How to Control Appliance Garage Power with a RIB Relay

I remember when I was house hunting, besides being told "location, location, location," the real estate agent said that kitchens are a big deal. With kitchens comes appliances of all shapes and sizes. Some appliances need quick access, for example the oven or the fridge. Other appliances may not want to be seen unless being used, like toasters, coffee makers, and other countertop gadgets.

I've received some calls over the years of people incorporating "appliance garages" on their countertops to hide those bulky devices. Typically, there is a receptacle in that garage for convenience, and in some areas (i.e. Canada) that receptacle needs to be switched off when the appliance garage door is closed. If that's the case, people find the magnetic door/window switches very useful for controlling the power to the receptacle. Those little switches can't control 120V high voltage. That's where a relay comes in!

Presenting our handy Dry Contact Input RIB Relays. Specifically, the RIB01BDC, as homes here in North America output 120Vac from the wall receptacles.

The setup looks like this:

• Connect the Black wire and the Orange wire to constant 120V Hot feed
• Connect the White wire and the receptacle Neutral to the Neutral feed
• Connect the Yellow wire to the Hot input terminal on the receptacle
• Connect the White/Red and White/Blue wires to the magnetic door/window switch
• In this setup the Blue wire is not used, so put a wire nut on the end of the wire

That's it! Now install the door switch and your appliance garage receptacle can turn on and off when the door opens and closes! If there are any questions about using RIB relays in this way or any other way, feel free to get a hold of us.

Using Magnetic Switches and RIB Relays for Safe Appliance Garage Lighting Controls

Adding smart RIB® lighting controls to appliance garages isn’t just about convenience—it’s about making sure your setup is safe and code-friendly. By pairing magnetic switches with RIB relays, you can ensure power to your appliance garage receptacle is only active when the door is open, preventing accidental operation while the door is closed. This approach keeps your coffee makers, toasters, or mixers ready when you need them while eliminating phantom loads and meeting requirements in areas that demand switched receptacles for enclosed spaces.

These magnetic switches can’t handle high voltage on their own, but when integrated with a RIB relay, they become a reliable way to control 120V circuits automatically. It’s a practical, clean solution that pairs well with your existing countertop layout while adding a layer of smart control without unnecessary complexity. Whether you’re working on a custom kitchen build or retrofitting an older home, this setup helps you use appliance garages efficiently while leveraging the robust design of Functional Devices’ relays to do the heavy lifting safely.

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