Does this connector exist?

[denslocomb]

I want to put an led strip on the sliding door of a cargo van. Does a connector exist where when the door is closed it will make contact and allow power to flow and when the door is open it will break the contact and stop the power to the exposed connector so that I don't have to run a wire into the sliding door itself. Do these connectors have a specific name?

[camsysca]

You want two items - a connector, and an alarm switch, microswitch, or similar. How much current are we talking?

[Paul_KD7HB]

Is your door completely manual or is it electrically operated?

[groundFungus]

@denslocomb

Does a connector exist where when the door is closed it will make contact and allow power to flow and when the door is open it will break the contact

Like this?

Or like these switches?

[LarryD]

Not sure about the name but go to your local car parts distributor.

[J-M-L]

A normally open switch (that’s what I have in my garage embedded door to prevent lifting the whole door if the small door is ajar. It’s installed in the hinge so that closing the door closes the circuit. It’s kinda expensive as it takes 220v and lots of amps when the door is lifted)

[6v6gt]

If the door makes a reliable ground (chassis) connection at least when closed and the LED strip shares the same ground as the vehicle electrical system, then you may get away with a single contact connector.

[denslocomb]

Thanks so much for all the helpful replies. Looks like it's called a "door jam contact" as shown in the two replies with pictures. Even though the door has nothing electrical inside, there is a 3 position I just noticed already installed that I may be able to tap into and save some work.