Looking for a door switch...

[otherwhitemeat]

Can anyone help? I have a cab within a large storage room in my basement. When I show the house to folks, they always ask about the fan noise and odd light creeping around a crack and it's caused quite a raised eyebrow or two.

I am looking for some sort of a killswitch or something that turns off the power to the cab when the door to the larger room is opened. Is there such a thing? I have it wired into a standard lightswitch, but there are situations where I can think of the fan noise and lights cutting off in an automated way that might also be more secure. I am thinking of a similar sort of situation as what one has on their car door, only in reverse. Does this make sense or am I just too high to explain properly?

 

[Guest]

Sounds like you should not be growing at all. Paranoia will give heart burn.
What are your house guests doing in your basement ??????????????????????Showing off?????????????

Your plants need a discipline, a regimen if you will. Why do you even ask this question?

 

[Headless Hornet]

You can do it, but I wouldn't...

You can do it, but I wouldn't...

I'm pretty much with Ty-Stik.

You can absolutely make what you want (a killswitch) from common hardware store items. I wouldn't do that.

I'd work on quieting my fan, killing all light leaks, and keeping anyone and everyone away from my grow.

That's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

If you insist on your plan, i'd probably wire it through a motion detector.

 

[green_grow]

i'm far from being an electrician, but i am sure you could wire an on/off switch in the line before it reaches your cab. have a look around home depot, a great source of ideas for the grow room. mount it somewhere where you can casually flick it off as you and your entourage near the grow room.

 

[PharmaCan]

If you are intent upon doing this, a burglar alarm door switch connected to an electrical relay would work well and handle the load.

PC

 

[swampy_nz]

put a lock on your basement door.people shouldn't be down there.period.

 

[FreezerBoy]

I'm with the Hornet. Weather stripping, caulking etc. will fix the leaks. Try George Warner's idea here (mine works but not enough) http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=85249 Consider smaller fans or cooler lights. A true stealth stealthgrow is a wonderful thing.

.......edit ......
Here's a cool lightproofing trick in post 1 under, well, "lightproofing."
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=86694

 

[otherwhitemeat]

Thanks for the replies everyone. My wife is totally OK with my little operation, she supports it fully. We just bought our first home and like all first homes it's kinda smallish and we entertain in the basement. We have no kids, just quite a few houseguests. When we have company over we lock the door to the utility room, but people always look at me funny when I tell them the door is locked. As if to say 'whatcha hiding?'

Typical question from mother-in-law, family, friends is something like this:

What's in there?
Oh, it's just a utility room nuthin exciting.
Can I see it?
Oh, well the door is locked and the key is upstairs.
Oh, OK...you don't want me to see it.
Yep, pretty much it's a mess.


My basement is where our bar and entertainment center, video games, poker table are, as well as a small second kitchen--so we have a lot of guests. I placed my cab within the utlity room but I would like to have the ability to open the door and have the lights and fan cut off, then go on again when it's closed. It's a bit less suspicious then always saying that the door is locked. I mean everyone knows I burn, but no one needs to know that I grow.

 

[1G12]

Might think of plugging your stuff into a power strip that has an on/off switch.
Position it in your basement someplace where you have easy access to turn everything off descreetly.
But, like someone else said, best to take care of the noise & light leaks. Some tips: Have your exhaust end point away from the grow. Try to use smooth ducting like sheet metal...accordion dryer ducting makes more noise.
Have your air intakes low and in the back & with light traps. Try a speed controller for the fan. Black calking works great for sealing light leaks in cracks. Add attic insulation to the outside of the grow box then more plywood over that. Padlock your growbox.

Good luck!

 

[FreezerBoy]

I would like to have the ability to open the door and have the lights and fan cut off,

I understand the thinking but the thought itself is bad, unless you actually WANT a garden full of seeded hermies. The point of a grow cab (or room) is that the light NEVER goes on and off at random moments. Allowing your lights to strobe this way can destroy your garden.

Find a way to seal the light. Use a muffler or smaller fans. Find something to mask the sound or take the rap. If you have to do the door thing, limit it to the fans alone. Chances are visitors won't be in the room more than a minute or two. Just remember to close the door when you leave so the fan comes back on.