DIY light mover thread?

RandalB

RandalB

New member
Hey all,
Anyone have the link to the DIY lightmover thread? Can't seem to find it...


Thanks,
RandalB
 
I believe that the OP is looking for a moving light rail...It moves the light across the tank multiple times an hour. Light rails enable you to run a single MH over a tank that would ormally require 2 mH's.
 
JC,
That's exactly what I am looking for.

The thread I remember, the guy made his own with a piece of metal closet pole, a 3 or 6 RPM motor with belt and a line for movement....

Thanks guys,
RandalB
 
I'm going to hitchhike on your thread and give you a bump as I'd like to know about this too.

BTW Randall, have you seen Fuppets' light rail? He's got an AGA 180 with a 6-foot light rail above it. He uses it to drag a pair of MH pendants back and forth, and he has a pair of VHO actinics that run down the middle of the lengh of the tank between the pendants.

He bought a commercial horticulture unit that mounts on an aluminum rail and it only cost $200. Given the time that'd be involved in DIY, if you can't find the thread and readily available parts, it might be worth considering a unit like his. He lives in Griffith.
 
Is there an RC thread on this?

~K

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12089360#post12089360 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pescadero
I'm going to hitchhike on your thread and give you a bump as I'd like to know about this too.

BTW Randall, have you seen Fuppets' light rail? He's got an AGA 180 with a 6-foot light rail above it. He uses it to drag a pair of MH pendants back and forth, and he has a pair of VHO actinics that run down the middle of the lengh of the tank between the pendants.

He bought a commercial horticulture unit that mounts on an aluminum rail and it only cost $200. Given the time that'd be involved in DIY, if you can't find the thread and readily available parts, it might be worth considering a unit like his. He lives in Griffith.
Click to expand...
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12089360#post12089360 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pescadero
I'm going to hitchhike on your thread and give you a bump as I'd like to know about this too.

BTW Randall, have you seen Fuppets' light rail? He's got an AGA 180 with a 6-foot light rail above it. He uses it to drag a pair of MH pendants back and forth, and he has a pair of VHO actinics that run down the middle of the lengh of the tank between the pendants.

He bought a commercial horticulture unit that mounts on an aluminum rail and it only cost $200. Given the time that'd be involved in DIY, if you can't find the thread and readily available parts, it might be worth considering a unit like his. He lives in Griffith.
Click to expand...

I know what Shawn has, but I'd rather pay the $35 and do it myself then spend that kind of $$..

The thread I saw was extremely simple and cheap. It was a 3 RPM motor with a metal closet pole and a belt/gear assembly. If it doesn't pop up here I am sure I can come up with something.

RandalB
 
well, if you find the right parts or a link to the thread, please do let us know. i'd be interested in doing the same thing if you find the thread and/or the right parts.

i hadn't thought about a closet pole. given the price of the aluminum rail, i thought that the commercial kit wasn't a bad price. that company also sells the motors/carriages separately for those who want to DIY. just a thought in case that helps.
 
Bumping a slightly old post.

Did anyone ever find that DIY mover thread?

Also, has anyone ever seen a mover that can also change the angle of the light? Or possibly a way to tilt the light and move it at the same time?
 
I built one a few years ago but can't locate any thread showing it. It was built to move a rack of 3 MH lights. Instead of the usual way of moving the light, I used a threaded SS rod which was turned by a reversible dc motor. A switch at each end would reverse the turn of the motor and thus the movement of the light. I had to use a delay timer with the switch so the light would pause momentarily before reversing direction but the whole thing worked like a charm. I used a Hurst compact ac synchronous motor as it was extremely quiet. Speed depends on the pitch of the rod and how fast you want the lights to move. The trickiest part was the coupling but I found a flexible coupling for the motor/shaft connection that worked great. I may still have pics if anyone is interested.

Allen
 
I'm interested.
This is my next project.
Can you sketch out the wiring to revers it?

Also you said you used a reversible DC motor, but later you said you used a Hurst compact ac synchronous motor.

Which one was it AC or DC or were there 2 motors and if so what was the other one for?
 
Sorry. I was thinking it was a dc motor as I had tried that first. Then I remembered that I settled on a Hurst ac synchronous, reversible motor.

Allen
 
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