Installing a Chamberline Garage Door Opener?
I have an overhead garage ceiling light w dual socket. Is there a way to convert one of the sockets so I can plug a new garage door opener into it? Is it safe to do this?
I have an overhead garage ceiling light w dual socket. Is there a way to convert one of the sockets so I can plug a new garage door opener into it? Is it safe to do this?
T C
Favorite Answer
Can you run power from a light source ….the answer is yes, but it would be ungrounded…with a "polarized screw in light socket plug".
Should you…Absolutely not.
Your garage opener needs to be grounded and on top of voiding your warranty…it goes against code, and it could mess up your motor.
There are two basic wiring possibilities to your light.
One, which would be nice for you, is the power supply from the breaker is coming into the box where your light is …then going down to the switch. If that is the case, you can install an outlet right there, that would allow you to operate the light without deenergizing the closer ….
The other is…. the power is coming into your light switch box first, in which case if you did add an outlet it would deenergize with the switch….
However you could add a "light socket adapter with pull chain" to control the light without shutting off the switch…
or better yet, you could install a "Porcelain Lampholder with chain and a grounded outlet", for around 15.00.
(Sorry… I would add links, but YA deletes any posts from HD or Amazon)
USAFisnumber1
Both sockets are part of the same outlet and power supply. What you can do is turn the outlet on and leave it on and plug the door into it. Get a motion activated LED light and plug that into the other outlet. Then when you walk out into the garage or drive the car into the garage the light will come on.
Spock (rhp)
it is safe to do this directly. the usual wall switch for the light will turn the garage door opener on and off. When I had such a system, I turned the opener off at night to prevent someone with a clicker from driving down the streets at random, looking for someone's door to open so they could thieve. Converting a socket so that the light still works on the switch and the garage door opener is always powered would require running a new line [14/2 romex] from a hot power source to the socket. I've done this as well, AND it requires at least handyman skills. -- grampa