Pantry closet light

7 years ago

Our new house is almost finished. originally I asked my electrician for a door jamb switch for my closet pantry since I had one in my last house and enjoyed it. He said the motion light was even better. Ok, that sounds fine. Go for it.

fast forward..pantry is not wired yet for light. Pantry shelving installed by cabinet people with trouble light hanging from ceiling. Electricician finally installed ceiling LED light in the ceiling. Did I mention that electrician is DHs cousin and he insisted to GC that he get our job?

I’m still wondering why we have no motion light. DH hesitantly tells me today that motion light won’t work with LED light and won’t work because switch is in the wall inside a pantry shelf...all according to electrician.

So so now I’m going to have to reach into a pantry shelf every time I want to turn on my pantry light. Plus it’s an outswing door and the switch is on the hinge side of the door. Really a PIA.

i didn’t post this to vent, honestly. I posted this to find out if I have ANY alternatives that you all may know about that my electrician is not aware of or is not wanting to bother with.

is it too late to wire for the door jamb switch that I originally wanted and will it work with the ceiling LED light? Is there any other technology that we can use?.?.

i know...first world problems.

Featured Answer

Lyndee Lee

7 years ago

My previous home had door jamb switches in the closets and those are the most wonderful invention. Super handy and no one ever left a closet door open! Even if it cost a bit more, I would choose that method if possible

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Comments (11)

skmom
7 years ago
Well... my master closet has a door jamb switch, and my hubby put retrofitted led lights in there to replace the original boob light that was there. It still works fine!
ILoveRed
Original Author
7 years ago
Was the door jamb switch retrofitted or original? Thanks Skmom.
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Jennifer
7 years ago
Home Depot has motion sensitive LED lights for closets and pantries. Search" 7 in. White LED Motion Sensor Flushmount Closet Light".
skmom
7 years ago
I believe it was original when the house was constructed. It was built in 1992. We are the 5th owners of the home, but the previous owners did very little to update, and we see no evidence of a prior light switch, and no wall repair where one might’ve been. Plus, the switch looks pretty old, like it came from that era.
DavidR
7 years ago
Installing a jamb switch now would be just like doing it in old work (existing construction). Sure, it'll be more effort, will probably require some drywall cutting and patching, but it's certainly not impossible.
mike_kaiser_gw
7 years ago
There are certainly occupancy sensors that work with LED lights. Lutron makes them along with everyone else I suspect. Now the existing switch may be in a location that won't sense motion as you walk into the panty. In that case, you would have to use a remote sensor. Again Lutron makes ones that works with their Maestro series wireless switches. Or put in a door switch, it may be cheaper.
ILoveRed
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks guys (and gals) . Didn’t mean to be rude by not getting back here. DH talked to my electrician this morning and mentioned the remote sensor.

they both agreed that the door jamb switch will be the way to go. Smh that we didn’t do that to start with. So over this house.

Again..thank you.
weedmeister
7 years ago
My pantry had a lamp on the ceiling with a pull-chain. I replaced it with something like this.

For the one I used, the sensor is remote and attached by a thin cable.
ILoveRed
Original Author
7 years ago
Weedmeister...for some reason, the new garage doors in our new house do not have a light on the opening mechanism like our old house. Puzzling.

this looks a solution for arriving home to a dark garage. Thanks.
weedmeister
7 years ago
It screws into a standard light socket. You then put the light into it. Point the sensor toward the door. Turn the switch on and leave it that way. When you open the door, it will come on. It will stay on a minute or two after you close the door.