Lift system for canopy??

[jade2122]

Alright I am currently working on my 90 gallon upgrade and have manage to make whole setup stand about 6.5 ft tall or more, however i am only 5'3. I have a step ladder and all of that but for ease of maintanence and getting into tank I was wondering if there is some kind of lift or pulley system I could attach the canopy to so that when I need to access tank I can just lift the canopy?? Hope someone can help me out, thanks!

[MrSandman]

I know of several people on here that have used a bicycle pulley system for lifting their canopies. Here is an example:

[GrandeGixxer]

Sandman, do you have a link to that thing?

[MrSandman]

Originally posted by GrandeGixxer
Sandman, do you have a link to that thing?

No i don't but if you do a google search for "bicycle pulley system" or similar you'll find alot of sellers. HTH.

[GrandeGixxer]

Yep, I did that right after I posted. Harbor freight actually has 1 for like $6! Thanks for the idea.

[BeanAnimal]

That will not ensure an even lift.

You will want to use a single rope to go through the block and tackle setup and attach it to a spreader bar that then wraps over a single pulley (no mechanical advantage) to each corner of the hood. (I hope that makes sense).

You may also want to consider linear actuators. You can get them on ebay fairly cheap.

[customcolor]

if you tie the 2 ropes together at the pulling end they should act as one.
but linear actuators are cool to watch as they lift the hood!

[jade2122]

anybody with pictures of how they did this to their canopy??

[gabe3d]

I read up on the linear actuator but it seems to only lift it up a few inches, am i right? I'm also looking for something that can lift it 1-2ft in the air, but mine is for a light fixture rather than the entire canopy.

[Donw]

Originally posted by gabe3d
I read up on the linear actuator but it seems to only lift it up a few inches, am i right? I'm also looking for something that can lift it 1-2ft in the air, but mine is for a light fixture rather than the entire canopy.

No they will go as high as you want within reason. Go here http://www.firgelliauto.com/ I used one to lift my lights on my last system and had it timed so it went up and down to create a dust and dawn effect. Nine went up about 2ft.

Don

[gabe3d]

Originally posted by Donw
No they will go as high as you want within reason. Go here http://www.firgelliauto.com/ I used one to lift my lights on my last system and had it timed so it went up and down to create a dust and dawn effect. Nine went up about 2ft.

Don

Thanks for the site. Doesn't seem to be a very compact solution though. I was looking at the one that can lift 12'' but at the rest position it is 18''. Is there such a thing as a reel that you can use a remote to unwind and such? Similar to the shades that you can lower and pull up via a remote. I guess i can use this and rig something up, but i was hoping to have something more elegant.

http://www.firgelliauto.com/product_...roducts_id=113

[itZme]

Originally posted by jade2122
anybody with pictures of how they did this to their canopy??

I used the cable you can buy at Home Depot or Lowes that is nylon coated stainless steel. I attached a screw eye in each end and then ran the cables through a small pulley over to a central pulley and then down to a carabiner clip where I can pull it down and then I placed 2 screw eyes at the height that I wanted to be able to fasten it at. The lower one is where it is hooked when raised for maintenance and the upper one is for normal operation.

Here's a pic were you can almost see it all. Hope that helps.

[itZme]

Originally posted by gabe3d
Thanks for the site. Doesn't seem to be a very compact solution though. I was looking at the one that can lift 12'' but at the rest position it is 18''. Is there such a thing as a reel that you can use a remote to unwind and such? Similar to the shades that you can lower and pull up via a remote. I guess i can use this and rig something up, but i was hoping to have something more elegant.

http://www.firgelliauto.com/product_...roducts_id=113

If you use a cable system you can just run your cables through pulleys to a location that has space for a small winch. It would require a 12v adapter but you barely have any weight on it so I don't think you would have much of an amp draw. Here's one on Harbor Freight's site for $40. They also have one that is wireless remote controlled if you wanted to put your controls on the other side of the wall. You could always extend the wires on the wired remote and use some nicer looking buttons to operate it. These may also be too noisy for your tastes. I haven't tried any of them.

[MrSandman]

Maybe you want something like this: http://www.viagrow.biz/lighthanger.html

[MrSandman]

Or this: http://cheaphydroponics.com/cart/ind...d&productId=81

[Donw]

Originally posted by gabe3d
Thanks for the site. Doesn't seem to be a very compact solution though. I was looking at the one that can lift 12'' but at the rest position it is 18''. Is there such a thing as a reel that you can use a remote to unwind and such? Similar to the shades that you can lower and pull up via a remote. I guess i can use this and rig something up, but i was hoping to have something more elegant.

http://www.firgelliauto.com/product_...roducts_id=113

Other than some sort of small winch system I cant think of one. The linear actuator is thin so it can go in your attic and be used to pull a cable. It can go behind your stand or even under the floor.

Don

[gabe3d]

itZme: that's a good idea as well but i think it might be a little too noisy for my taste.

MrSandman: I like the first one you showed but doesn't look like it has the right size for me. The second one you showed me is actually what i have right now. I use it but man it is a pain to adjust since i have to go side to side to adjust it.

Donw: I see now. you can actually use it to pull as oppose to push up. For some reason in my head i was thinking of an implementation like a hydraulic lift. If i were to buy one that can do 24'', can i set it to stop at 19.5'' and would it draw anything at that in between state?

Thanks again guys.

[Donw]

Originally posted by gabe3d

Donw: I see now. you can actually use it to pull as oppose to push up. For some reason in my head i was thinking of an implementation like a hydraulic lift. If i were to buy one that can do 24'', can i set it to stop at 19.5'' and would it draw anything at that in between state?

Thanks again guys.

Yes, its just a screw. If you get one you can open it up take it apart and relocate the built in stop switches. Its not that hard, you will see what I mean if you get one. I had to move mine in about an inch so it would push my light through the ceiling.

The one I have now is in the attic 10 feet away and just pulls a cable through a couple of pullies since the tank is in a spot with no attic space, just the 8" between the two floors. I use the full 24" now.

Don

Don

[Myrddraal]

I use the bicycle hoist in the first pic. It doesn't life evenly, but as long as you keep a hand on the top while you're lifting you can keep it level. After seeing the one with two cables, I may modify mine to include two as well.

[skype]

Don: do you have a picture of your setup? i want to install something like that for my canopy too. what powersupply did you use for your 24"? I am thinking about uisng the 30" version to pull the canopy using a bicycle hoist mention above. I will install everything in the attic.

[Donw]

Originally posted by skype
Don: do you have a picture of your setup? i want to install something like that for my canopy too. what powersupply did you use for your 24"? I am thinking about uisng the 30" version to pull the canopy using a bicycle hoist mention above. I will install everything in the attic.

No I dont even own a camera at the moment. I use a 5a power supply that handles my whole automation system. A radio shack 1000ma will work fine. There is a pic of my old light lift here somewhere but I cant search. It used drawer tracks that pushed the lights up the wall behind a cabinet.

Don

[jade2122]

can someone explain to me how to make the bicycle lift work for a canopy to ensure a good lift. i really only need to life the canopy about 6 inches to get a good area to work with. doesn't need to be fancy at all.