Electric motor for raising and lowering lights

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I am thinking about installing something to raise and lower my lights on the new tank build for when I need to really get in the tank and work!

Any suggestions?

 

[mcarroll]

U need a linear actuator. If you Google that you will find a ton of them.

You select by weight and range of movement.

Sorry nothing more specific to recommend...haven't gotten farther than shopping, myself.

 

[reefwiser]

I have worked with this product. It is made to do this type of job.
https://www.aladdinlightlift.com/

There is also this product.
https://www.amazon.com/Sun-System-710180-Motorized-Fixtures/dp/B00IGFK3F8

 

[mcarroll]

People use linear actuators to do fancy stuff with TV cabinets:

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I have worked with this product. It is made to do this type of job.
https://www.aladdinlightlift.com/

There is also this product.
https://www.amazon.com/Sun-System-710180-Motorized-Fixtures/dp/B00IGFK3F8

I am really looking for something "plug in play" and that second link looks good but that last review doesn't!

 

[mcarroll]

Like I said they use them for TV's and such...another ordinary consumer good.....try googling and you'll find more cool stuff than just the sun systems unit....I'm not sure you need a winch do you? How far are you lifting the lights? I think a direct drive would do it....but I'm guessing at your installation details.

https://www.firgelliauto.com/collections/column-actuators

First place I hit on a Google, just for example....of course your mileage may vary since Google will, for better or worse, individualize your results. Not saying this is where to buy, buy you can see this is all plug and play.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Like I said they use them for TV's and such...another ordinary consumer good.....try googling and you'll find more cool stuff than just the sun systems unit....I'm not sure you need a winch do you? How far are you lifting the lights? I think a direct drive would do it....but I'm guessing at your installation details.

https://www.firgelliauto.com/collections/column-actuators

First place I hit on a Google, just for example....of course your mileage may vary since Google will, for better or worse, individualize your results. Not saying this is where to buy, buy you can see this is all plug and play.

Honestly I am just looking for something to raise the lights out of the way so I can work easy in the tank.I want them to raise straight up so I can still have light!

 

[mcarroll]

From a quick scan I'm guessing this is for your future in-wall build? How big are you going with this tank?

How high would you need it to be lifted and how much room to go up will you have?

And will you have a whole canopy (L"xW"?) that needs to go up, or what will your light setup be like?

 

[michaelrc51]

What about a simpler approach?
Maybe an electric motor or actuator controlled by a wall switch and use some limit switches and relays for high and low positions. You would need to fab up the rigging and mounts and all but that stuff could be had pretty cheap. Also, you would have stuff you can replace easily if anything fails.

 

[mcarroll]

What about a simpler approach?
Maybe an electric motor or actuator[...]

I think these are the same things I've been talking about, right?

Dont we just need to know more about what exactly is being lifted - and how far - to suggest a specific kit?

Again, these come in all sizes so you really need more data to pick "the best" one, but just for one example that should work in most scenarios, I think for $139 @revhtree could try one of these to lift the lights about 12":
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200622243_200622243
click the link and watch the video under the product pic

(Their examples are all garden tractor-oriented, but at least you can see how these work.)

One of these could be mounted under the lights to push them up, or over the lights to pull them up.

How you implement this device is down the particulars of the tank, lights and room.

Hypothetical example for an in-wall tank where you have rear-access "fish room" access for maintenance:

• Your LED's are mounted to an aluminum frame that covers the width of the tank.
• The frame is hinged to the wall in the front on the display side.
• This actuator is installed over the tank and is normally full extended.
• When you need to get in the tank, you hit the go button and the actuator retracts and lifts the light frame 12" off the back of the aquarium, giving you access to get in the tank.
• Lifting the frame straight up is also a possibility.
• Optionally, use a wireless controller ($70) so you control it by remote.

A plain old "on/off/on(reverse)" switch would work too...only $15:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200520519_200520519

There's a switch with momentary On as well:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...t&utm_source=AskAndAnswer&utm_content=Default


Price is similar, but here's a 110-pound rated, 12" actuator in case that would be desirable:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200520508_200520508

 

[garias]

i was planning on using a winch on mine i want it to travel 18 to 24 inches

 

[mcarroll]

I'm sure either would work – 18 to 24 inches isn't that far. I have seen actuators with that reach.

As far as which is preferable, that might depend on where you need to mount it just as much as how far you need to lift it.

As usual you can pretty much use whatever you want, wherever you want...but I think the intention of the winches is that they can be mounted far away from where the light is such as in the attic, or from a 30' ceiling.

 

[Salsa777]

You should look up your local hydroponics store. Indoor gardening usually requires the light to be moved up and down as the plants grow. Think about tomatoes, they start as a few inches end up really tall, so they have a lot of equipment plus advice on moving lights. Also it is interesting to talk to people who are as crazy about lights as reefers are.

 

[jeremy.gosnell]

I've installed a lot of linear actuators in people's homes for the purpose of raising and lowering TV's and projectors, especially in multi-purpose theater rooms. They aren't really plug and play IME. However, it's unlikely raising lighting would require hiding something within a ceiling or attic (as is common for TVs and projectors). You could install the actuator flush mounted to the ceiling (or better yet, in an unfinished basement, exposed joists) greatly simplifying the installation and skipping the need for construction repairs and finishing. You might be best to contact a home theater installation contractor and see what they would charge to set this up for you. It isn't hard per-say, but if you have no experience with wiring, etc it can be a bit tricky. I don't know if they make a linear actuator that works via bluetooth with your phone to raise and lower it. The ones I have dealt with used an electric switch and we usually retrofitted them to fit with a traditional wall switch similar to what turns on a light. Bluetooth would be a bit unreliable for this and a dedicated switch would be better.

 

[ProjectAnemone]

I used this on my old system

http://www.harborfreight.com/440-lb-electric-hoist-with-remote-control-60346.html

 

[mcarroll]

I don't know if they make a linear actuator that works via bluetooth

There are higher end kits, but the wireless unit I linked earlier seems like the "best" I've seen so far for this....uses something like a little garage door remote so it's not too complicated.

And while I haven't installed one of these yet, they don't seem complicated...12v power and a simple switch install...no reason for complicated wiring as you said. Seems simple enough - what's difficult about it? It's not like a soldering iron is required...so if you can operate a wire nut....

I don't see these winches as being any more "plug and play" either....just because the power cord is already wired in or already has a plug on it...or it has a remote. You still have to install it so that it raises the lights without doing anything unintended. I think the better portion of the DIY will be in securing the lights into a stable up/down.

2¢

 

[jeremy.gosnell]

The systems I have experience with would first require you to build a base for the lights to hang from, then the actuator would raise and lower that base. However, I am not familiar with all the units linked here. Usually during installs I was involved with, the goal was to hide a TV or projector in an attic or open area above a ceiling. We built a frame out for the TV or projector to fit inside, within the ceiling and a base that the actuator used to lower and raise the TV or projector. Something very simple that lifts and lowers each light fixture independently would be much simpler. I've often wondered why some of the popular light manufacturers don't make something like this. Kessil makes a whole line of lights for commercial and home horticulture so I would think they would have a big market for such a system.

 

[mcarroll]

Until Rev checks back in with some more details we're guessing, but I'd say all the hiding will be done by enclosing the tank in the wall, so he'll have some portion of open space in the back to dedicate to this. Maybe a full 8' ceiling's worth of space. I have to assume the lights will be on some kind of rack unless this is going to be a smaller tank...maybe even then.

A direct actuator may have the advantage of not allowing the fixture/rack to swing like a cable would. I can imagine having one of these linear actuators upside down on the wall, connected to an Ell bracket, which is connected to the light rack....make it retract the armature when you want to lift the lights. Shouldn't be too expensive or much more complicated than that. (Right?)

Maybe you'd still need some kind of guide system....especially if you chose a winch-type lift....might not have to be any more fancy than some shims in the right place to make sure the light comes down in the right place though. (But you see other fairly simple solutions to this on the TV risers if you google around...using drawer slides, for example.)

And if you want simple, maybe a $7 pair of yo-yo lifts would really do the trick rather than "all this"? They work!!

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

From a quick scan I'm guessing this is for your future in-wall build? How big are you going with this tank?

How high would you need it to be lifted and how much room to go up will you have?

And will you have a whole canopy (L"xW"?) that needs to go up, or what will your light setup be like?

Hey bud I would like i to be lifted at least a couple of feet and I will have all the room I need.

Also it will need to lift my lights only which will not be in a canopy since it's behind the wall.

 

[mcarroll]

BTW, this page at Firgelli Automation seems to have some good project articles to give you more ideas how you might raise and lower something aquarium lights:
https://www.firgelliauto.com/blogs/news

After watching the first video there, this kit that I originally linked to seems to be very plug and play.

Check out this vid: