[Shop-talk] Making a trap door safe

[Randall]

---- John Innis <jdinnis at gmail.com> wrote: 
> I'm envisioning a switch (like for a security system) that will tell
> you when the door is open, hooked up to a big red flashing light.

Me too, except a big light shining up out of the hole should be sufficient.  I wouldn't want to have to have a flashing red light all the time that anyone is in the basement doing laundry.

I didn't understand from your description if the hole is accessible from the side opposite the trap door or not.  If so, another possibility might be a cable or similar, fastened to the door so it forms a barrier in the bedroom directions when the door is open.

Yet another approach might be to ring the opening with light beams, and sound an alarm when anyone walks too close to the open hole.  I can see problems with that, but it should help.  Maybe a recording that plays "Danger, Danger, Will Robinson" <g>

I suppose there is no chance that the laundry could be moved somewhere else?  They make washer/dryer combos now that will fit in a closet and even leave room for clothes or shelves above it.
Eg,
http://goo.gl/XkD28

Randall