Best way to suspend lighting from the ceiling?

[SliK JiM]

Umm yeah, what's the best way to suspend lighting from the ceiling? If you have any pics of how you've done I'd really like to see them. I'll want to hang a basking light and a MVB from it at least (probably a dripper and another basking light if necessary)

Thanks all

 

[ToniandGizmo]

Working on mine right now. These are butterfly hooks - The pencil marks are of the hood that I traced so that I could position the hooks evenly. Will post more pics after all done. I'm putting up two 5.0 reptisuns along Gizmo's vine and 1 basking light will be hung in the middle.

 

[SliK JiM]

How are they secured? Are they bolted on the other side yeah? I'm hoping I'll be able to hit a support beam in the roof, but if not, I might have to come out of the wall.

 

[ToniandGizmo]

Yes, bolted on the other side. Here's a pic of one of the hooks. Hope that helps.

 

[Malicious]

Toggles like that would be the best way to anchor things like that thru the ceiling. Unless you can find a beam along the ceiling, and use an screw in hook.

-Jay

 

[chambabysitter1]

Ghetto fix:

Take a 2x4, taller than the cage itself.

Drill the 2x4 near the cage, by drilling to a wall or the table it rests on.

Take a clamp fixture. Clip it as high or low until you find that temperature sweet spot.

Example of it in use:

Very old picture of chameleo's juvy cage. The UVB was set to the side so you can see the clamp clearly.

It was pretty visible with the small cage, but the big one hides the 2x4 really well.

 

[SliK JiM]

Is that a Fischer spring toggle? Is that what it's called? Also, will you be using wire rope to fix it in place? How do you fix wire rope in place? As you can guess, I've been looking around on the internet!

 

[SliK JiM]

The ghetto fix would be tricky in my case, and would take up a lot of wood! The enclosure should be 8ft tall..... 6ft for the cham to frolic in, 2ft for storage!

 

[Malicious]

Bloom stick in a x-mas tree stand.

-Jay

 

[ToniandGizmo]

Is that a Fischer spring toggle? Is that what it's called? Also, will you be using wire rope to fix it in place? How do you fix wire rope in place? As you can guess, I've been looking around on the internet!

I'm not sure about the Fischer part (I don't have much hardware knowledge). It does have a spring in it. I had to hold the little "wings" closed to insert it into the hole. Once inside, they popped right up.

I used string but I think that's a personal choice, just easier for me to work with than wire. See pic.

 

[SliK JiM]

Yeah that sounds like it!

ha ha ha! I know what string is!

I just didn't think string would be able to take the weight!? Especially not if I'm hanging a dripper from it!

 

[ToniandGizmo]

Yeah that sounds like it!

ha ha ha! I know what string is!

I just didn't think string would be able to take the weight!? Especially not if I'm hanging a dripper from it!

LOL! No silly, I just wanted to show you the size of it. It's not real thick. I put a penny next to it to help indicate size.

Sorry I missed that about the dripper. That's different. I use wire because I can make a hook at the end to hang the handle on. Makes it easy to remove the dripper when it's time to refill.

 

[SliK JiM]

I figured that was the reason!

Ahh ok. I'll just have to think a bit more about how I want to build this top. I might make it look like the top of a snooker table type approach. Make some sort of feature out of it if I can.

Do you think these would work? http://www.screwfix.com/prods/18266...Hollow-Wall-Anchor-5-x-43mm-6-13mm-Pack-of-10 I know they're meant for walls, but they're a lot cheaper than buying your spring clips! Plus, should I ever want to bring the lights down, I wouldn't have to root around in the floor boards to get the hooks out, just unscrew and I'd be away!

 

[ToniandGizmo]

I'd say yes, but maybe a male could chime in with a better thought. Hey guys, the floor is yours.

 

[SliK JiM]

I'd say yes, but maybe a male could chime in with a better thought. Hey guys, the floor is yours.

Thanks for your help! Lets see if someone else will post some more nuggets of information for me! Keep the pics updated when you finish your build!

 

[ToniandGizmo]

Will do. Stay tuned for finished free range pics.