anyone made a motorized door for their canopy

[panaboy95]

I am building a 150 into my bar in the basement. I was wondering if anyone has ever motorized the front panel. I was thinking of using a car window motor with two cables. I am a mechanic. and they operate fairly easy. if I could get a whole window regulator I think I could modify it to open and close the door. I anyone has done this some pictures and how too would be great.

[Mastermind]

Never done it (or thought about it). But, coming from another mechanic (me) I'd be worried about the weight of the door. If you're using plywood I'd say it won't work... but if it's some sort of thin skinning wood (I know nothing about wood), there's a good chance you'll be good to go. Just check weights and leverages, etc...

[Donw]

You can do it pretty cheap with a linear actuator, much easier to work with.

Don

[djmx2002]

i've seen someone that did it on youtube,
looked pretty cool,

Motti

[tank o tang]

How would you go about powering it up? Better using an actuator.

[Donw]

Originally posted by tank o tang
How would you go about powering it up? Better using an actuator.

Definatly better off using an actuator. Besides being easier to use the automotive window lift motor is going to need a Huge power supply by comparison 10+ amps depending on the motor used. Volvo motors are low amperage but of course are much more expensive than an actutor.

Don

[jmait769]

8BALL_99 posted his in this thread - Need a motorized pulley for lifting my lights.. and there is a link to where he got his linear actuators. I was going to go this route on mine but ended up going a different way.

HTH

Jay

[Donw]

Originally posted by jmait769
8BALL_99 posted his in this thread - Need a motorized pulley for lifting my lights.. and there is a link to where he got his linear actuators. I was going to go this route on mine but ended up going a different way.

HTH

Jay

Yup. They are a good reliable actuator, a little noisy. Mine lifts my lights from 6" to 24" to simulate dusk and dawn slowly over the course of the day. Also goes up with tank temp so the chiller doesnt work so hard.

Don

[Myrddraal]

I saw a thread on here where someone used an old motorized scooter motor in their attic to raise and lower the canopy to their tank. It looked great!

[jake32010]

now thats a job