Building Your Own Projector Lift with Electric Actuators

Creating a home theater is a dream for many because it brings the joy of watching your favorite movies anytime, right in your own space. When it comes to choosing between a projector and a TV, each has its perks and drawbacks, but projectors are often the go-to choice for those wanting to mimic that true theater experience. Adding a projector lift can take your setup to the next level. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the key things to know about making your projector lift, including its benefits and challenges, what you need to set it up, and how to build it.

For the most authentic home theater experience, you’ll want a setup that’s as close to perfect as possible. While not everyone can spend a fortune on a high-end home theater, there are budget-friendly ways to get the best bang for your buck. Video projectors are a popular choice because they offer a large image size at a relatively low cost. Both projectors and TVs have their unique advantages depending on your needs. If you’re on the fence about whether to go for a projector or a TV, weigh the pros and cons of each to see which one aligns with your priorities. To find the appropriate solution or an actuator for your project check here and see the difference. 

Hiding Your Display Unit

Whether you have a TV or a projector, adding a motorized lift to your display unit can boost the value of your home theater. Beyond the cool factor of surprising your guests, hiding your display unit offers practical benefits too. It helps protect your equipment from curious kids, dust, debris, and even theft. Plus, it can save space, especially if you’re tucking the display away near cabinets, storage areas, or hallways. There are also various styles of TV lifts available, whether you’re looking for a motorized or dropdown configuration.

Making Your Projector Lift

While buying a pre-made projector lift can be expensive, building your DIY projector lift makes creating a home theater setup more accessible. If you’ve chosen to go with a projector, the next step is figuring out how to mount it.

Choosing the Right Ceiling Setup

Most motorized projector mounts are designed to drop down from the ceiling. Setting up a drop-down projector mount that fits right into the ceiling lets the projector completely disappear when you’re not using it. Another option is to house the projector in a box attached to your DIY ceiling mount. While this option doesn’t make the projector completely vanish when not in use, it still gives you the flexibility to adjust its height as needed.

Selecting the Right Actuators

When building a DIY projector lift, using electric linear actuators for the lifting mechanism ensures smooth and quiet operation. If you configure your actuators to have a full range of motion, they can utilize built-in limit switches to automatically shut off power once the lift reaches its desired position. Since projectors come in various weights depending on the model, it’s crucial to choose linear actuators with the right force rating. Make sure the force exerted on the actuator’s shaft matches the rating of the actuator you’ve selected.

Ensuring Projector Stability

To keep your projector stable while it moves, you can design a box to match your room’s style, making sure it has a removable bottom. This bottom can be connected to a pulley system with sliding guide rails, allowing the projector to move up and down smoothly. Another option is to attach the bottom piece to four actuators that are set to move at the same speed in sync. For this, actuators with hall effect sensors are recommended, as they provide feedback to a control box that can make adjustments if one side moves faster than the other. This is important because slight differences in weight distribution or motor speed tolerances (usually within +/- 10%) can cause uneven movement. The PA-04-HS is the only actuator we offer off the shelf with hall effect sensors.

Controlling Your Actuator

For controlling the 24VDC versions of the PA-04-HS actuators, the FLTCON-4 control boxes paired with the RT-11 remote are ideal for synchronizing multiple actuators. The FLTCON control boxes require a 110 VAC input voltage, and the RT-11 wired remote displays troubleshooting codes for easy diagnostics. If you want the convenience of wireless control, the RT-14 Wireless Remote and RF Receiver are great options. If you’re using a single 12 V actuator connected to a stabilizing pulley mechanism, a single-channel control box like the PA-31 is a good wireless control solution. This control box needs a 12 VDC input, which can be provided by power supplies such as the PS-13-12, which converts 110 VAC input to 12 VDC output.

Projectors are a budget-friendly and efficient way to enjoy large images without taking up much space. By learning how to build your own motorized projector lift, you can take your home theater experience to the next level and enjoy all your favorite movies in style!