Correction: THHN, not THNN.

FW

Yoyizit

And in my own house, I didn't even use a box, just heat shrink tubing and a microswitch from my junkbox. The risk is tiny, but it's not zero.
I calculated the overall risk and the possible "cost" and I decided.

This arrangement will be stripped out by me if I sell the house.

But, for the houses and neighborhoods and lives of others, for me it's the NEC. It has a "longer memory" and is "smarter" than any one person.

Of course, if you use 12v it's a whole 'nother ball game. You still need to protect the closet contents from hot bulbs, though.

fw2007

That was my thinking when I installed a light in a closet that never had one. I was going to use a floodlight socket (outdoor type) with a standard bulb, attached directly to the junction box, but realized that if the bare bulb should come in contact with anything in the closet, there could be a fire.
I picked up a globe fixture from HD for about $7. Much better than my original idea.

FW

joed

Your original idea is code violation.

gregzoll

Tell that to the Insurance Claims adjuster when they deny your Fire Claim because they found a Home-Owner Hack Job that burned down your residence, or Rental Apt.

Yoyizit

My insurance company gives my house 1 chance in >500 of a fire from any cause that totally destroys my house within the next year [divide the yearly premium by the replacement cost of the house].
It'd be even better odds if the fire dept. was closer than the one mile away that it is now.

I, the installer of this [alleged] hack job, have 1 chance in 50 of dying from any cause within the next year.
I'm sure my insurance company also knows my odds and maybe has already factored them in for any policy I have with them.

Gentlemen, place your bets!