Extruded aluminum lighting mount question

[ShakeyGizzard]

I have the Orphek Natura Icon, its about 8 lbs. , was thinking of using the 3030 for a single arm mount. The light would be at the end of a 9 inch span. Bracing the the arm is not a problem at the 90 where it attaches to the vertical piece. My big question is about the strength of the 3030. I could make it a dual arm 3030 or go with the 4040 and single arm it. There is another post on someone using the 3030, but they never showed the completed mount.

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

Idea of what my design would be with double 3030 mounts for one light, mount would be attached at stand with a piece of 3060 to give two securing points to vertical pieces

Rear view

Side view

 

[tsharpe291]

I think 3030 is over kill, I used 15 series for my atlantik icon with 2 or4 bars.
you would definitely be good with that design though, IMO

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

I an OCD about some things, sometimes overkill is my middle name lol. I will add some pieces between the vertical ones to keep it square. I have some 15 on hand, but didn't think it would work.

 

[tsharpe291]

I an OCD about some things, sometimes overkill is my middle name lol. I will add some pieces between the vertical ones to keep it square. I have some 15 on hand, but didn't think it would work.

I did 2 mounting points with mine, this was my first go around with extruded aluminum
so I was worried about the strength given the weight of these fixtures but I was surprised how strong this stuff is. I even did the 15 series light.

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

15 series is 1.5 inch wide, 3030 is 1.18 inch wide, probably will still go with 3030. 4040 is the same width as 15 series

 

[BeanAnimal]

There is a calculator right on their site that you can use to determine deflection. They also give modulus of elasticity and second moment of inertia values so that you can do the math yourself or plug them into other calculators.

https://beananimal.com/articles/beam-deflection-easy-engineering-for-aquarists/
https://beananimal.com/tools/beam-calculators-second-moment-and-deflection/

 

[OrionM]

I did 2 mounting points with mine, this was my first go around with extruded aluminum
so I was worried about the strength given the weight of these fixtures but I was surprised how strong this stuff is. I even did the 15 series light.

Hi. I am trying to figure out how to something similar for my set up. How did you bolt the brace bars to the wall, carriage bolt straight through the middle or something? Any other detail pictures you would be willing to share would be awesome. Thanks.

 

[tsharpe291]

I used these and drilled a hole in the center of the aluminum and screwed it to the studs in the wall, can't even see the screws unless you look for them.