Motorized canopy lift?

[sal-t-dawg]

Something that lifts the entire canopy. Anyone have one or know how to put one together? Any ideas? Im definitely going to have to put one on the 175 because it doesn't have any doors or an opening lid. Im not really open to a pulley system that comes through the roof.

 

[pelagic7]

maybe it's easier to cut a door than installing motorized lift?
just my 2cents

 

[sal-t-dawg]

Mmmm...I dont think so. The reason being is that I have no idea how to bow the wood for the doors that would go on the front of the canopy. The top of the canopy is well over 6' when its sitting on top of the tank so even if I had an opening lid any maintenance would be next to impossible or at best very difficult to perform.

 

[NeedBiggerTank]

Makes sense that a bow front cap wouldn't have doors, I suppose, because of the curve. Is the top of the cap covered or open? I mean, how do you access the tank with the cap on?

The co-op I believe has motorized lifts - mostly used in barn lofts or machine shops to lift stuff, but wouldn't be very attractive! I'm with pelagic, I think I'd find some way to convert the cap to have doors for access. There are a couple of MTRC members that are very good at working with wood and building things... they could probably help.

 

[sal-t-dawg]

The guy I got the tank from built the canopy himself. The stock canopy wasnt tall enough for the three 400 watt halides he was running. The canopy has a side access panel and thats the only way in. I want to be able get all the way around the tank excluding the back side of course. I have found a couple of good videos on Youtube showing canopies with motorized and counter weight setups. I really like the counter weight system. Its dead silent and uses no electricity. I cant seem to find any DIY step by step videos or threads.

 

[NeedBiggerTank]

Here's somebody that did what you are talking about (starts at post #870 - way down the page):

Counterweighted hood

And here is another thread:

Counterweighted Hood II

 

[sal-t-dawg]

Thanks. Thats giving me some ideas.

 

[mapn4reef]

http://samsreef.com/content/view/19/2/

 

[Jennifier615]

Chris and I talked about finding an ultra quiet garage door type lift that would be smooth enough to lift the entire canopy/light fixture.......We are trying to come up with a viable plan as well cause when he is not home I can' lift our fixture by myself to clean/change bulbs, remove rocks without somebody's help.

If you come up with something that works flawlessly please let me know I will do likewise

 

[laud]

What about adding a few retractable hangers that work like yo yo's. They hold 22lbs. per pair. I use them to raise my lighting and lighting rack. Just a thought for inspiration.

yoyo light hangers.

 

[mapn4reef]

OR

http://www.garagestoragepro.com/Ceiling-Mounted-Bike-Lift.html

OR

http://www.garagehero.com/store/mer...e_Code=GH&Product_Code=gg220&Category_Code=Pw

http://www.garagehero.com/store/mer...de=GH&Product_Code=gg220plat&Category_Code=Pw

 

[laud]

Those look great! The ease of removal would be like a flick of the switch. haha

 

[cee]

My latest hood is on pocket door rails. It rolls front to back and allows full access to the tank and/or lights in the hood. Just another idea to consider and very inexpensive to install.

 

[nightfire]

love to see what ya guys come up with....me i made me a canopy as i like the look of them annd not just a sitting fixture.....jen if ya want ya can fit that fixture into a canopy no problem...i dont mind helping chris build it or i can build it my self for ya if ya like.....i even made my doors not with hinges but magnets cause i dont like the kids around that and maybe pull off a door on me lol