Motorized Raising/Lowering of Light Fixture

[DarkSky]

I'd like to build a way to raise and lower my light fixture electronically. I've searched and found some threads here but thought I'd start a new thread as nothing seemed to be quite what I was looking for.

I stumbled upon this youtube video and it seems to be exactly what I'd like to build:



Anyone familiar with this? Does this type of pipe/pulley system have a name so I can research it in more detail? Can I just grab a pipe and a couple of pulleys, hook it up to an electric motor/winch and try it out? What keeps the weight of the fixture from unspooling and makes it stay suspended? Unfortunately the video doesn't go into much detail.

I have a drop ceiling in my basement so I'll be able to mount the hardware in the ceiling, but I'd like only two cables to be coming out of the ceiling panels, which is why this was such an attractive idea. I'll be suspending a 60" ATI power module above a 6' tank.

Thanks in advance!

 

[iplumbsome]

I was thinking about doing something like this but I was going to use a small 24v hoist/winch that I found online. I think it was rated for 100lbs.

I switched my idea up to keep it simple. I am just going to use some cable and a couple of pulleys and will raise it manually, but mine isn't going to be visible since I have a in wall tank with a mechanical room behind.

 

[DarkSky]

Mine will unfortunately be visible, so I'm going for simplicity and looks. The fixture itself is 60lbs, it'll have to be rated for at least that much weight.

 

[iplumbsome]

Mine will unfortunately be visible, so I'm going for simplicity and looks. The fixture itself is 60lbs, so it'll have to be rated for at least that much weight.

I also looked into chandelier lifts but they were really expensive.

 

[pijao81]

What about the blinds motor?

 

[pijao81]

For example this one..

 

[CNDReef]

+1 on the blind motor. If you call up a blind company they can custom make it to your length and some sort of eye on the cables that you can tie into.

 

[hdsoftail1065]

Blind motor! Exactly what I was thinking. I have a set of blinds from Lowe's with a wireless wall mount remote. You have me thinking....wonder if my wife will notice it missing. Lol

 

[CNDReef]

I’m thinking more in line with a commercial type of blind motor. Those for typical home windows I wouldn’t think have enough power to raise a big light fixture, but you never know

 

[User]

I was thinking about doing something like this but I was going to use a small 24v hoist/winch that I found online. I think it was rated for 100lbs.

I switched my idea up to keep it simple. I am just going to use some cable and a couple of pulleys and will raise it manually, but mine isn't going to be visible since I have a in wall tank with a mechanical room behind.

Link to the winch? I’ve been looking for something that small with no luck.

Thanks!

 

[iplumbsome]

Link to the winch? I’ve been looking for something that small with no luck.

Thanks!

I will see if I bookmarked it. It took awhile to find one.

 

[iplumbsome]

Link to the winch? I’ve been looking for something that small with no luck.

Thanks!

I thought this was 24v, but its 110. This is the one I was going to use.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/t...A4hSOXr3bzFshAS78p-xOr-TD6Nhcf_saAmH8EALw_wcB

 

[User]

I thought this was 24v, but its 110. This is the one I was going to use.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/t...A4hSOXr3bzFshAS78p-xOr-TD6Nhcf_saAmH8EALw_wcB

That would work- but it’s loud. I have the same one as a kayak lift in my garage. Wouldn’t want to use that in my living room. Thanks anyway!

 

[Skydvr]

You can use a worm drive gear motor to spin the shaft. The gear reduction and intenal friction is typically sufficient to hold the load in one direction.

Just direct drive the shaf with some sheaves on here or winding the cable, though a drum would be better to prevent the cable from overwrapping and binding.

 

[George Lopez]

That would work- but it’s loud. I have the same one as a kayak lift in my garage. Wouldn’t want to use that in my living room. Thanks anyway!

How often do you plan on lifting and lowering it for noise to be an issue?

 

[User1]

Blind motor! Exactly what I was thinking. I have a set of blinds from Lowe's with a wireless wall mount remote. You have me thinking....wonder if my wife will notice it missing. Lol

If she is anything like mine - she will notice!!!! All in good fun of course.

 

[dbl]

Another option. They have a few models and also sell the components.

https://www.sunlightsupply.com/shop...-complete?categoryId=light-movers-and-hangers

 

[bhuyett]

Have you thought about using 80/20 extruded aluminum and screw driven actuators? It would allow you to not have anything hanging from over top of the light.

 

[Bigrock]

I built a 80/20 rack for lights and attached a screw drive actuator to the ceiling. Used a couple pullys and it works perfect. Not cheap but defiantly does what I was looking for it to do. The actuator is normally used to raise TVs from a cabinet. Think I got it from
https://www.firgelliauto.com/collections/tv-lifts

 

[Ryan Hunter]

A tubular motor for awnings is the way I was going to go. Something like these:

https://www.elero.com/en/products/tubular-motors/