I have a client with a noisy auto-body shop. He is asking if there is a way to make the overhead lights flash when his land-line rings. Any thoughts?

Of course. Install an automation (or security) and lighting control system for him. Phone rings into the KSU/PBX, relay trigger out of KSU/PBS into input on the automation controller (or security panel), automation controller (or security panel) sends command to lighting control module to flash lights. Easy, no conundrum whatsoever.

Look at Viking Electronics.
They have strobe lights that trigger from analog phone lines.

Absolutely. Depends on lots of details, but Viking makes devices that offer contact closure off of pots ring. Depends on lighting etc. Lots of options available...

Thanks for the responses. I'll check out Viking's offerings. Need to keep it simple as possible. Client is not looking for any others features.

Depending on budget, you could go kustom route.

Or, just get one of those:
[Link: hdhearing.com]

I'd get a Viking device to create the switch closure, but I think an 8" diameter bell would be a much more homey device.

Is it legal to turn lights on and off at random in a work environment? If you were balancing something heavy and trying to lift it, would you want the lights to flash? I think that part needs rethinking. If you're under a car or have your head under the hood where you're using a trouble light, you'll hear the bell but you might not see the lights flicker.

Often times the lighting in a body shop will be florescent, LED, induction, etc - something with a ballast or power supply. Very likely the on/off times of your average device (like the Viking) will be too fast to have a visible effect on the lights.

Also, Ernie brings up a good point regarding the safety implications of switching the lights on and off in a work environment.

Best bet will be to use a strobe or similar for the visual cue.

My father owned an Auto Body shop back in the days when the phone company owned all the equipment attached to the phone wires.

To hear the phone ring throughout the shop he had a large bell installed (by the phone company) out in the shop near the ceiling.

I am sure that a large bell accessory is still available that can be wired into the phone system. It would be better than trying to flash enough lights to be noticed.

This looks like what I've heard ring in an auto body shop: [Link: thetelecomspot.com].

The web page says

I can't imagine what "motor-driven" means, but the rest makes sense. A Viking product that provides a contact closure is all that's needed along with this. I just realized the Viking product might have to be made to work on more than one phone line, though. It depends on the setup; your phone system might have a contact closure option on it.

Take the Viking unit and wire thru a cool old car horn.
That would get attenton.

Is there a phone system?
Set one analog ext. to ring multiple lines.

Get a train horn. They likely already have a huge air compressor you could plumb into for it. That'll wake them up.

Thanks for the added responses. Great points being made. The client does work for BNSF so the train horn idea may not be too far fetched.

How about s device produces tremors like a semi is about to run over the shop? It might work well with State Police patrol car's strobe light.

Use a UPB In/Out module to a single UPB controlled light. It can be programmed to flash while phone is ringing.