Anyone experienced in pulley construction?

salmon alley · #1 05/08/2003, 04:42 PM

I've got a 180g which will be recessed in the wall, so the light scaffolding won't be visible. What I have is 3 MH spaced every 2 feet on a wooden frame. What I want to do is have the frame hooked up to a pulley system, so I could lower and raise the lights by using a single rope.

Has anyone done this before or have ideas on how to?
TIA
SA

David Grigor · #2 05/08/2003, 05:29 PM

I didn't research making one, I just got this one. It is really easy to use and slick the way it is self locking in place when you raise it....

http://www.autosportcatalog.com/index.cfm?fa=p&pid=608

I have seen the exact one in stores slightly cheaper but ran across it by accident. Probably not worth the time driving around town looking for it......

jeff967 · #3 05/08/2003, 08:39 PM

got to bump this one, thanks David for the pic.

mirski57 · #4 05/12/2003, 02:21 PM

I know what you're thinking. I'll be investigating this myself for my lighting on my 180.

I don't think the bicycle pulley system will be enough (only 50 lbs limit).

But I 've had 12' x 12' train table systems on pulleys so that I could lift them out of the way at night.

It works out very nice, and it would certainly make maintenance easy. You could always hide the hooks with hanging plants or something too.

Merkur · #5 05/12/2003, 02:28 PM

i'm waaaaay experienced at rigging rope pully's

my other hobby would be climbing.

start searching through www.petzl.com i can't link you to anything specific becouse the HTML are way clever. look under pulleys, haullers and ascenders. granted you won't want to use mega buck CE certified climbing gear for your tank, but it will at least show you the concepts.

you can also visit the "aid" forum on www.rockclimbing.com check out Dr. Pittons index to articles, specifically things on "hauling".

(note, 1-1 and 2-1 hauling systems are used to drag your gear along with you on big walls and rescue people after they fall into crevases during glacier travel)

Merkur · #6 05/12/2003, 02:55 PM

2 to 1 mechanical advantage hauling ratched.

Dman · #7 05/12/2003, 03:02 PM

Salmon Alley,
Home despot has or should have most of the little pulleys, mounted, swivel or otherwise that you need to pull this off. I did the same thing with the MH lighting hood over my 200.
HTH
Dman

David Grigor · #8 05/12/2003, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mirski57
I know what you're thinking. I'll be investigating this myself for my lighting on my 180.

I don't think the bicycle pulley system will be enough (only 50 lbs limit).

So if you don't mind me asking, just exactly what are you planning for that is going to weight more than 50lbs ?

I have 4X400W MH in my lightbox ( just shy of 8' long ) and I bet the whole thing doesn't even weight 10lbs.....

Are you attempting to mount your ballast on it also ? I can't imagine why you would need more than that......

salmon alley · #9 05/12/2003, 07:11 PM

Thanks for all the replies!

I can see that I may have to go with the pre-constructed bicycle pulley thingy. I'll end up spending several weeks just researching how to do this!

David G- I'm with you...I don't see how these lights could possibly weigh 50#

SA

Dman · #10 05/12/2003, 07:55 PM

Salmon alley
Here check this out
diy lighting
I hadn't installed the pullies when this was taken, and have subsequently sold the setup, but you should get the idea.
HTH
Dman

easttn · #11 05/12/2003, 08:22 PM

Here is what I use, load is reduced by 4X my 12 year old daughter can lift the canopy with ease. The top ring hook can be removed from the hook and lain on the top of the hood to hide all the rope when not in use.

mbarta · #12 05/13/2003, 06:08 AM

Something like this? link

I'm sure that make ones that arent 12V.

bait · #13 05/13/2003, 09:53 AM

I had the same idea for my in wall 240g and actually tried it a couple of different ways. The best plan that I came up with and still using is cheap and easy. I a 2x6 running the length of the tank with 1x4 boards cut to fit the width of the tank and mounted on the top of the 2x6. On the corners of the 1x4's I used screw in type eyelet hooks and ran plastic coated small cable to a stainless ring just above the center of the light bar, so I could disconnect the light bar from the lifting cable. The lifting cable is ran through a pulley mounted on the ceiling in the center of the tank (ceiling is recessed into the attic). To the lift the whole thing I use a small boat trailer crank and just mounted it to the wall. When I need the clean or move something I just crank it up out of the way and let it back down when done. PM me if you want some pictures of the setup.