Home Automations Pop Up TV Lift Cabinet in under three hours

How to build a home automations Pop Up TV Lift cabinet using an off-the-shelf dresser drawers and an off-the-shelf Pop Up TV Lift Kit from Firgelli Automations http://www.FirgelliAuto.com/.

You could easily spend many thousands of dollars on a custom built cabinet with Pop Up TV Lift, but for about $500. You could spend more, depending on the ready-to-build furniture you buy, but ours was quite inexpensive. Its the ideal Home automations project

Step 1: Build the main portion of the cabinet

First thing to do is build the main structure of the cabinet/drawers. This will vary from project to project based on the cabinet you get, but you essentially want to put together the unit so you can identify what needs to be modified in order to fit the Pop Up TV Lift.

Our cabinet had a middle support that had to be trimmed to allow the Pop Up TV Lift and the LCD TV to fit in.

Comments

[Ole bally]

Ok this sounds like a cool plan!! The question I want to ask is can the TV 'lift' not work on those 'rams' used for lifting rear door hatch back car doors? It would mean manually pushing the TV down to 'stow' it but would make it pretty fool proof?! This is a good security thing in a country where if anythings not nailed down proper, it's fair game! Welcome to Africa!

[hmacris]

As a warning to all reading this: I have been through not one but two Firgelli TV lifts within 4 months These lifts are not built to good standards at all ( or any standards ). The first one we got did not even work at all. After some hassles they sent out a second unit. I had just begun installing the unit today. It had gone up and down about 4 times total since I recieved the unit (not one with an actual TV on it). It then magically stopped working again. I plan on calling Firgelli again tomorrow about this problem. The lift is going on a yacht and to have it break randomly is completely unacceptable. I have spoken with Troy and he himself does not know anything about these units. I took the first unit (non working from its inception) apart to have a look inside and everything is completely amateur-esque. Not good craftsmanship at all. The worst part is as soon as I asked Troy how to fix the lift, he himself had absolutely no idea as to its construction. He will sell you a lift willingly, but absolutely knows nothing about them. This is just to alert you, your money may be better spent else where. These lifts are made overseas (China) and simply imported and dumped into the hands of consumers. Be cautious. We also were able to snap a few photos of the problems inside the lift (a rubbing wire which wore through the insulation and frayed, perhaps during product testing ;) ) After going through 2 lifts and never getting one to work with a TV on it, I must suggest you seek to spend your money on a quality lift. To everyone; you get what you pay for, especially when it comes from China.

[DaneDHorstead]

While I am not familliar with this lift type, I would like to mention that many of these TV lifts, are built using tubular motors (such as are used in electric awnings, and hurricane rolling shutters, etc.). Note the tubular motors are built with internal thermal control devices, that trip at a given temperature. Those motors are designed to be used fo a maximum of 4 minutes every hour (prefferably: 1 minute on, and 14 minutes off, for no more than 4 similar cycles per hour). Because these motor typed are tremendously geared down, heat is produced, through the gear reduction process. If the thermal devide trips, the motors need to cool, for approximately 30 minutes before again being used. When these units are first assembled, people tend to play with them, overloading the thermal protection of the motors. While I do not know for fact, that is the case, I highly suspect it to be so. Note I both build, and repair tubular motors, for a living. If anyone is interested, he can reply, and we can talk by private e-mails.

[Troy (Firgelli Automations)]

Actually Harrison, I do know how they are made. At the time you called (or Dini I forget) the tone of your phone call was very aggressive and it put me off balance to hear someone yelling and berating me. I understand you've had two units that you've had trouble with. I did everything I could to help, trying to find a solution that worked best for you. I found out about your most recent problem by reading it on Instructables. I personally pride myself in being helpful, not only when people call me at work but in my personal life. I've spent many many hours helping people through technical issues, and to see a comment like this is quite hurtful. So much for the 'be nice' comment policy.

[shugg]

Troy have you witnessed problems with these lifts? and would you stand behind a horrible product? thats the question? hoefully not, but if you have any suggestions for another lift could you please refer me to one thats near the same price range. my email address is [e-mail]

[hmacris]

Troy, you must put yourself in our position...When we open up your lift and see wires that have worn apart among other problems we are extremely disconcerted. We are in the final weeks of a project that we have spent a year on and had the lift break (the second one) as soon as we had bolted it down. We didn't even get to put a TV on it. So that leaves us high and dry. I would love to discuss this further, privately, please feel free to email me at [e-mail].

[shugg]

have you gotton the lift to work yet, because I'm working on a home project and am building these cabinets for a couple lifts, and was planning on selling them. I sure would hate to invest in garbage, an be out of my profit.....

[sejest]

can this lift be used reversely as descending from attic or ceiling

[treagh]

Beware of attic heat on any television. If you place the box in the attic, be sure to insulate and provide air circulation or the life of the display may be shortened.

[bombmaker2]

probably just need a GOOD support beam.

[dubbin01]

P.s. Will the heat being given off the TV be affecting the actual reading of your T-stat behind this set-up? I would probably move the t-stat out of the rear of the TV and maybe put it to the side of somewhere else (Obviously away from sunlight also)

[dubbin01]

Ooops! I just read this was for demonstrative purposes correct? If so, disregard the T-stat statement.

[dubbin01]

OOops! This thread is old as dirt. Nevermind!

[iumad]

Troy, I have column lift like the one shown and wondered where I can get some info on it. It shows 24v input. Can I usr 12v, how to set up and down limits etc?

[bombmaker2]

google the serial number

[rdickson]

I made a google Sketchup 3d model of this build process but instead of using a linear actuator it uses a TV LIFT from Vector motions, the principal is the same and the modification to the cabinets the same just a different way to achieve the same results. just search for "Home automation POP UP TV LIFT cabinet installation instructions"

[mefromliny]

Nice, but I had some pneumatic (Air) cylinders around and instead of using an electric lifting mechanism, I used a simple valve (Switch) and air cylinder. Even a 3/4" diameter (Body) air cylinder will lift a big TV. You can get a simple valve and cylinder for under fifty bucks form Ebay. My tv needed to be raised fifteen inches, so it was pretty easy to do. Good job!

[dna60]

Mind telling me how? I have been looking for the "inexpensive" lifts.....my budget is apparently REALLY small compared to their "affordable" one. dna

[aschoen]

I am trying to get a decorative plywood panel to lift up and reveal my tv behind it. Should I do a linear actuator or a standard motor with limit switches? I have a switched AC plug behind the panel that I was hoping would activate the lift when power turned on. Then, I was hoping when the limit switches or power turned off, maybe a relay could flip the polarity so next time it came on it move in the opposite direction. Any ideas how to accomplish this?

[newtontroy]

You can also make your own TV lift yourself by getting a linear actuator, guide rails, a power adaptor and remote control. Think of a vertical drawer that slides out upwards. You need a piece of wood to act as the support for the TV bracket. You use the guide rails to support the 'drawer' so that it only moves straight up and down. Then you use the actuator to do the lifting. Most linear actuators are 12VDC, so you need a power adaptor. You can use a remote control or a rocker switch to control the actuator. If you want a rocker switch, make sure it has 6 poles on the back (DPDT) so that you can wire it to reverse polarity going to the actuator. This is the general idea, if you can't match the stroke length of the actuator to the distance you need you can use an external limit switch to stop it at the point you like.

[aloknaik]

i too made an automated project...where i had 8 motors...these motors cud b made to work in any sequence depending on how its programmed...i programmed it using 4 bit binary..cool stuff..

[newtontroy]

4 bit binary, now that's cool. When I was a kid we only had 1 bit binary.. kidding. Instructable for this?

[i.am.mozman]

It looks like you could actually hinge the bottom two drawer fronts and mount components there.

[newtontroy]

Good idea, there's probably room down there.

[Belcher1035]

I hope that's not the permanent location. Placing a large heat-producing piece of equipment right in front of your thermostat is a bad idea. Does your house get really cold when the TV's on?

[6million$man]

Can this be used inside a wall? I have a half wall I would like to use this in , but i think I would have to widen the wall.

[Troy (Firgelli Automations)]

I don't see why not, but you'd want to have an access door or panel to the control box.

[Troy (Firgelli Automations)]

Yes, these things are very quiet. Easy to implement too.

[6million$man]

Can this be used inside a wall? I have a half wall I would like to use this in , but i think I would have to widen the wall.

[jfoltz]

Would it be possible to do this with a motor and assembly from a 'power window' in a car? I'm not sure, but it would seem like a computer power supply, the power window motor and the diagonal guide rails would do the same job as a linear actuator. If one isn't strong enough, you could always add more motors. Has anyone done this with a car window motor instead? I don't have a workshop to build anything.

[killerjackalope]

ummm car power window's motors are nowwhere near strong enoug without so much reduction gearing that the TV would take an hour to come out of the cabinet... You might be able to buy good linear actuators, I dont know much about their prices though. How about hydraulics though You wouldn't need a big pump or motor to move the TV, and you could even add extra dimensions to the movement...

[reasonable]

This is a cool gadget but here is something to keep in mind. We're finally getting away from those hard to move tube tv's, to a flat screen, something reasonably easy to place and transport. Now, you stick it into a heavy wooden cabinet and were right back to the 1970's when tv were built into wooden cabinets, huge and clunky. I still think one of the coolest benefits of owning a flat LCD or plasma is the modern, minimalist, simplistic design. Also you're going to add another $500 to the cost of your TV, + the cost of whatever dresser / sideboard you buy. Don't you think that money would be better spent on the TV? What do you want, better picture quality and features or watching your TV go up and down? I guess if you've got money to burn, never plan on moving or re-arranging furniture, and need to hide your flat panel, this is the product for you.

[MDWII]

Where can I purchase the actual remote lift?

[avdvdintegrator]

(removed by author or community request)

[Troy (Firgelli Automations)]

they are sold at firgelliauto.com they are a complete plug and play system for $499

[ImportAdvantage]

On our website, we offer our patent pending fully setup, heavy duty, rack and pinion lift that is UL Recognized (Underwriters Laboratory). Feel free to call us with questions: 877.377.5435

[Troy (Firgelli Automations)]

Check the TV Lift section at FirgelliAuto dot com

[desdis]

We want to have an UPHOLSTERED bench built with a TV liFt for a 46" LDC TV which will go at the foot of the bed. Will the 35" stroke $500 lift work with a 46" tv that is 44.13" X 29.72" X 4.75" with out the pedestal. It will be a little tall at apx. 33" for a bench but will look better that a wood piece of funiture at the foot of the bed. Question is where to put the DVD player and cable box. I read it can be located in another place but the cable was very expensive. Does anyone know the cost for a short run of 6-7' to the wall by the bed?

[ImportAdvantage]

Please visit our webiste at: [http://http;//www.ImportAdvantage.com ImportAdvantage]

We offer foot of the bed TV Lifts as well as custom upholstered foot of the bed lifts!

[rdickson]

These Pop up tv lifts are great, I was at the Denver home theater show and saw lots of these but they were in the thousands, great to know firgelli automations sells them for under $500. i can see pop up tv cabinets becoming very popular. I looked on their website and i also see that now have a faster and shorter version for kitchen automation projects also