Motorized lighting???

[landyacht]

Okay so it's not garage related' but it is home bar which is the next best place. A customer asked me today if anyone make a system that could lower a light fixture (pool table light) down when in use, and raise it when not being used. I'm familiar with the chandalier winches having installed a few, but all the ones I've ever seen were for cleaning purposes, and they disconnected the light power when lowered. Has anyone run into a system like this? Any brand name suggestions? So far Google hasn't been too helpful
Julian

 

[rockwithjason]

i have never seen a motorized fixture but there are plenty of pull down options. a search of "retractable pool table light" brings many results. if they are big money people you may be able to get a custom fixture done.

 

[C96]

The question is WHY? If the table is still there, raising the light serves no purpose unless the light is a distraction in the scheme of the room.

Some people have different table tops that can be placed over the pool table such as a Ping-Pong table and also use it as a dinning table, banquet table, craft table etc.

Being able to adjust the light fixture up or down by way of a simple switch would be a handy feature.

 

[hh76]

The question is WHY? If the table is still there, raising the light serves no purpose unless the light is a distraction in the scheme of the room.

Maybe it would block the view of a screen when they had people over to watch a game? Table might be used for other activities on occasion? Biggest reason, the customer asked for it.

Is the light going to be raised up into the ceiling, or just higher? If into the ceiling(out of view), it might be easier to fabricate something tucked away in the recessed ceiling.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Pull down dining room table lights were a thing back in the 1960s: http://retrorenovation.com/2008/09/...-for-your-kitchen-from-progress-vintage-1961/ They had some sort of coil spring mechanism inside on the power cord, so you'd just push the fixture up or down by hand to the position you wanted. I have no idea if anyone still makes them, but you could maybe find one in a thrift store and adapt it (or maybe two of them, depending on the size of your pool table light.)

edit: I just searched on 'pull down pool table light' and found some examples, here's one: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0041SH78K/?tag=atomicindus08-20 It appears Lowe's sells the same light for the same price.

 

[mrolds88]

I could see a linear actuator and some stainless cable and some pulley's. You can stack the pulleys to gain additional lift distance.

 

[404]

Coil cord and a HF electric hoist. Hide the pulleys in between the floor joists above. The winch can be far away if the cable is long.

 

[landyacht]

Thanks for the responses. There are some good suggestions there. The customer wants power, and not manual. He does want it to retract into the ceiling, or as close as is realistic. He is planning on a multi use table (ping pong). And money probably isn't the 1st concern. I like the winch with the long cable mounted remotely idea.

 

[Mongo68]

How far does it have to move? Their is a member here ( I dont rememeber the name, but Im sure someone will- my mind went to jello when I saw his garage) with a really cool motorized TV with doors. Maybe his creation can be used for inspiration.

 

[larry_g]

Some type of scissor lift may do the job. Does the job want hi-tech, antique looking, quiet or some gear noise OK? How much room do you have in the joists? Can you hide a small garage door opener up there? The GD opener would give you a compact package with the controls remote or on the wall built in, maybe even phone app to operate.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[LLave]

might look into chandelier lifts, they are pretty common.

 

[404]

Thanks for the responses. There are some good suggestions there. The customer wants power, and not manual. He does want it to retract into the ceiling, or as close as is realistic. He is planning on a multi use table (ping pong). And money probably isn't the 1st concern. I like the winch with the long cable mounted remotely idea.

Sounds like a fun project to work on. Especially when they have money.


The single winch cable can split into 2 or 4 cables to keep the lifting parallel. Would use a pulley for each cable. Coil compression springs at the top pressing against the limit switch will allow for the inertia coasting over travel of the winch without too much force build up.

 

[R.Anderson]

Some type of scissor lift may do the job. Does the job want hi-tech, antique looking, quiet or some gear noise OK? How much room do you have in the joists? Can you hide a small garage door opener up there? The GD opener would give you a compact package with the controls remote or on the wall built in, maybe even phone app to operate.

lg
no neat sig line

Projector lifts is what/where I would look at for ideas or modifications to one for a such a light.

 

[landyacht]

I like that projector lift idea. That definitely may work. Gotta meet with the gc next week to get specifics