prop lower/raise?

[remdim]

I'm looking to 'lower' a single incandescent light bulb from the ceiling of our sanctuary (only 30'-40') during the sermon for an illustration. We have dead-hung pipe with a dimmer we can suspend it off of; just no way of making it raise/lower. Chain hoist was my initial idea....however it is extreme overkill and cost prohibitive. Setting up a simple pulley system would be nice but the line would have to run quite far through inaccessible-by-lift locations (ie throwing it over/through our suspended grid). Any ideas on how to remotely lower a line?

Thanks!

[Esoteric]

Run the pullys the other way and use a hand backstage?

Mike

[revjbat]

Here's an outside the box idea.

Get an remote controlled, reversible ceiling fan without the blades, lay it on it's side, connect some type of spool to it, wrap your wire around the spool and wind it down and up.

[remdim]

mike- either way is messy. we can only use the lift in the house (two-man scissors; too heavy for the stage so we rent a genie-type for large events) so our only to options are to a) run a line to the tech booth and drop it from the ceiling (too distracting) or b) head to backstage. i thought backstage initially but it's a 30' run; too many obstacles to get through. and i don't feel like throwing cable through the air all day .

revbat-i love outside-the-box ideas but that one is quite elaborate !!

thanks for such quite responses guys!

[tedanderson]

Can you use a 100' extension cord and just pull on it manually?

[Esoteric]

Disco ball motor turned on its side?

Mike

[Josh Scott]

Use Fishing line with a safety attached to the grid.. You can run the fishing line at an angle back stage (make sure people won't run into it) You will not be able to see it so it will give you more flexibility.

[NdEd]

Originally Posted by remdim

....snip....revbat-i love outside-the-box ideas but that one is quite elaborate !! .... snip....

If you love "outside-the-box" ideas, I suggest the following videos for inspiration on how to solve your problem:

CMN Player - YouTube - Rube Goldberg Machines

CMN Player - YouTube - Possibly THE most epic GMod Rube...

[waynehoskins]

You need .. a Deus-Ex-Machina. Problem solved.

[NdEd]

If you have the house lights dim enough (and little or no ambient lighting), you could use one of those battery powered magicians light bulbs to do the trick!

[greg4god]

I was thinking along the lines of that battery powered LED "stick up" light bulb you see advertised on infomercial. Of course if you need it turned on and off at a certain point, no luck.

-Greg

[remdim]

mike-
funny you should mention that. i just spent the last 2 hours doing that exact thing. i found out that when electricity is applied it reverses direction; ie bump buttons could get it in and out. i attached a cardboard spool that was leftover from some bulk cable, fixed it to a c-clamp with a metal extension, and set it on a dimmer.

however, it just didn't seem too reliable. it's just a cheapy little motor and i don't know that i would trust it for several services. also, i couldn't solve the issue of extra cable. the slack that would run from the spool to the outlet would have to spin while remaining stationary at the plug...that seems like trouble.

Ed-where is that located?

Thanks all!