Gardner Bender GSW-SK Electrical Door Switch, SPST, Normally ON-Mom, 16A 125V AC, Brass/White

My builder-installed door jamb switch for my pantry finally gave out after 8 years. I bought this as a replacement. It was well made, easy to install and works perfectly.

The Gardner Bender switch fit perfectly in the place of the original, which has stopped working. The other one lasted less than a year. So far so good on this one. Time will tell.

Was able to install this in the door frame of the pantry closet I just built and now the lights come on whenever I open the door.

I purchased this as a replacement. Simple to install and works perfectly.

Easy to install and works just fine, not sure why I did not install earlier for the wife, started when she left for her morning walk and the job was done by time she returned home.

If you're looking for a short answer, the build quality of the switch is great. I'm not sure about it's longevity as I've only been using it for two months now--so far there are no issues. Although now my spouse has replaced the habit of leaving the light switch on with the habit of leaving the door open enough to not engage the switch.The install in an existing doorway is not going to be easy. Because of the location of these types of switches, they have to be narrow and not too deep. This leaves very little room inside the box to squeeze in NM cable, wire nuts, the switch, and the wires from the switch--its damn near impossible to do it safely.On top of the physical space challenges, you'll be fishing wire through the wall and into a small hole in the door frame. If you're not an electrician, know an electrician, or practiced in the art of magic, it's going to be a challenge. You should also probably know how to cut/patch drywall and work with tools under the influence of alcohol. If you don't drink, don't worry, cursing will help.When searching Youtube or the internet on tutorials they'll all offer great tips on everything preceding and following the only part of the install you actually need help for -- how to connect and fit all the damn wires inside a box smaller than the pack of cigarettes you are now smoking because of the install.Here's what worked for me, although I'm not sure if it's up to code but I feel confident it is safe enough that I can sleep at night without worrying about the house catching fire. I took the the NM cable from the existing light switch, pulled it up through the wall and into the attic. I drilled a new hole on the other side of the door (the hinge side), and ran the NM cable down inside the wall.Now, knowing that the NM cable could be rerouted, I took the door off the hinges, used the Door Switch box to mark the hole in the door frame, and used an oscillating saw to cut the square hole in the frame. I used a router and chisel to cut away enough material so the front plate of the switch would sit flush with the frame. After checking the fit with the box and plate, I drilled a hole at the back of the square hole to pull the wire through.Since there was no way the NM cable, wire nuts, switch wires, and switch was going to fit inside the box, I cut a hole and installed a single-gang box inside the closet, adjacent to and just above where the door switch would be installed. Inside the single gang I connected the LINE/LOAD neutral (WHITE) wires together and the LINE/LOAD copper wires together. I connected a 14 gauge single black wire to the LINE hot (BLACK) wire and a single black wire to the LOAD hot (BLACK) wire. These two 14 gauge wires were run a few inches away inside the wall through the hole in the back of the door switch. From there, I connected each black wire to the black wires coming out of the switch, tucked them in to the box and buttoned up the door jamb switch. I put a blank cover over the new single-gang box in the closet. All connections are secure and inside of boxes.

cut this into a pantry door in my kitchen that was made of cabinets. works well. the audible "click" every time the light comes on and off is noticeable tho. it's not silent. not annoying, but not silent. I catch myself listening for the sound when the door closes now.

Having a light turn on by opening a door is such a blessing. Once the switch decides to die, is it possible to find a replacement that actually fits and does the same job? Well, at least for this house and this door frame, this actually does just that. Took a bit of jiggering with the cutout in the door frame, but has worked every time since it was installed, so am very pleased.