Reef Angel Forum

Automatic canopy opener. Completely unnecessary, but totally awesome. Used a linear actuator, 12V power supply, and a switch.

http://youtu.be/u7JY4qNRAuk

--Colin

Nice!!
Connect to RA and use one of those speech recognition module from John!!!
Open Sesame

Yes! That would be awesome!

I just need a canopy that hinges and opens like that. My current one only has a lid on the top so it essentially just makes it more difficult to do any work inside the tank.

Yep, it's a nice setup for a deep tank. Lid-on-the top just makes it harder to reach the bottom.

--Colin

Like you said. Very cool, conpletly unnecessary

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I want the woodworking plans

love it!

lnevo wrote:I want the woodworking plans

Based on this.

--Colin

Where is the actuator? Can you post a link to the one you are using? Fun but totally unnecessary is a major reason I enjoy this platform.

jsclownfish wrote:Where is the actuator? Can you post a link to the one you are using? Fun but totally unnecessary is a major reason I enjoy this platform.

Here's the actuator. I plan on adding some trim to the top to conceal it better.



I can't find the exact auction, but it's a 10" stroke 12V, 200 lb linear actuator. If you do a search you'll find several. You'll also need a set of brackets.

--Colin

Dude this is yours? I really want the woodworking plans and what you used for the hinge...i NEED to build this style canopy...

lnevo wrote:Dude this is yours? I really want the woodworking plans and what you used for the hinge...i NEED to build this style canopy...

http://www.reefaquarium.com/2013/buildi ... ium-canopy

It's a piano hinge from Home Depot.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-1-1 ... /202034038

So looks like example 2 is the closest, but you also have part of the sides on the lid...anything special for that?

No, that's just some trim attached to the front panel. You could put it there or attach it to the stationary part of the canopy. I think it looks fancier moving as part of the lid.

The lid is about 1/3 of the total top of the canopy. We made everything extra tall (top of the closed canopy is 82" high) so we went with a 1/3 lid because anything more wouldn't open without hitting the ceiling.

Here's the whole thing.

Thats gorgeous man. Nice work. What size is the tank?

Thanks! It's a 120G. 48x24x24.

--Colin

So this is what you've been upto Collin.

I was just thinking that you haven't been around much.

Very nice work.

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You may not see me, but I'm always around. Kinda like herpes.

--Colin

LOL

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They just stole your idea on Tanked

They're doing an electronic actuated top one of their tanks.

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cosmith71 wrote:You may not see me, but I'm always around. Kinda like herpes.

--Colin

Not sure I would have used the same analogy... Lol

Sacohen wrote:They just stole your idea on Tanked

They're doing an electronic actuated top one of their tanks.

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Well, I appropriated it from someone else.

Now, if they start making herpes jokes, I'm suing!

--Colin

No I don't think their going to do that, although it is cable after 10pm.

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cosmith71 wrote:You may not see me, but I'm always around. Kinda like herpes.

--Colin

really? dude...really??
i thought of a few others but refrained from going there. hahahaha


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But seriously, this thing has saved me a huge, um, a moderate? amount of effort. Plus it makes a cool whirry noise while it's working. I should wire a flashing red light to it or something.

--Colin

And use Jon's audio thingy to play a backup alarm... beep beep beep....