Need ideas on how to rig this up

gabbyraja · #1 11/12/12, 11:44 AM

I feel thick in the head today, but I need a little bit of simple help. In my laundry room are 2 bare lightbulbs with pull chains. One is a few feet into the room, the other is all the way across the room. ie, there is no light when you first enter the room and you have to feel in the air in the dark until you happen upon one.

I want to rig some way to pull both of these chains at the same time from the doorway. I'm no electrician, nor can I afford one right now, so this is the simplest solution. Obviously I could just tie a rope to both of them and hook it by the door, but looking for something SLIGHTLY more elegant and fluid, that doesn't hang in your face when you try to walk across the room...

Travis in Louisiana · #2 11/12/12, 11:58 AM

Right now I can only think of rigging up what is called a "CLAPPER SWITCH". Google it, you should see several examples.

Maura · #3 11/12/12, 12:44 PM

The clapper switch sounds like a good idea. Until then, put an eye (as in hook and eye) in the ceiling near the door. Run a thread from the nearest light chain to the hook, and down to hand level. Put a bead half way between the hook and your hand. Put another bead at the end of the string. Do the same with the second light, using an additional eye half way between the light and the door. Hang the pull a few inches from the first one.

You may need to put in a length of pipe or wood next to the light(s) to get a downward pull, if that is necessary.

gabbyraja · #4 11/12/12, 01:01 PM

lol, Maura, that's the part I just couldn't come up with. Duh. I didn't want to walk into the rope/string across the room, but couldn't figure out how to hang it from the ceiling. Thank you!

I have used a motion-sensored thing between the bulb and the receptacle before, but wanted it to stay on longer than a few seconds, so the clapper sounds about right. Thanks!

||Downhome|| · #5 11/12/12, 01:24 PM

Simple solution is a Flashlight.

Mag light has some minis that use one led and they are bright!
Take 2 triple a and last for ever! At least seems like the do.
Get your self a 4 pack of rechargeable and charger, Dollar store
here has the whole set up 10 bucks.
You'll never be with out a handy light.
Mines often in my pocket!

other option find a led night light and plug it in in a handy receptacle.
Wont use much power.
only draw back is you will only be using it there.

houndlover · #6 11/12/12, 01:40 PM

I got a motion detector light for my pantry, at Costco, came in a two pack and uses AA batteries. It stays on for 90 seconds and gives good light. Flashlights get used in other places and never returned.

gabbyraja · #7 11/12/12, 01:44 PM

Nope, apparently the chains must be pulled straight down or they just won't work. I just spent a half hour of my life I'll never get back trying every single way to pull that cord except down.

The problem with not doing it this way is it's my mother. She lives in the walk-out basement. The laundry room is storage and all sort of other things, too, and she usese it as her kitchen. She's lazy. She's also 60 and night blind. So, if it's not really bright it does her no good. If it's not EXCEEDINGLY easy (like flicking on a light switch) she won't do it just to save me a little bit of money every month. And I have little people all over the house that WILL NOT leave anything portable alone (especially flashlights!!!). If it's not permanently affixed it does no good, because it won't be there tomorrow.

She currently leaves the far light on 24 hours a day, even when sunny (there is a full-sized east-facing window in this room, but it gets not enough light after 5 pm, even on full moons, for her to see). It's the far light I have to rig in some way, because just now I tried to convince her that she could turn on the first one, then the second, and in reverse order when she leaves, but she won't do it...

Any other ideas?

meanwhile · #8 11/12/12, 02:12 PM

We have one of those battery type lights that you just press and it comes on. It is not enough light for the whole room but it is enough so you could see and grab the pull cord. I think we got this at Walmart. The one we have had a hook on the back of it and we hooked it to the wall in the barn for the same reason. We slap the light, it turns on, we can see the switch to the electric light, turn it on and then turn the battery light off with another slap.

If you put the battery slap-light on the wall high enough so the little kids cannot reach it, then maybe that would work?

Bearfootfarm · #9 11/12/12, 02:30 PM

An electrician could put in a wall switch to operate them both

luvrulz · #10 11/12/12, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by houndlover

I got a motion detector light for my pantry, at Costco, came in a two pack and uses AA batteries. It stays on for 90 seconds and gives good light. Flashlights get used in other places and never returned.

Mine don't take batteries, they plug in and I have one in the bathroom and one in the kitchen. When I get up in the night, they turn on and stay on for a while. Long enough to find the 'real' light switch!

Travis in Louisiana · #11 11/12/12, 02:52 PM

Thay make "WIRELESS LIGHT SWITCHES". You have to hook up a small part to one of the lights, then put the switch anywhere. Just google wireless light switch and you should get several choices to look at. It maybe just a little more money, but it would put a switch for atleast one light at the door.

KIT.S · #12 11/12/12, 03:32 PM

How about a night-light? Just enough light to find the cords? Is there a plugin that would be in the right place?
Kit

Nimrod · #13 11/12/12, 05:21 PM

They make a piece that screws into a light socket, has a socket on the other end for a bulb, and outlets and a pull chain in between. 2 Outlet Socket with Pull Chain at Menards . This will change the direction of pull to horizontal and the eye bolts and cord will work just fine but the chain has to face in the direction you want the cord to go. I did this in the garage and it works great. I used masons line for the cord and put a weight on the end of the line so it is pulled tight to the ceiling. I do have to give it a little slack before it pull the cord.

frankva · #14 11/12/12, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travis in Louisiana

Thay make "WIRELESS LIGHT SWITCHES". You have to hook up a small part to one of the lights, then put the switch anywhere. Just google wireless light switch and you should get several choices to look at. It maybe just a little more money, but it would put a switch for atleast one light at the door.

That sounds slick.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nimrod

They make a piece that screws into a light socket, has a socket on the other end for a bulb, and outlets and a pull chain in between. 2 Outlet Socket with Pull Chain at Menards .

I have one of those that really wants a vertical pull to operate.

I think a motion socket with a CFL might do it. Or even just a low wattage CFL. I have on over the kitchen sink that uses 9watts. She could leave that on with out braking the bank.

Remember she changed your diapers. Keep her a little placated.

rambler · #15 11/12/12, 08:56 PM

Sounds like less than $25 in cord and switchbox to have it wired right, know any handy-person types that would help you?

LED light in the far socket, they cost a little bit (ok a lot) to buy but save you a lot of electricity for 24-7 use?

The motion sensor adaptor screws into the light socket, screw a light into it, and it comes on when it sees motion, it goes out about 5 minutes later. No batteries or nothing. Tho - it does end up using a little electricity looking for 'motion' so likely in the big picture, that LED I mentioned would run cheaper....

--->Paul

gabbyraja · #16 11/12/12, 10:29 PM

I've not seen an LED that goes higher than a 40W equivalent bulb. Meaning, not enough light for the need. Do you know where you can get the equivalent of a 60-75W light? Then it might be the perfect solution, actually. Save me a lot of rigging, for about the same cost as all of those rigging things...

rambler · #17 11/13/12, 01:30 AM

My real quick search on google came up with Best Buy, they show a 60 watt equiv from Insignia, and a Sylvania 75 watt equiv.

Now, can't always believe the internet, not that I've seen these in person.....

--->Paul

copperkid3 · #18 11/13/12, 04:34 AM

where you got her; tell the manager that this one 'just isn't working out'.

Ask for another model if they have one in stock. If they don't, or have a policy of

no returns without receipt, ask for a store credit instead.

* * * * * * * * * *

Quote:

Originally Posted by gabbyraja

Nope, apparently the chains must be pulled straight down or they just won't work. I just spent a half hour of my life I'll never get back trying every single way to pull that cord except down.

The problem with not doing it this way is it's my mother. She lives in the walk-out basement. The laundry room is storage and all sort of other things, too, and she usese it as her kitchen. She's lazy. She's also 60 and night blind. So, if it's not really bright it does her no good. If it's not EXCEEDINGLY easy (like flicking on a light switch) she won't do it just to save me a little bit of money every month. And I have little people all over the house that WILL NOT leave anything portable alone (especially flashlights!!!). If it's not permanently affixed it does no good, because it won't be there tomorrow.

She currently leaves the far light on 24 hours a day, even when sunny (there is a full-sized east-facing window in this room, but it gets not enough light after 5 pm, even on full moons, for her to see). It's the far light I have to rig in some way, because just now I tried to convince her that she could turn on the first one, then the second, and in reverse order when she leaves, but she won't do it...

Any other ideas?

gabbyraja · #19 11/13/12, 06:53 PM

copperkid, now THAT is the help I was looking for! Thank you!

gabbyraja · #20 11/13/12, 06:55 PM

I LOVE my mom, but you know how moms can be...I just accept it, tell it like it is, and try to work with it.