calling all electricians
 

I need to make a light for my pantry that turns on when the door is opened. Does any one know where I can go to get the wires, contacts and diagrams to make this happen? My girlfriend wants me to finish one project and I think I can do this one :D

Well, first a few questions.

Is there an existing light in the pantry? If so, I would look into a fixture that mounts directly to the J-box that is motion activated. That would be the least complcated.

If no light in place and you are not experienced at home wiring, take your time. You can do some real damage very easily.

Search the web for home wiring/adding a light fixture. Read a TON before proceeding. And in the end if you have a buddy that knows wiring, bribe him with beer/food/sports tickets etc... for help.

Trying to add a door switch that turns the light on/off when it opens/closes can be a pain.

It would be nifty. But later when you have to troubleshoot, you may hate it.

Good luck!

Unfortunately there is no pre-existing lighting in the pantry. I was thinking of something more simple, i.e. a battery powered light. Then my second thought kicked in....that would not be very bright (literally). How difficult would it be to get my hands on my wiring diagram?

I changed the switch in my pantry to a motion detector. Love it.

If the pantry is windowless, you could opt for a light sensitive unit that goes on when the door is opened. I do NOT recommend someone to simply dig into house wiring without some knowledge. That being said, getting a book or two on proper wiring techniques is usually sufficient along with common sense to get a job like that done. A trip to an electrical store (not one of the Big Boxes) is in order. Door operated switches are difficult in practice, though simple in theory.

Door operated pantry light switch -- good call. Only real difficulty is providing power to said light. Getting the wiring diagram for your house is liable to be fairly challenging, and provide little or no insight as to how it's actually wired. Most building-types pay relatively little heed to the diagrams that they're supposed to be using for a roadmap. That said, you're liable to be able to find power in a number of places nearby, and if you don't mind ripping out chunks of your drywall in order to hunt down said power, you can probably make it work.

Recognize, BTW, that your house has 120V power running through those wires. 120V is more likely to kill you by stopping your heart than just about anything else. 450V and up will more likely throw you before it does any real damage. Less than 120V may not be able to put enough current in you to do the job. That said, of course, anything above about 30V _can_ kill you, though probably won't. So the right answer? Open the breakers to the whole house before you operate near any of the wiring.

Oh, and there's a pretty good risk of screwing it up and causing a fire, too.

Boy, now that I think about this a little more, maybe this isn't a good starter project for someone who's never played with electricity before...


Dan

If you are set on doing this yourself do some research. Search the internet and buy some books. There is one called Basic Home Wiring that is a great starter for the DIY guy.

Do a motion sensor type intall so the light comes on only when the door is open, and goes of soon after it closes. Cutting in a door jamb switch is not fun.

Make sure the power is off to the circuit you plan on drawing power from. Find the Jbox to tap into and use 14/2 romex for the pantry light. Always test twice with a meter that the power is off and do not become the path of least resistance.

If this all sounds to much to tackle hire an electrician that is licensed. Should be a 2-3 hour job for a decent electrician. Some may even do it for cash on the weekend or after hours.

Oh yeah, the volts only tickle you, its the amps (milli) that will stop your heart.

As a construction engineer, addicted home renovator and by reading your post; my advise to you is "hire an electrician".

Electrical work is not the typical starter point in the home renovation program.

If your set on doing it; you don't need a wiring diagram? You just need to find some 'hot' power in a nearby light or receptacle/switch. You can blow small repairable holes in your drywall, use #9 wire to pull the wire through to where you need it. Hopefully you have attic access, and once again it becomes easier.

Don't be afraid to punch small holes were you need to, they patch and paint out easily. There are door jamb switches which can switch the light on when the door is open; they're the best for this application. The jamb can easily be removed and wiring hidden behind jamb/casings. Run your hot wire through the switch, up into the attic, to a light box cut into the ceiling.

You the man. Patch, Dap and paint.

Like working on cars, always use the best tools you can afford. Don't try doing a good job using the costco plastic case home renovators tool box. Hee hee.

Good luck, wish I was closer to you; I'd drop this in while you sipped a beer and watched? It's one of my addictions, can't stop renovating.

Oh yeah, be very careful as to 'not' void your insurance by doing home electrical work yourself. Even if its not the cause of the fire, it can void the insurance.

Be careful.

All,
I appreciate your points, all of them. There are a lot of things I did not consider. From the obvious (finding a hot wire) to the not so obvious (voiding the warranty). With that said, I do feel confident in doing the job myself. Just take my time and do the job right. Fortunately my buddy approves all local floor plans and properly lines. So I am hoping a case of Guinness can get my hands on the wiring diagrams. I was hoping to wire my living room for surround sound too. The problem is, I live in a townhouse and my pantry and living room are both in the middle level.

Thanks again....I will let you know how it goes.

Cool and good luck!

I recently installed a surround sound system in my theatre room; I used a 45 degree crown moulding to hide the wires, ran the wires from behind the amp up inside the wall to the crowns. Painted the walls 'deerskin', tan color with a darker accent on 6"base, crowns and fancy casings and it turned out really nice.

Alot of my friends love the idea and no wires exposed. I did it so the wires (rough-ins) can be left in tact if I ever move; just unclip amp and speakers, as everyone today has surround sound systems.

Chow

"As builts" are what the post plans are called. Seldom are they created or kept for condos. Wiring today is the shortest way between 2 points. Get a tester that shows hot wires in the walls. Often they are combined with stud finder which you could use as well.