1. Welcome to Tundras.com!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tundra discussion topics
    • Transfer over your build thread from a different forum to this one
    • Communicate privately with other Tundra owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Any electricians or hobbyists out there?

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by Danimal86, Apr 6, 2018.

  1. Apr 6, 2018 at 9:01 AM
    #1
    Danimal86

    Danimal86 [OP] Looks clean even when its dirty!

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2017
    Member:
    #9321
    Messages:
    4,721
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Daniel
    Sacramento, CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 White Tundra SR5
    Here's a project i've had in the back of my head since we installed a patio cover.
    In between the 4 posts for the patio cover, i want to add a couple roll down sun shades to be able to get out of the sun when we are hanging out in the patio. (best picture i have on my phone right now).
    upload_2018-4-6_8-26-11.jpg


    No problem, costco has 8'x8' sun shades for $60 (usually each year they go on sale for $50).
    upload_2018-4-6_8-23-44.jpg
    These will be PERFECT because the (inside) post to post width is 8'-3". Match made in heaven.
    The only problem with these, is that they have the manual crank to raise and lower the shades. Not the end of the world, but man, it would be awesome to have a motor do it for me, and here's where i'm out of my element. I have no idea how to motorize these things. I've read a couple forums of people buying a cheap drill and attaching that, but looks way too jankey for me.

    I have a 120v outlet on the top corner of my patio cover, so powering some motors shouldn't be a problem. I've been looking for a motor controller with a remote that can control 3 motors independently (forwards and reverse), but haven't come up with anything. So i started to look at having an independent controller for each motor, and it seems to be easier to come up with a solution for that.

    I'm wondering if i should look into some sort of an controller like an arduino but i have NO idea how to use those or write any sort of code.
    I'm not sure how to control any sort of start/stop functionality. Probably being able to either have a sensor or a timer to control how long the motor runs for would be nice, but i think i'm getting greedy at this point. Probably just holding a button on a remote will work just fine.

    I'm also not sure how to connect the motor to the hook on the shade, but i should be able find some sort of a sleeve that would go over the hook and attach to the motor.

    So you Macguyver and DIY'ers, you guys have any ideas?
     
  2. Apr 6, 2018 at 9:06 AM
    #2
    TXRailRoadBandit73

    TXRailRoadBandit73 YOTAS,RAILROADER,RÖKnRÖLLN',BEER,MAX/GEMMA

    Joined:
    May 30, 2016
    Member:
    #3487
    Messages:
    50,305
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Adam
    The 956, TEXAS
    None yet
    Not an eletric guru here, but nice patio area!!! Man those neighbors close! Can't skinny dip
     
    Black Wolf likes this.
  3. Apr 6, 2018 at 9:07 AM
    #3
    Danimal86

    Danimal86 [OP] Looks clean even when its dirty!

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2017
    Member:
    #9321
    Messages:
    4,721
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Daniel
    Sacramento, CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 White Tundra SR5
    Thanks man...trees will eventually block them out, but you are low enough in the pool that they cant see.....even if they could, it wouldn't stop me from skinny dippin'
     
  4. Apr 6, 2018 at 9:10 AM
    #4
    TXRailRoadBandit73

    TXRailRoadBandit73 YOTAS,RAILROADER,RÖKnRÖLLN',BEER,MAX/GEMMA

    Joined:
    May 30, 2016
    Member:
    #3487
    Messages:
    50,305
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Adam
    The 956, TEXAS
    None yet
    If it were me, I'd jus do a cordless drill, I'm no electric guru yeah I'd be nice with a switch but I wouldn't wanna do all that wiring IMO
     
  5. Apr 6, 2018 at 9:12 AM
    #5
    Danimal86

    Danimal86 [OP] Looks clean even when its dirty!

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2017
    Member:
    #9321
    Messages:
    4,721
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Daniel
    Sacramento, CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 White Tundra SR5
    I thought about chucking on a drill to the end of the crank, but i'd rather do it manually than that.

    I also have no idea what size motor i need. Probably not much since i bet it has a gear reduction built into it.
     
  6. Apr 6, 2018 at 9:15 AM
    #6
    TXRailRoadBandit73

    TXRailRoadBandit73 YOTAS,RAILROADER,RÖKnRÖLLN',BEER,MAX/GEMMA

    Joined:
    May 30, 2016
    Member:
    #3487
    Messages:
    50,305
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Adam
    The 956, TEXAS
    None yet
    Well I hope ya get how ya want, hopefully someone with that knowledge chimes in
     
  7. Apr 6, 2018 at 9:20 AM
    #7
    JoshuaA

    JoshuaA Canuck Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2017
    Member:
    #11529
    Messages:
    2,710
    Southern Ontario
    Vehicle:
    Blaaack 2.5G
    Good ol Costco, I got the same wedding lights. I attached that shade to my gazebo, all Costco lol.

    I don't know about a motor, it be a clunky thing that needs to attach to where the black ring is, it's easy enough to just attach the pole when you need to roll it up/down manually, and it works fast. If you do Macgyver something post back, good luck!

    [​IMG]
     
  8. Apr 6, 2018 at 9:27 AM
    #8
    Danimal86

    Danimal86 [OP] Looks clean even when its dirty!

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2017
    Member:
    #9321
    Messages:
    4,721
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Daniel
    Sacramento, CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 White Tundra SR5
    Looks great. I just noticed something though on yours, I was planning on mounting them to the underside of the beam, you mounted it to the back face, and it looks like the hook is pointing down with yours. Ruh row.
     
  9. Apr 6, 2018 at 9:35 AM
    #9
    JoshuaA

    JoshuaA Canuck Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2017
    Member:
    #11529
    Messages:
    2,710
    Southern Ontario
    Vehicle:
    Blaaack 2.5G
  10. Apr 6, 2018 at 9:39 AM
    #10
    Danimal86

    Danimal86 [OP] Looks clean even when its dirty!

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2017
    Member:
    #9321
    Messages:
    4,721
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Daniel
    Sacramento, CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 White Tundra SR5
    Awesome! Thanks for posting that.

    I keep coming back to this controller that look solid, but it look like i would have to control all the motors on one switch (since i want forwards/reverse).
    https://www.amazon.com/Solidremote-...031808&sr=1-3&keywords=wireless+motor+control
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Apr 6, 2018
  11. Apr 6, 2018 at 11:18 AM
    #11
    Festerw

    Festerw New Member

    Joined:
    May 7, 2017
    Member:
    #7600
    Messages:
    3,692
    Gender:
    Male
    Cambridge Springs, PA
    Vehicle:
    04 Tundra DC
    Doesn't seem like it would be terribly difficult to do, the hardest part would probably be the motor mounting and connecting the motor shaft to the crank. Something like these would most likely be enough to roll them, there's no rating on them besides voltage so I'm not sure you could run all three at once without overloading the wireless controller though.

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072B83JY..._rd_r=6K967NKAYX1GJR415ZA8&pd_rd_w=Dp1MF&th=1
     
  12. Apr 6, 2018 at 11:26 AM
    #12
    BTBAKER

    BTBAKER DIFFERENT NAME. SAME JUNK.

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2017
    Member:
    #11185
    Messages:
    5,424
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Brad
    Castle Rock
    Vehicle:
    2023 Ram Rebel
    Where do you plan to power the motors from?
     
  13. Apr 6, 2018 at 11:27 AM
    #13
    BTBAKER

    BTBAKER DIFFERENT NAME. SAME JUNK.

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2017
    Member:
    #11185
    Messages:
    5,424
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Brad
    Castle Rock
    Vehicle:
    2023 Ram Rebel

    This is a DC powered motor. Basically you’ll need a way to rectify AC or use a 12v battery.
     
  14. Apr 6, 2018 at 11:31 AM
    #14
    Danimal86

    Danimal86 [OP] Looks clean even when its dirty!

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2017
    Member:
    #9321
    Messages:
    4,721
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Daniel
    Sacramento, CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 White Tundra SR5
    I've been looking at this one. Might be a good excuse to buy a cheap 3d printer to make a mount for it.

    I cant seem to find a motor controller that will control 3 or 4 motors in forwards/reverse. Im thinking i may be better off going with an individual controller per motor and having a momentary switch mounted to each the post:
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0744BF6D2/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza

    I had a power outlet installed in the patio cover, so i've got a 120v outlet up there. I would just get a small DC power supply to power/control the motors.
     
    BTBAKER[QUOTED] likes this.
  15. Apr 6, 2018 at 11:31 AM
    #15
    OBXTundra

    OBXTundra Member

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2017
    Member:
    #9337
    Messages:
    947
    Gender:
    Male
    Southeast USA
    Vehicle:
    2018 Nissan Armada, 4x4
    I would buy a cordless drill and make an adapter for the shank on the shades. Use the cordless drill for this purpose only and leave it outside on the patio.

    You might go through the trouble of installing all of these, installing the motors, and controller, only to have an issue with the controller or motors in a few months. If you have an issue with a cheap cordless drill, just buy another and swap the adapter to it.
     
  16. Apr 6, 2018 at 11:43 AM
    #16
    Danimal86

    Danimal86 [OP] Looks clean even when its dirty!

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2017
    Member:
    #9321
    Messages:
    4,721
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Daniel
    Sacramento, CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 White Tundra SR5
    I read about people doing this as an option, but i would probably just do it manually if it came to using a drill. Its more for the tinkering factor of making it motorized.
     
  17. Apr 6, 2018 at 11:52 AM
    #17
    Festerw

    Festerw New Member

    Joined:
    May 7, 2017
    Member:
    #7600
    Messages:
    3,692
    Gender:
    Male
    Cambridge Springs, PA
    Vehicle:
    04 Tundra DC
    Waterproof transformers are pretty cheap. 12vdc is a little more forgiving than line voltage IMO.

    I use one of these transformers for my patio lights, been outside in the snow and rain for 2 years now.

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0034GUEY4/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&th=1
     
    BTBAKER[QUOTED] likes this.
  18. Apr 6, 2018 at 11:57 AM
    #18
    Danimal86

    Danimal86 [OP] Looks clean even when its dirty!

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2017
    Member:
    #9321
    Messages:
    4,721
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Daniel
    Sacramento, CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 White Tundra SR5
    That looks like a good option. I'll have to figure out what the draw of the motors are and get the right size.
     
  19. Apr 6, 2018 at 12:17 PM
    #19
    Festerw

    Festerw New Member

    Joined:
    May 7, 2017
    Member:
    #7600
    Messages:
    3,692
    Gender:
    Male
    Cambridge Springs, PA
    Vehicle:
    04 Tundra DC
    The 60w is probably more than sufficient, I can't image they're more than a 1/4 HP and even that is probably high.
     
To Top