Floating AND motorized canopy finally done!

[DaneGer21]

This has been a long building process. Not from lack of time, but the location for all my pieces and parts to raise my hood. I like symmetry and things need to look thought out. I decided awhile back I would be suspending my canopy BUT I wanted it to easily move as well for working in the tank.

My first MAJOR hurdle is that we have vaulted ceilings in this family room, and getting above to tie into trusses was difficult to say the least. Honestly, this project sucked! I had to shimmy through a small triangle in the truss about 40’ to get above the tank. So small I couldn’t even be on my hands and knees, I literally had to army crawl all while making sure NOT to fall through my ceiling!!! Many trips of hand tools, drills, wood, electrical supplies, and most importantly the power behind it all, an electric winch. Which by itself weighs 34lbs.

After wiring everything and extending the winch remote down through the wall I drop the cable down through the drywall, looped it through twin pulleys on my canopy and went back up through the drywall, and secured the cable to a mount 23” away from the winch.

I then dropped to power cords, one for my t5s, and one for my leds. Wired in a couple outlets and it was finally ready for a canopy.

My dad and I built the canopy a few days prior so I could fill holes, sand, stain, and clear. We made the canopy to hold my original Aquatic Life Hybrid fixture. It literally drops right in.

I mounted some cables I made, added some hooks and the canopy was ready to hang. I just need to snug up my power cords with a spring and I’m done! Now onto the stand!

See pics below...

I’ll get a video uploaded soon...

 

[DaneGer21]

Not sure why everything is out of order, but oh well!

Working on a video now showing the winch!

 

[Gp!]

turned out great!

 

[DaneGer21]

Sorry for the blue haha! Forgot my filter!

 

[motortrendz]

Couldn't play the video in the last post. But cool build. Looks great.

 

[DaneGer21]

Couldn't play the video in the last post. But cool build. Looks great.

Try that, I uploaded to YouTube now

 

[Gp!]

Couldn't play the video in the last post. But cool build. Looks great.

I downloaded it and it played. I always get nervous downloading a random video because I know it is going to be one of those 1 cup videos and I am going to hurl. But this one was legit lol

 

[motortrendz]

What winch did you use? Video ran good that way.

 

[DaneGer21]

What winch did you use? Video ran good that way.

This one...

Kaixun 880 lbs. Lift Electric Hoist

Amazon product

It actually lifts 440lbs without block and tackle

 

[Skynyrd Fish]

Sweet!

 

[motortrendz]

Nice. I believe there was someone asking about this in a thread yesterday. And I sent him a link the 440lb unit. Cool deal man. Good job in the build.

 

[DaneGer21]

Thanks!

The only real flaw in my design is the way I have the winch lifting. I have it lifting from the right side only and then the pulleys help move the whole canopy.

As you can see in my video it’s starts to lift that side initially but then levels out just fine. Then when it stops I can fine tune and level it perfectly by hand.

The only way I see to counter act this would be to secure a cable on both sides and run it through the pulleys. THEN, have the winch cable pull from between the pulleys.

As of now, I have no issue bumping it level. If it ever becomes a pain, I guess I’ll shimmy back up and move the winch to the center. Oh well, hope this thread helps inspire others!

 

[motortrendz]

Only way I can see it working is to lift from the center with 2 anchor points in the ceiling like a W, have the light anchored at the bottom of the W and lift from the center. Like a basic 3to1 lever system.

 

[DaneGer21]

Only way I can see it working is to lift from the center with 2 anchor points in the ceiling like a W, have the light anchored at the bottom of the W and lift from the center. Like a basic 3to1 lever system.

Yep I agree.

Maybe in the future. As of now it works fine, I’m just being picky. Haha

I guess I assumed the weight of the whole canopy unit would hold it level while raising. Oh well, at least we know how to correct it!

 

[motortrendz]

Yep I agree.

Maybe in the future. As of now it works fine, I’m just being picky. Haha

If it ain't broke.....

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

You can make it so that it stays level while lifting. I designed a 30' long light rail that help 16 metal halide hoods and it was on a single winch and always stayed level.

set up the ropes/cable like this and will ALWAYS stay level... unless you bump it hard.

 

[DaneGer21]

I think one of the biggest kickers here is the weight of the canopy versus the rigging method. If my canopy weighed more it would act different when lifting. The heavier canopy would pull itself down when being lifted up.

Either way, it works and it works good. As of now alittle leveling by hand will save me hours of work in a very VERY tight vaulted attic truss.

If or when I decide to make any changes I’ll update this thread. I’ll also get a diagram of how mine operates Incase anyone can’t picture it.

Thanks again for the feedback!

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

No, it would actually act the same no matter how heavy it weighs they way that you have it rigged.

The way that you have it, you need the weight of the unit to self correct itself, which it would do when you first started lifting it, but as the angle decreases, so does the force vector (weight of the canopy) that encourages it to level.

I mean, its fine and all, so you have to level it by hand, big deal.

I have a couple of things in my life rigged like this. two sea kayak lists, snowmobile lift, etc.

Still cool though so thumbs up anayway :)

 

[DaneGer21]

Just an update. After a few weeks everything has been great. Everything has “loosened” up a bit and everything moves freely and correct now.

I love this thing!!!

 

[siggy]

SWEET!