DIY Hidden Retractable Ceiling TV

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This looks like a great way to hide a big screen TV without spending a ton of money. Sure that attic needs to be prepped better and such but, overall this is a cool idea and it sure beats one of those $2,000+ cabinet TV lifts.
 
This makes a lot more sense if you're using a projector. For a flat screen, why not just put it against the wall. If it's about how it looks when you have guests (and you aren't watching TV), why not put it in a faux frame and display art or photos? I can't imagine that the TV will do well in an attic that gets well over 100 degrees in the summer.
 
I got imagine more watch it on cable rather than on youtube? That being said I have to strongly agree with heat in the attic being a concern as well as what about hooking up bluray/htpc/game console/sound system/ etc.? Doesn't seem like a very good setup but I could see that being awesome for a projector screen!
 
Must be nice for all the dust from the attic getting all over his tv... seriously though very odd room placement. And as others have said that's a super flat tv why not have it on a wall? Or shit have it hidden in the wall!
 
I always picture one of these rising up in the middle of a hallway upstairs and tripping someone.
 
sfsuphysics said:
Must be nice for all the dust from the attic getting all over his tv... seriously though very odd room placement. And as others have said that's a super flat tv why not have it on a wall? Or shit have it hidden in the wall!
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Don't forget about the 140-160f temperatures in the attic as well. Electronics such as this no likey those kind of temps.
 
that tv is super thin, wall mount it. Also, I wouldnt want my TV right in the middle of the room. Have to walk around it to go to the kitchen for more snacks. LAME-O
 
Was looking for the duct tape.

Neat idea, but yeah, in the middle of the room? One collision and that thing is bent out of shape.
 
mnewxcv said:
that tv is super thin, wall mount it. Also, I wouldnt want my TV right in the middle of the room. Have to walk around it to go to the kitchen for more snacks. LAME-O
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That looks like a LG OLED to me, wouldn't want to drop that baby...lol
 
Steve said:
Yeah, too bad no one watches that show. Season 6, Episode 13 has been out over a month...4 views :(
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No one watches? I would count the 5-9 million viewers who watch it on the DIY network as more than no one . . . .or on Amazon Prime. Where did you get your view count from?
 
nilepez said:
This makes a lot more sense if you're using a projector. For a flat screen, why not just put it against the wall. If it's about how it looks when you have guests (and you aren't watching TV), why not put it in a faux frame and display art or photos? I can't imagine that the TV will do well in an attic that gets well over 100 degrees in the summer.
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was going to ask the same thing, just buy a projector if you really want a drop down screen. Much easier and you can go way bigger unless you really need the drop down in the middle of a super bright room lol. But something like this I'd much rather have in a man cave downstairs where you can control the light anyways.
 
yah and also not very energy efficient during cold months when you need heat to stay in the house not leak out a giant hole in the cealing.. same effect during sumer with AC as well.. :-p
 
It's pretty cool - but as others pointed out: attics get hot in the summer, very cold in the winter (at least where I live), and are generally dusty.
 
sfsuphysics said:
Must be nice for all the dust from the attic getting all over his tv... seriously though very odd room placement. And as others have said that's a super flat tv why not have it on a wall? Or shit have it hidden in the wall!
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You guys do realize how easy it would to build a quick/easy/airtight enclosure in the attic made of drywall right?
 
Linear actuators are so much fun -- I built this drop down tube in my garage to stow away my charging cable for the Volt, controlled by wireless fob. This is the youtube video I shot for it and turned into progressiveautomations, not only did I get to build something cool but I got 50% of my money back in the form of sponsorship, woot! free hardware!



Was a fun little project
 
I'm confused on why it's so damn complicated with all the pulleys and counter-weight. Wouldn't a small vehicle wench accomplish the same thing without all the extra points of failure?
 
collegeboy69us said:
Linear actuators are so much fun -- I built this drop down tube in my garage to stow away my charging cable for the Volt, controlled by wireless fob. This is the youtube video I shot for it and turned into progressiveautomations, not only did I get to build something cool but I got 50% of my money back in the form of sponsorship, woot! free hardware!



Was a fun little project
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That's awesome, but is there not a way to quieten it? That noise would irritate me.
 
krotch said:
This is what I'd do.

tv MIRROR by Frame My TV | TV Mirrors you Design ONLINE
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Much cooler, but the skeptic in me is thinking that the one way mirror would still create a lot of reflection from any lamps or windows in the room.

Personally, I still love my setup until I can afford a 100" TV rendering it somewhat redundant:

1) Wall mount an ultra slim TV flush mounted for daytime viewing
2) Have a motorized projector screen drop down just over it in the evenings for when you want that cinema experience

The only original downside is the hassle of lowering the screen, turning on the projector, turning on the receiver, etc., but these days I have a Amazon Echo, Smartthings, and Logitech Harmony hub, so everything in the home is automated including TV/projector viewing.

I just say "Alexa, turn on projector", and if I was watching TV it turns off the TV, switches input, lowers the projector screen, turns the projector on, turns my living room lamp off if on, dims the kitchen and bedroom lights, and lowers the exterior blackout shade if its before 8PM.

Then when done, "Alexa, turn off projector" or click "goodnight" on my phone, and it either returns everything back to "normal" mode or in the latter case turns everything off including lights, and arms the alarm system into "stay" mode. Gotta love automation. :)

This does have me thinking I need to up my game and have the projector disappear into my attic when not in use, which currently sits fixed hanging a few feet from the ceiling at all times.... hmmmm...
 
My guess, the one way mirror probably works well at night, but probably not during the day. I'd do the canvas cover that rolls away that they also have on the site.

I'm all for hiding, but at the same time, not hiding. Like I'd get plastic drum, make it look like R2-D2 or something, then jam the projector in that. So you can display it and it'll also be useful. I'm not a Star Wars fan, so I'd build a Bender instead. Where his mouth opens and the projector shines out of there. Course if you have a fancy living room, a wife that would disagree with your choices of interior décor, then it probably wouldn't be an option to do such.
 
OpenSource said:
That's awesome, but is there not a way to quieten it? That noise would irritate me.
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Maybe -- I'm only familar with electic actuators and the cost of that unit was about $110... a fair/cheap price in the world of actuators. I'd wager the only way to get a silent type of system is pnumatic or hydraulic which is a whole different ball of wax.

Also the weight loads too -- getting an actuator to lift a 10lb tv and frame isn't a big deal, a 30# load through a doubling pully is a different story depending on what sort of actuator you are using. Personally the noise doesn't bother me at all because I'm not retracting it mulitple times a day. Usually it's left in the down position daily when I pull my car in the garage from work. Only time I for sure retract it is when I'm doing a project in the garage or cleaning it or something.
 
collegeboy69us said:
Linear actuators are so much fun -- I built this drop down tube in my garage to stow away my charging cable for the Volt, controlled by wireless fob. This is the youtube video I shot for it and turned into progressiveautomations, not only did I get to build something cool but I got 50% of my money back in the form of sponsorship, woot! free hardware!



Was a fun little project
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That noise!! AHHHHH
 
Am I the only one... if that TV gets off by the smallest amount, retracting it will probably crush it!
 
collegeboy69us said:
You guys do realize how easy it would to build a quick/easy/airtight enclosure in the attic made of drywall right?
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You do realize once you build an enclosure that's air tight around the whole thing, accessing it for maintenance would be your next major problem.
 
sfsuphysics said:
You do realize once you build an enclosure that's air tight around the whole thing, accessing it for maintenance would be your next major problem.
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You could probably build it as a housing that goes over the area and latches that work something like a mason jar.
Nevertheless, I don't know why I'd want this. If I'm going to have it retract, I'll get a projector or alternatively get one of those art/mirror pieces that someone linked to.
 
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