I finally bought a Amsec LP6036E last week and it is to be installed this wednesday. I really want to put some kind of light kit in it, but everything I see online is too expensive. Has anyone done a lighting system up themselves? Ideally I would like a system that turns on as the door is opened, but a small hidden switch would be ok. If you have pictures that would be great too. Thanks.
DIY Gun safe light system?
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Rembrandt
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What I used looks like rope lights in a metal tray.....recessed them into the bottom of each shelf. Then ran a couple of light strips verticle along each side of the door jam. This was done some years ago before the LED lights became available. Mine is ready for a change and upgrade.
I've seen some florescent blue/white small diameter bulbs that give off better light, guy at a gun show had kits for around $150 complete with door switch.
Unfortunately what I used gives off a soft yellowish light....appreciate it if anyone has a source for brighter LED type lighting...
I've seen some florescent blue/white small diameter bulbs that give off better light, guy at a gun show had kits for around $150 complete with door switch.
Unfortunately what I used gives off a soft yellowish light....appreciate it if anyone has a source for brighter LED type lighting...
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knockonit
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Yep rope lights, I put some in the front, then decided it wasn't enough lite and put some in the back with a small off/on four outlet strip, allows for other plugins if needed, chargers etc.
nothing like being able to see.
goodluck
nothing like being able to see.
goodluck
Just One Shot
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You can go to Wally world and get a 3 pack of battery operated click lights for $9.99 All you do is push in on the cover and WAA LAA you have light.
If you have a Menards you can get the LED push lights for a few dollars more and the batteries will last a lot longer.
If you have a Menards you can get the LED push lights for a few dollars more and the batteries will last a lot longer.
The Lone Haranguer
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I would get a battery-operated stick-on light, either bulb or LED. With some ingenuity you could rig a door-operated switch.
GlowinPontiac
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A door switch is simple. Get one of those little black momentary switches with the long metal tab on it. attach it so that when the door is closed it pushes the bar down and breaks the circuit shutting off the lights. It would require a bit of work to install it but would be MUCH cheaper than a pre built system.
Tony50ae
Member
For rope or other lights that need to plug in, you could buy one of those remote swithes. One part is a remote controlled outlet you plug into the wall then the light plug plugs into it. The other part looks just like a wall switch. You could stick it on the wall next to the safe. It uses a battery in it. I have one that I was planning to use with some led rope lights for my safe but deployment is currently in the way of putting it together right now.
Geneseo1911
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I bought a battery operated LED at Menards; the particular one I got has a light sensor that turns the light on when it senses um....light. It doesn't make much sense when you type it out.
Anyway, it's designed for cabinets, and automatically goes out when the door is closed. It won't work automatically unless the room lights are on, and the first day I had it, I turned it on manually and ran the batteries down overnight. Other than that it works fairly well.
It was the brightest one I could find there (5 LED, runs on 2AAA, about $10 with no batteries), and I would describe the light it throws as just adequate in my small (19x24x60) safe. I'll do something better one of these days. I would only recommend it as a temporary fix or to someone lazy. Like me
Anyway, it's designed for cabinets, and automatically goes out when the door is closed. It won't work automatically unless the room lights are on, and the first day I had it, I turned it on manually and ran the batteries down overnight. Other than that it works fairly well.
It was the brightest one I could find there (5 LED, runs on 2AAA, about $10 with no batteries), and I would describe the light it throws as just adequate in my small (19x24x60) safe. I'll do something better one of these days. I would only recommend it as a temporary fix or to someone lazy. Like me
bottom shelf
Member
Here's mine
The lights are from Lowe's. 5 of them. None in the rifle bay though.
Here's a look at the bottom of the shelves.
There's an outlet strip mounted on the center divider near the back.
And this is the switch. It controls the outlet strip.
All cords were cut to the proper length so there's no little coils of cord hanging around in there. The only wiring that is readily visible is the part above the outlet strip.
The lights are from Lowe's. 5 of them. None in the rifle bay though.
Here's a look at the bottom of the shelves.
There's an outlet strip mounted on the center divider near the back.
And this is the switch. It controls the outlet strip.
All cords were cut to the proper length so there's no little coils of cord hanging around in there. The only wiring that is readily visible is the part above the outlet strip.
Dave P
Member
Sylvania Dot-It Bright White LED Light, battery
About $5 each
About $5 each
Just One Shot
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Bottom Shelf
That's a sweet setup!
What are you using to support your pistols so they stand like that?
That's a sweet setup!
What are you using to support your pistols so they stand like that?
bottom shelf
Member
Ooo! Thanks for the flowers, JOS. It's just a piece of scrap sheet metal I cut and then painted black. It's shiny because I stuck some clear laminating plastic on it. Since the guns sit on it with their rear sight, I was afraid the paint would stick to the sights without covering it with something.
The metal is L shaped because the revolver on the end is mighty long.
The metal is L shaped because the revolver on the end is mighty long.
Jorg Nysgerrig
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I use something like this:
http://www.officedepot.com/ddSKU.do?level=SK&id=100185
I got a pair of them at Costco for maybe $15? They came with veclro, so I just stick them anywhere I want on the inside of the safe. If I need to light up a dark corner, I just pull one off and stick it in there. I have one on the inside end of the door that points into the shelves when the door is open and another one on the long gun side. They work pretty well.
http://www.officedepot.com/ddSKU.do?level=SK&id=100185
I got a pair of them at Costco for maybe $15? They came with veclro, so I just stick them anywhere I want on the inside of the safe. If I need to light up a dark corner, I just pull one off and stick it in there. I have one on the inside end of the door that points into the shelves when the door is open and another one on the long gun side. They work pretty well.
Thanks for the responses guys. I got my safe put in yesterday and loaded up last night. I thought it, being a 34 gun safe it was going to look bare, but holy moly that thing filled up fast. Glad I didnt go any smaller. It definitely needs extra lighting though.
SweetKnuckles
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Really, nice setups.
Pardon the silly question, but for those of you running electric, what'd you do to get the wires into the safe while it's locked?
Pardon the silly question, but for those of you running electric, what'd you do to get the wires into the safe while it's locked?
Lightninstrike
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Most safes come with a pre-drilled vent hole big enough to snake the wires through.
SweetKnuckles
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Thx lightnin...guess my AmSec didn't get the memo.
aguyindallas
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Guys, take a look at www.oznium.com as I just bought some LEDs for my boat. Very inexpensive and great quality. To use in a household (110V) environtment, you need a power supply, but they sell those too.
Jaybird78
Member
I cut off the cord cap to a power strip (4 outlet I believe) and threaded the cord through the hole in the back of safe.
Install new aftermarket 115 Volt cord cap onto cord of power strip. Plug this into your 115 volt wall outlet
Plug your golden rod into the powerstrip.
Buy and install (around the inside perimeter of safe) flexible "rope" light. They come in different lengths, you can connect for longer lengths also. They now come in LED (white/colors) and not the standard incandescent(yellow hue). The rope light kit comes with plastic clips and screws but I have had some break. Buy some Ty-wraps/plastic ties/zip ties with a factory screw hole built in and tie your rope lights and screw into the inside drywall. Use some meaty screws also or they will pull out.
Buy a "in-line" cord switch that you install between the cord cap of the rope light and the start of the lights. Place this at a height that you can conveniently reach. Note: Split the outer jacket of the cord, just cut and terminate the black/hot/ "ungrounded conductor" and pass through the white/neutral/grounded conductor and green/ground to save space inside the switch.
It works great, looks great. If I knew how to post pics I would.
WARNING: If you are not comfortable with home wiring then get some help, and not from some bozo who claims to know everything about electricity. I know other electricians that I would not trust to wire stuff at my house. There are good ones and bad ones......and that goes for all professions.
Install new aftermarket 115 Volt cord cap onto cord of power strip. Plug this into your 115 volt wall outlet
Plug your golden rod into the powerstrip.
Buy and install (around the inside perimeter of safe) flexible "rope" light. They come in different lengths, you can connect for longer lengths also. They now come in LED (white/colors) and not the standard incandescent(yellow hue). The rope light kit comes with plastic clips and screws but I have had some break. Buy some Ty-wraps/plastic ties/zip ties with a factory screw hole built in and tie your rope lights and screw into the inside drywall. Use some meaty screws also or they will pull out.
Buy a "in-line" cord switch that you install between the cord cap of the rope light and the start of the lights. Place this at a height that you can conveniently reach. Note: Split the outer jacket of the cord, just cut and terminate the black/hot/ "ungrounded conductor" and pass through the white/neutral/grounded conductor and green/ground to save space inside the switch.
It works great, looks great. If I knew how to post pics I would.
WARNING: If you are not comfortable with home wiring then get some help, and not from some bozo who claims to know everything about electricity. I know other electricians that I would not trust to wire stuff at my house. There are good ones and bad ones......and that goes for all professions.
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mountainpharm
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bottom shelf
I'll second the praise on your setup, bottom shelf -- very professional finish on the lighting. I would like to set up something similar, but I thought about using these. Does anyone have any experience with these lights (maybe some pics??).
I'll second the praise on your setup, bottom shelf -- very professional finish on the lighting. I would like to set up something similar, but I thought about using these. Does anyone have any experience with these lights (maybe some pics??).
bonza
Member
These motion-sensor battery operated lights might work ok.
http://www.mrbeams.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=4
They can be found cheaper than the advertised $35 if you shop around the 'net a bit.
http://www.mrbeams.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=4
They can be found cheaper than the advertised $35 if you shop around the 'net a bit.
mountainpharm
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here's my imitation...
...of bottom shelf's setup. I found some small battery-powered fluorescent lights at Lowes for about $12 per two-pack. I installed six of them throughout the safe and here are the results.
...of bottom shelf's setup. I found some small battery-powered fluorescent lights at Lowes for about $12 per two-pack. I installed six of them throughout the safe and here are the results.
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kd7nqb
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Hey bottomshelf, nice set up. Care to ship me some of that .40S&W? Poor college student with a bad ammo habbit. Ok kidding.
Secondly Mountainpharm is that a safe inside a safe? Now I need to know whats in that one....... hopefully not something boring like paperwork
By the way great lighting ideas.
Secondly Mountainpharm is that a safe inside a safe? Now I need to know whats in that one....... hopefully not something boring like paperwork
By the way great lighting ideas.
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