Fiber Optic Spyhole?

[Jay Hanig]

Here's the problem:

I live in a 3 story house with a two car garage and workshop down on the
ground floor. The living space begins on the second floor. I am in and
out of the garage all day long and generally enter the house through there.

Going downstairs, I often open the door only to find I've left the
lights on (sometimes overnight).

I was thinking: is there any sort of fiber optic thing that would mount
on the door and allow me to see the light on the other side of the door?
The stairwell is dark when I turn off its light from upstairs but I
would be able to see I'd forgotten something without having to
physically check.

I am open to other ideas... just want the lights out when I leave and
I'm too unaware to do it through memory. I've got the dread CRS disease.



Jay

 

[RicodJour]

Here's the problem:

I live in a 3 story house with a two car garage and workshop down on the
ground floor.  The living space begins on the second floor.  I am in and
out of the garage all day long and generally enter the house through there.

Going downstairs, I often open the door only to find I've left the
lights on (sometimes overnight).

I was thinking: is there any sort of fiber optic thing that would mount
on the door and allow me to see the light on the other side of the door?
  The stairwell is dark when I turn off its light from upstairs but I
would be able to see I'd forgotten something without having to
physically check.

I am open to other ideas... just want the lights out when I leave and
I'm too unaware to do it through memory.  I've got the dread CRS disease.

Install a motion sensor light switch. Easiest thing to do.

R

 

[jeff_wisnia]

Here's the problem:

I live in a 3 story house with a two car garage and workshop down on the
ground floor. The living space begins on the second floor. I am in and
out of the garage all day long and generally enter the house through there.

Going downstairs, I often open the door only to find I've left the
lights on (sometimes overnight).

I was thinking: is there any sort of fiber optic thing that would mount
on the door and allow me to see the light on the other side of the door?
The stairwell is dark when I turn off its light from upstairs but I
would be able to see I'd forgotten something without having to
physically check.

I am open to other ideas... just want the lights out when I leave and
I'm too unaware to do it through memory. I've got the dread CRS disease.



Jay

If the light switch for the garage is on the garage wall just inside the
garage near that door you want to "see through" it would likely be a
simple job to put in a box and pilot lamp on the house side of that door
and wire it so it's lit when the garage lights are on.

That's eggsackly what I did in our home over 20 years ago. I used a neon
pilot lamp and it's lasted well all that time.



A couple of tips I use to help overcome the effects of my own CRS are:

If SWMBO asks me to pick up something en route home from work I take my
wristwatch off its usual position on my left wrist and move it to my
right wrist. Every time I look to see what time it is I'm remided of
what it is I have to do.

If I need to take something out of the fridge and bring it into work (or
bring something home from the office fridge.) I put my car keys on top
of it. No way am I going to start driving until I've been to that fridge.

Jeff

 

[Jim Elbrecht]

-snip-

Install a motion sensor light switch. Easiest thing to do.

I'm thinking you're right. Added benefit for me would be that after I
pause for 'a moment or two' to ponder my next step, the sudden
darkness would jolt me back to reality.<g>

Do those things have 15-20 minute timers on them?

Jim

 

[RicodJour]

I'm thinking you're right.  Added benefit for me would be that after I
pause for 'a moment or two' to ponder my next step, the sudden
darkness would jolt me back to reality.<g>

Do those things have 15-20 minute timers on them?

They are adjustable. Different ones have time setting ranges and some
have adjustable field of view ranges so they're not accidentally
triggered by movement outside the area to be lit.. For use in
California I believe you have to have one that you have to turn on,
but automatically turns off - not sure what's up with that. Most are
automatic both ways.

R

 

[Jay Hanig]

If the light switch for the garage is on the garage wall just inside the
garage near that door you want to "see through" it would likely be a
simple job to put in a box and pilot lamp on the house side of that door
and wire it so it's lit when the garage lights are on.

This appeals to me more than motion sensors... the lights are
fluorescent. The complication is that they've got more than one switch
location. I can turn them on from just inside the front door (between
the two garage doors), from inside the workshop (next room in) and
finally from inside the stairwell behind that door.

The stairwell door is the only place I'd need an indicator light.




Jay

 

[David Nebenzahl]

They are adjustable. Different ones have time setting ranges and some
have adjustable field of view ranges so they're not accidentally
triggered by movement outside the area to be lit.. For use in
California I believe you have to have one that you have to turn on,
but automatically turns off - not sure what's up with that.

Regarding that last thing, what are you talking about? I'm in
California, have installed *lots* of motion-activated lights, and none
of them work the way you described (at least I don't think so, based on
your description)--they all work the conventional way, turned on by
motion, turn off automatically, though they *can* be turned on manually
by flicking a switch connected to them, which I assume is true of all
similar lights sold across the U.S.

Regarding the adjustable on time, almost all of the ones I've installed
(Heath-Zenith, the only ones you can get anywhere, it seems) have only
1-2-5 minute choices, nowhere near 15-20 minutes.

 

[David Nebenzahl]

Regarding the adjustable on time, almost all of the ones I've installed
(Heath-Zenith, the only ones you can get anywhere, it seems) have only
1-2-5 minute choices, nowhere near 15-20 minutes.

My bad; I just checked a couple of old ones I pulled from service, and
they're both 1-5-10 minutes. I think that's the standard.

 

[David Nebenzahl]

This appeals to me more than motion sensors... the lights are
fluorescent. The complication is that they've got more than one switch
location. I can turn them on from just inside the front door (between
the two garage doors), from inside the workshop (next room in) and
finally from inside the stairwell behind that door.

The stairwell door is the only place I'd need an indicator light.

Sounds like an interesting experiment. Why don't you get a short piece
of fiber-optic cable and just try it? Could experiment just on a piece
of wood: drill a hole for the cable, get a couple of small plastic caps
(maybe from a craft supply place, jewelry pieces, whatever) and epoxy
them onto the cable. Might just work. (Though I suspect it'll have to be
fairly dark on the other side of the door for you to be able to see if
the light is on or not.)

 

[RicodJour]

Regarding that last thing, what are you talking about? I'm in
California, have installed *lots* of motion-activated lights, and none
of them work the way you described (at least I don't think so, based on
your description)--they all work the conventional way, turned on by
motion, turn off automatically, though they *can* be turned on manually
by flicking a switch connected to them, which I assume is true of all
similar lights sold across the U.S.

I just grabbed this, you can DAGS on your own and see if you've been
compliant or not:

"Standalone Motion Detecting Lighting Controls
These devices mount in a wallbox and turn your lights on and off based
on motion detected in the room. (Occupancy sensing.)
Be sure the device you purchase has the mode you want. (For instance:
Automatic On, Timed off.) Devices made for California Title 24 do not
have an option for "automatic on." That feature is not allowed under
Title 24. The motion detector's only function is to turn the light off
once the room is vacated."

R

 

[RicodJour]

This appeals to me more than motion sensors... the lights are
fluorescent.  The complication is that they've got more than one switch
location.  I can turn them on from just inside the front door (between
the two garage doors), from inside the workshop (next room in) and
finally from inside the stairwell behind that door.

Fluorescent bulbs doesn't change things - they're switches, not
dimmers, and they make them in three way switches. They're not budget
busters.
http://www.amazon.com/Leviton-PR180...6?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1281638390&sr=8-6

Doing the fiber optic thing, or an indicator on the other side of the
door will cost you more money and time, and you'll still have to go
into the garage to turn off the light.

R

 

[David Nebenzahl]

I just grabbed this, you can DAGS on your own and see if you've been
compliant or not:

"Standalone Motion Detecting Lighting Controls
These devices mount in a wallbox and turn your lights on and off based
on motion detected in the room. (Occupancy sensing.)
Be sure the device you purchase has the mode you want. (For instance:
Automatic On, Timed off.) Devices made for California Title 24 do not
have an option for "automatic on." That feature is not allowed under
Title 24. The motion detector's only function is to turn the light off
once the room is vacated."

Hmm, I wasn't aware of Title XXIV; thanks for that. Have to look into it.

It looks like this is for lights installed in a room, not outdoor
lights, to which I was referring. My apologies for any confusion there.

(I've never installed any of these lights indoors, so I guess I don't
have to worry about the Compliance Police coming after me ...)

 

[Cindy Hamilton]

If I need to take something out of the fridge and bring it into work (or
bring something home from the office fridge.) I put my car keys on top
of it. No way am I going to start driving until I've been to that fridge.

I'm relieved to know I'm not the only person who does that.

I always have a little concern that I'll forget I put my keys in the
fridge
and have some kind of panicky meltdown in front of my co-workers,
but it has never happened (yet).

Cindy Hamilton

 

[RicodJour]

Hmm, I wasn't aware of Title XXIV; thanks for that. Have to look into it.

It looks like this is for lights installed in a room, not outdoor
lights, to which I was referring. My apologies for any confusion there.

(I've never installed any of these lights indoors, so I guess I don't
have to worry about the Compliance Police coming after me ...)

I guess the reasoning behind the no-automatic-on thing is so lights
aren't unnecessarily turned on during the day if somebody walks into
the room, but then the sensor should have a 'dawn-to-dusk' sensor over-
ride. My hands are always full when I walk into a room, sometimes
with packages, sometimes with just fingers, but they're always full
and it's soooo much work to turn on the light. I'm tired just
thinking about it!

R

 

[Jay Hanig]

On 8/12/2010 11:14 AM Jay Hanig spake thus:
Sounds like an interesting experiment. Why don't you get a short piece
of fiber-optic cable and just try it? Could experiment just on a piece
of wood: drill a hole for the cable, get a couple of small plastic caps
(maybe from a craft supply place, jewelry pieces, whatever) and epoxy
them onto the cable. Might just work. (Though I suspect it'll have to be
fairly dark on the other side of the door for you to be able to see if
the light is on or not.)

I had another thought: does anybody make a four way wall switch that
would have an indicator light on it that might light when the circuit is
hot? Knowing the power is going to the light would be the same as
knowing the light was left on.

I've still preferring to steer clear of motion sensors. They always
seem to click off in the middle of things. I've used one (for another
purpose) in the garage in the last place I lived and wasn't satisfied
with it. That one turned on a floodlight within the garage when anybody
moved in there but it wasn't suitable for general lighting. I have
banks of 8' fluorescent tubes on both sides of my garage as well as in
the workshop in the next room. I need to control all of the tubes; not
just a single bulb.

The idea is not to leave the lights on when I'm not in the garage. But
with the machinery I have within my workshop, it'd be dangerous for the
lights to go out during the middle of an operation. Table saw, etc...




Jay

 

[Grumpy]

Here's the problem:

I live in a 3 story house with a two car garage and workshop down on the
ground floor. The living space begins on the second floor. I am in and
out of the garage all day long and generally enter the house through
there.

Going downstairs, I often open the door only to find I've left the
lights on (sometimes overnight).

I was thinking: is there any sort of fiber optic thing that would mount
on the door and allow me to see the light on the other side of the door?
The stairwell is dark when I turn off its light from upstairs but I
would be able to see I'd forgotten something without having to
physically check.

I am open to other ideas... just want the lights out when I leave and
I'm too unaware to do it through memory. I've got the dread CRS disease.

Install a motion sensor light switch. Easiest thing to do.

Or add another light in parallel on other side of door
you don't need rocket scientist for that

R

 

[RicodJour]

I had another thought:  does anybody make a four way wall switch that
would have an indicator light on it that might light when the circuit is
hot?  Knowing the power is going to the light would be the same as
knowing the light was left on.

I've still preferring to steer clear of motion sensors.  They always
seem to click off in the middle of things.  I've used one (for another
purpose) in the garage in the last place I lived and wasn't satisfied
with it.  That one turned on a floodlight within the garage when anybody
moved in there but it wasn't suitable for general lighting.  I have
banks of 8' fluorescent tubes on both sides of my garage as well as in
the workshop in the next room.  I need to control all of the tubes; not
just a single bulb.

The idea is not to leave the lights on when I'm not in the garage.  But
with the machinery I have within my workshop, it'd be dangerous for the
lights to go out during the middle of an operation.  Table saw, etc...

No, a motion sensor switch does not make sense in a workshop with
dangerous tools running. It's important to at least try to ask a
question and give sufficient information so you don't waste people's
time...including yours.

Just buy the standard door peep hole. Cheap and installs in five
minutes.

R

 

[The Daring Dufas]

They are adjustable. Different ones have time setting ranges and some
have adjustable field of view ranges so they're not accidentally
triggered by movement outside the area to be lit.. For use in
California I believe you have to have one that you have to turn on,
but automatically turns off - not sure what's up with that. Most are
automatic both ways.

R

I despise motion activated lights in restrooms. When I'm dropping a load
of ready-mix, the light always goes out when I'm half done. That's why
I always have a flashlight or two in my possession at all times.

TDD

 

[The Daring Dufas]

I just grabbed this, you can DAGS on your own and see if you've been
compliant or not:

"Standalone Motion Detecting Lighting Controls
These devices mount in a wallbox and turn your lights on and off based
on motion detected in the room. (Occupancy sensing.)
Be sure the device you purchase has the mode you want. (For instance:
Automatic On, Timed off.) Devices made for California Title 24 do not
have an option for "automatic on." That feature is not allowed under
Title 24. The motion detector's only function is to turn the light off
once the room is vacated."

R

It seems silly to me to not have automatic turn on, it's a good
deterrent to burglars. I had a friend who was having problems
with nightly trespassers dressed in black to match their skin.
I setup a motion detecting floodlight with a 120vac fire horn
attached. It went off one night and the next morning my friend
found blood and bits of bloody cloth on the barbwire sections
of the back fence. Automatic lights have their uses.

TDD

 

[Jay Hanig]

No, a motion sensor switch does not make sense in a workshop with
dangerous tools running. It's important to at least try to ask a
question and give sufficient information so you don't waste people's
time...including yours.

Just buy the standard door peep hole. Cheap and installs in five
minutes.

I'm sorry if I've wasted your time. I want to be able to stand at the
top of the stairs and see that I've forgotten the garage lights are on,
without having to walk down those stairs to see it. If I have to walk
downstairs, I don't need a peephole: I can just open the door. I want
to know from the top of the stairs.

At night, it's a dark hole looking down into that stairwell unless I
either flip on its light or have the garage lit up and that door between
them open. So any sort of indicator light would be obvious. I am still
pondering some sort of fiber optic device inserted into the door just
like a peephole. I can't seem to find a source on the web unless I'm
willing to buy a huge supply of it. Plus the fact if such a device
already exists, I don't want to reinvent the wheel.

I've even considered a security camera/monitor setup but dismissed it as
way too elaborate and expensive. I'm looking for a cheap solution. I
find it hard to believe one doesn't exist.




Jay