Motorized Light Lift

[Behnken]

There was a bunch of interest on my build thread for my motorized light lift, so I decided to post a separate thread to show more of how it was built. I will do my best to go through the entire process but feel free to ask questions.

Before we get to the nuts and bolts here are some pictures to get everyones interest.

 

[Behnken]

Here is a video of it in operation. It does go up much higher but you get the point.

 

[bluprntguy]

The light lift is cool, but that stand looks fantastic!

 

[Behnken]

I’ll start off with the drawings. I did these from a PDF editor so don’t criticize them to much.

 

[Behnken]

the light lift is cool, but that stand looks fantastic!

Thanks, the stand is stunning! Chris Benner at Sticks N Stones built it. He is amazing to work with.

 

[Behnken]

The idea was to have the moving parts slide over the base. I used Uni-Strut Telspar for this part. I ordered (2) 12’ pieces of 2”x2” and (2) 12’ pieces of 1 3/4” x 1 3/4”.


The arms are made of 1” x 2” heavy wall, cold rolled steel and the frame the lights are mounted to aren made of 1” x 2” thin wall , cold rolled steel. I had originally ordered full length pieces and cut them down to size. I ended up needed an additional piece and found a local place called Metal Superstore which would have actually cut each piece to length for me. I wish I knew that at first because I would have had them cut everything.

 

[Behnken]

I borrowed a Milwaukee metal circular saw from work to make most of the cuts. I had my doubts but this thing was amazing. It cut through everything like butter.



Here’s some pictures of it cut and lined up before the welding. The fist picture here was before I changed the design a bit. I ended up doing away with the horizontal cross braces so I could get the tank closer to the wall without interfering with the plumbing.

 

[Behnken]

Here are some pictures after it was welded. I don’t have any welding skills so I hired someone that we know to do the welding for me. Here it is mocked up after I got it back.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Here is a video of it in operation. It does go up much higher but you get the point.

O' man, better than an Apex. To cool. Thanks for sharing, comrade

 

[JoshH]

Now you just gotta build me one and we're good

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Here are some pictures after it was welded. I don’t have any welding skills so I hired someone that we know to do the welding for me. Here it is mocked up after I got it back.

Gen. 2, make out of carbon fiber.

 

[Behnken]

I had a basic idea of how I wanted to attach the light bracket to the arms but it took quite a bit of googling to find this part.

 

[Behnken]

I wanted to conceal the wiring to the lights by running them through the frame. I cut a notch in the 2” x 2” vertical pieces so when the supporting arms were welded on I could run the cable into it. I didn’t take a picture of the notch but here it’s shown on the drawing.

I also cut out a small section in the supporting arms.

And finally drilled a hole in the sides so the wires can exit the tube behind the aquarium.

 

[Behnken]

I’ll continue with more of the build tomorrow.

 

[akaimal]

This is awesome!! Looks perfect. What motor did you use to lift the fixture up and down?

 

[Behnken]

I got side tracked and need to get back to finishing up this build thread. I used two 18” PA-14 linear actuators from Progressive Automations rated at 150lbs each. I will try to get back to finishing the build thread up this weekend and will detail the information better.

 

[akaimal]

I got side tracked and need to get back to finishing up this build thread. I used two 18” PA-14 linear actuators from Progressive Automations rated at 150lbs each. I will try to get back to finishing the build thread up this weekend and will detail the information better.

Thanks. No hurry. Just wondering what power supply you used for the actuators? Did you use one 24V power supply or two separate 12V power supply for the actuators?

 

[Behnken]

Thanks. No hurry. Just wondering what power supply you used for the actuators? Did you use one 24V power supply or two separate 12V power supply for the actuators?

I used one 240w power supply that I bought from Amazon. Here is the link to it.

LEDwholesalers 12V 20A 240W AC/DC Power Adapter with 5.5x2.5mm DC Plug and 2.1mm Adapter, Black, 3262-12V
by LEDwholesalers ®
Learn more:

 

[Iván Olalla]

Very nice!!!! I'm working with pneumatic pistons for mine!

 

[Iván Olalla]

Frag tank for the office