looking for ideas for mounting a projector in ceiling...

[threeZguy]

Hi all, doing some remodeling at home, and decided to get a projector. I'm planning on putting it in the ceiling on a pulll down type mount. My dilema is trying to come up with something that would allow the "door" to come down and stay open, plus retract up and stay closed under its own power. I was first thinking about using drawer sliders, one mounted on each corner of my base that the projector will sit on, mount other end in the joists. I was looking at some of the "self closing" ones, but not sure if they will work in a vertical position. Any ideas on this, or something else out there that I might look into.

 

thanks.........chris

[BayAreaZT]

You should use motors to open and closed it. That way it could be automated and you can control it with a remote control along with the lights.

[jonzer12]

I helped a friend build one, we found that you could get a electric curtain mover for really cheap and adapt the drivetrain. You know if you have a large bay window you can get a track and motor to open and close the curtain? It was about the cheapest thing we could think of/find that had a track, motor and worked well for home wiring. We simply shortened the track and mounted it vertically. Runs off a switch on his wall. The tricky part is to balance everything properly so nothing binds. I made a crude picture in MS Paint We used this design with two rolling tracks to support the projector platform itself, I didn't draw that in the picture.

Crude but its been working for 3+ years now. I think the curtain system was from walmart for ~$15. Just a thought.

[Guest bang847]

I was thinking of using power window regulators