Something that maybe I can plug into a light socket?
What I am trying to do is turn on the overhead lights in my garage when my liftmaster has its lights on, but then turn off when the liftmaster turns its lights off.
there are many multi-sensors that include light level sensors. The motion with the light level might even be a more robust option if say you wanted to leave the light on if the garage was occupied.
Thanks but how would that work if its turning on a light in the same room? It would never know when the garage opener light is off.
But tying it to a motion sensor is a good idea.
A load measuring outlet would work, but your bulb wouldn’t be totally distinguishable from the motor going on… Just ensure you use one that’s rated for Motor-based loads, since it will measure/control the garage motor as well as the light (outlet level measurement)
I have a circuit level monitor that’s measuring each individual breaker in my house (20+ circuits), and I can tell when the garage motor, and it’s light, are on/off, but I’ve only done it by eyeballing the values returned (no code against it yet)
you can place the sensor near the garage door light. When the door closes, and the light turns off, it will detect basically zero light.
unless you are worried about ambient light from the outdoors in the case the door is open. Do you need to detect the light turning off when the door is opened too? In that case, you can stop the light from triggering the overhead light with the Day/Night plugin.
Another option would be to remove the bulb broom the garage door opener, screw in an outlet adaptor. Run an extension cord from one of the outlets to a lamp module. Turn on “Load Sensing” in the module. Power the overhead lights with that module or with a z wave switch that turns on/off with the module.
This would be my choice for the requested scenario. Provided the load of the external lights wasn’t too high, I would power the lights directly from the opener’s socket, without Z-Wave modules or anything else. A $3 adapter and some wire fits the need.
This would be my choice for the requested scenario. Provided the load of the external lights wasn’t too high, I would power the lights directly from the opener’s socket, without Z-Wave modules or anything else. A $3 adapter and some wire fits the need.[/quote]
yup, very simple and cheap solution, but you would then not be able to turn the light on manually. That’s a marriage stressor in my house; my wife deals with all these little gremlins running around turning on lights when she opens doors! I don’t think she’d be happy with light switches that no longer work.
A very simple method would be to put a contact sensor on the door. When the door is opened, set the light to ON for some pre-determined time.
Lots of ways to do this, most require a sensor and a switch working together.
You are correct, lack of manual control is undesirable.
He didn’t state which LiftMaster model he has, but most garage door openers have a manual light control button on the wall controller. Looking at LiftMaster’s site, I see only one wall button/switch that does not include an independent manual light control button. Some even have motion sensors that turn the light on when there is movement in the garage.
I think I found my solution:
I bought a PIR to put in the garage and switch. When motion is detected I will have light turn on. I can have it turn off after motion stops.
This is my first PIR so hopefully it works the way I expect.
That’ll work