A closet door light switch in a hotel guest room turns the closet light on when the door opens and off when it closes, without a wall switch. The arrangement has two parts: a magnetic door switch on the closet door and frame, and a closet light controller relay that switches the lighting circuit. The door switch connects to the controller over Class 2 low-voltage wiring, and the controller’s relay contact switches the fixture. Because the same detail repeats in every room of a property, the controller is selected once per room type: one model for new construction, another for renovations of rooms with an existing closet light.
Functional Devices, Inc. manufactures closet light controllers for retrofit and new construction, along with the magnetic door switches they pair with. This guide covers how the controller and door switch work together, which controller applies to new builds and to renovations, the time-delay models for doors guests leave open, and how the door switch is wired to each model.
How a Closet Door Light Switch Works
The magnetic door switch has two pieces: a magnet mounted on the door and a switch mounted on the frame. When the door closes, the magnet holds the switch in one state; when the door opens, the switch changes state. The controller reads that change at its dry contact input and opens or closes its relay contact, which is wired into the switched leg of the closet light.
The input side is Class 2 and the load side is line voltage, with the two circuits separated in the controller. The door switch only signals the controller; it does not carry the lighting load. The ACLCMAGSM door switch, for example, is rated 30 Vac/dc at 0.2 A, so it signals a controller rather than switching the light directly.
Closet Light Controllers for New Construction and Renovation
- For new construction, the CLC212 is a 10 A SPST-N/O relay powered from 120–277 Vac with a separated Class 2 dry contact input. It needs no step-down transformer. Functional Devices notes that light 18 AWG wire can be run from the door switch to the controller in place of armored cable, though any size may be used. The door switch is purchased separately.
- For renovations of rooms with an existing closet light, the CLC106 is a 5 A SPST-N/O relay powered from 120 Vac. It mounts to the light’s octagonal junction box through a 1/2” knockout with a retaining clip and wires into the existing supply, neutral, and switched leg. It includes a surface-mount magnetic door switch with 6’ leads, so no separate switch is ordered. The relay is rated 5 A at 120 Vac for resistive, electronic ballast, magnetic ballast, and tungsten loads.
The CLC212 is the right device when the room’s wiring is still open, since the run to the door frame is low-voltage cable rather than line-voltage wiring. The CLC106 is the right device when the closet light and its junction box are already in place and the walls are closed.
Time-Delay Closet Light Controllers for Doors Left Open
A door-activated light stays on for as long as the door is open, so a closet door left open in an unoccupied room keeps the light on until someone closes it. The time-delay models turn the light off on their own:
- The CLC212-D15 turns the light off 15 minutes after the door opens if the door stays open. Its other ratings match the CLC212: 10 A SPST-N/O, 120–277 Vac power, separated Class 2 dry contact input.
- The CLC212-D60 provides the same function with a 60-minute delay.
When a guest wants the light to stay on with the door open, the delay is bypassed at the door: on both models, opening, closing, and reopening the door within three seconds keeps the light on indefinitely.
Wiring the Door Switch to Each Closet Light Controller
The CLC212 and the time-delay models read the door switch in opposite directions. The CLC212 energizes its relay when the input closes, so the door switch must close when the door opens. The CLC212-D15 and CLC212-D60 energize when the input opens, so the switch must open when the door opens. In Functional Devices’ selection guide, the CLC212 uses the door switch’s N/C terminal, and the time-delay models use its N/O terminal.
The terms N/O and N/C are defined differently in the alarm industry and the controls industry, which makes it easy to order a door switch with the wrong contact for the controller. Functional Devices recommends Form C (SPDT) door switches for this reason: a Form C switch has both an N/O and an N/C contact with a shared common, so the correct contact is selected at installation. Both of Functional Devices’ switches are Form C:
- The ACLCMAGSM is a surface-mount magnetic switch, with an operating gap of 0 to 1.125”.
- The ACLCMAGDJ is a recessed-mount magnetic switch.
Closets with two doors take one door switch per door. Whether the switches are wired in series or in parallel determines whether one open door or both open doors turn the light on; Functional Devices’ dual-door selection guide shows both configurations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Closet Door Light Switches
Does the CLC212 include a door switch?
No. The CLC212, CLC212-D15, and CLC212-D60 require a separately purchased Form C door switch, such as the ACLCMAGSM or ACLCMAGDJ. The CLC106 includes a surface-mount magnetic door switch.
What voltage do closet light controllers run on?
The CLC106 is powered from 120 Vac. The CLC212 and its time-delay models are powered from 120–277 Vac, so one model covers both voltages.
Can a guest keep the closet light on with the door open past the delay?
Yes. On the CLC212-D15 and CLC212-D60, opening, closing, and reopening the door within three seconds keeps the light on indefinitely.
Why are Form C door switches recommended?
The alarm and controls industries define N/O and N/C differently, so a switch described as N/O or N/C may not match what the controller expects. A Form C switch provides both contacts, and the one the controller needs is wired at installation.
What do the -NC models do?
They reverse the default operation. The CLC106-NC turns the light on when the magnetic switch is closed and off when it is open, the opposite of the CLC106. The CLC212-NC uses a normally closed relay contact in place of the CLC212’s normally open contact.
Sourcing Closet Light Controllers for Hotel Projects
To source closet light controllers and door switches for a hotel project, find an authorized Functional Devices distributor near you or browse the closet light controller lineup.