Automatic light switch for walk-in closet.

[Swank]

I'd like to install a 16 foot RGB LED strip in my walk-in closet and ideally I'd like the light to come on automatically when either door is opened (french doors on it). I was looking at IR proximity switches, they'd work great except they have a max current rating of 3A and my strip runs at ~5A. Any ideas/suggestions? Something I can pick up locally would be great, but if I have to order something that's ok. Thanks guys!

[mazdavirgin]

http://www.leviton.com/OA_HTML/ProductDetail.jsp?partnumber=OSS10-INI&section=62906&minisite=10251

:dunno:

EECOL should have them in stock.

[phreezee]

Home Depot or Rona have those in the electrical aisle.
I put them in my pantry and mud room.

[spike98]

Originally posted by phreezee
Home Depot or Rona have those in the electrical aisle.
I put them in my pantry and mud room.

Ditto, $15 per switch. Makes sure if you want to dim, you get the LED dim-able ones too.

[mr2mike]

I think this would work best for your application.
http://www.homedepot.ca/product/momentary-door-switch/905831
http://www.homedepot.ca/wcsstore/HomeDepotCanada/images/catalog/15767.174875_4.jpg
A friend has them on his closets and pantry. They work as they should, no need to worry about lights being left on.

[Swank]

Sorry, I should have mentioned the specifics of the wiring. The LED strip has a 12v power supply which plugs into an outlet that isn't switched. I need a switch to go between the 12v power supply and the LED strip.

The one mr2mike mentioned above would be ideal, however it's only good for 3A and my strip runs around 5A.

[E46..sTyLez]

Check into Lutron. As far as I know, they are one of the industry leaders in motion controlled switches. I believe Gescan carries them

[mazdavirgin]

Originally posted by Swank
Sorry, I should have mentioned the specifics of the wiring. The LED strip has a 12v power supply which plugs into an outlet that isn't switched. I need a switch to go between the 12v power supply and the LED strip.

The one mr2mike mentioned above would be ideal, however it's only good for 3A and my strip runs around 5A.

I would buy a new light assembly and hard wire it into the rest of the electrical but eh...

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Westek-Plug-in-Motion-Activated-Control-MLC4BC/203675444

That should work if you want to do it quick and easy.

[spike98]

Originally posted by mr2mike
I think this would work best for your application.
http://www.homedepot.ca/product/momentary-door-switch/905831
http://www.homedepot.ca/wcsstore/HomeDepotCanada/images/catalog/15767.174875_4.jpg
A friend has them on his closets and pantry. They work as they should, no need to worry about lights being left on.

These are great to wire in a new build but a huge pain to retrofit. Much better solutions out there.

A outlet with a sensor is the easiest and cheapest route for sure. Another option is a z-wave outlet, sensor, and controller but thats about 200x more $$.

[The_Penguin]

Holy shit, 5A?

I have 4 8 foot LED strips on my covered deck ceiling and all together they draw around 2.

[ercchry]

so 12v DC? why not just use a relay with the switch thats only good for 3a?

[Swank]

The original strip I was going with was 16', drew about 3.75A (finally measured it, I thought it was closer to 5A initially). I've decided to go with one that has fewer LEDs so the current won't be much over 2A. This way I can use the switch that I wanted to from the beginning.

http://i.ozcdn.com/qfLe.jpg
http://www.oznium.com/ir-sensor-switch

The relay would have been the way to go had I stuck with the original strip.

Thanks guys!

[mr2mike]

Originally posted by spike98


These are great to wire in a new build but a huge pain to retrofit. Much better solutions out there.


Agreed. Unless you're removing the door frame and already have a light switch nearby, it would be a PITA to install these.