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View Full Version : Whats a good way to hang a mirror ball?



HBL Entertainment
04-06-2012, 06:01 PM
So I get my mirror ball and LED Pin spots today. But I need to figure out a way to hang it for this one event. I don't currently have any other lighting but am borrowing some wash lighting from a friend and have my mirror ball. I am going to attach the pin spots to my speaker stands but I don't have a lighting stand or anything for the ball. I can get one but don't know what to get and how to hang it on a stand w/proper counterweight?

I have a 12" ADJ ball and 2 Chauvet LED Pin Spot 2's.

STLRiverCity
04-06-2012, 06:12 PM
American DJ used to make a mirror ball stand but I don't see that on their website any more. I would suggest getting a light tree and hanging the mirror ball off of that. If you get one with side bars you can use one of those at a right angle to the t-bar so both pinspots can hit the mirror ball.

BillESC
04-07-2012, 06:28 PM
What's the ceiling construction? If its 2x2 or 2x4 lay-ins, there's a Tbar clip designed to mount right to the bars and you can then bolt the motor safely.

Synaxis
04-07-2012, 06:55 PM
American DJ used to make a mirror ball stand but I don't see that on their website any more. I would suggest getting a light tree and hanging the mirror ball off of that. If you get one with side bars you can use one of those at a right angle to the t-bar so both pinspots can hit the mirror ball.

Is this what you mean?

http://www.activemusician.com/item--EM.ADJ-MBS-1

It would't be too hard to make something like this out of some metal piping, and clamp it to a T-bar.

HBL Entertainment
04-08-2012, 01:14 AM
What's the ceiling construction? If its 2x2 or 2x4 lay-ins, there's a Tbar clip designed to mount right to the bars and you can then bolt the motor safely.

I,m not exactly sure what the ceiling is but it has panels. Can you further explain your answer or link a product or picture?

Synaxis
04-08-2012, 07:57 AM
I,m not exactly sure what the ceiling is but it has panels. Can you further explain your answer or link a product or picture?

I believe Bill is talking about a drop ceiling:

http://www.house-improvements.com/images/suspended-ceiling4.jpg

djnotloc
04-08-2012, 09:59 AM
I made something like what @Synaxis posted a link to. I got a strip of stainless steel an inch wide and oh maybe 1/4 inch think and bent it into a semi circle then mounted my motor to the top. Ill go take a pic when I'm organizing my trailer today and post it up.

BillESC
04-08-2012, 06:53 PM
http://lh6.googleusercontent.com/public/SxDUNHkUPL0qRwGQKcw_P6yfD_BEFFtWkG6GgboaYXztC_sfGN aFlk4Yh7oZiiZkmmyGbE60UQA6PMjj0MnsXq-mOfYvFnJzkLnkLoDDjvc6EMLtKSbYjQaKecjt5nKuHDSOGer-e4bLlXIPUR85WuvReY5lHab8TwQwxmc-aF8euxFXxQ

These twist onto the Tbar and have a 1/4" x 1"threaded bolt on the other side.

djnotloc
04-08-2012, 07:13 PM
335
I put 2 O-clamps on the vertical spot and the motor and ball bolt onto the flat piece on the top. Sorry you have to look at it sideways Im not sure why it got rotated.

HBL Entertainment
04-08-2012, 09:28 PM
http://lh6.googleusercontent.com/public/SxDUNHkUPL0qRwGQKcw_P6yfD_BEFFtWkG6GgboaYXztC_sfGN aFlk4Yh7oZiiZkmmyGbE60UQA6PMjj0MnsXq-mOfYvFnJzkLnkLoDDjvc6EMLtKSbYjQaKecjt5nKuHDSOGer-e4bLlXIPUR85WuvReY5lHab8TwQwxmc-aF8euxFXxQ

These twist onto the Tbar and have a 1/4" x 1"threaded bolt on the other side.

Pardon my ignorance but do these devices clip to a drop ceiling or do they attach to the t bar that is on a light stand?

BillESC
04-10-2012, 08:10 AM
They twist onto the T bars of a dropped ceiling. You'd need two to secure a mirror ball motor. You should be able to get them at Lowes or Home Depot for under $ 4.00 each.

HBL Entertainment
04-10-2012, 11:57 AM
Thank you for the info. It's much appreciated.

Synaxis
04-10-2012, 01:31 PM
Thank you for the info. It's much appreciated.

Here is what a drop ceiling looks like without the panels:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VHp_Th5dW40/TZ8E9E3m64I/AAAAAAAAAEU/VG5l94sOxeI/s1600/drop%2Bceiling.jpg

You twist them on, like Bill said.

HBL Entertainment
04-10-2012, 08:23 PM
Here is what a drop ceiling looks like without the panels:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VHp_Th5dW40/TZ8E9E3m64I/AAAAAAAAAEU/VG5l94sOxeI/s1600/drop%2Bceiling.jpg

You twist them on, like Bill said.

Would it be best to hang it near a main tee or wire support? The ball and motor weighs just shy of 10 pounds.

Synaxis
04-10-2012, 09:06 PM
Would it be best to hang it near a main tee or wire support? The ball and motor weighs just shy of 10 pounds.

I would hang it near a wire support just to be safe. But keep in mind these ceilings can take a bit of a load.

http://matthewpetro.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/0612091442.jpg

A single one of those florescent lights can weight anywhere from 15-25 pounds, not to mention the ceilings also need to support other utilities, such as air conditioning, sprinkler systems, ect.

I don't think a 10 pound mirror ball will be much of a problem.

HBL Entertainment
04-10-2012, 09:24 PM
I would hang it near a wire support just to be safe. But keep in mind these ceilings can take a bit of a load.

http://matthewpetro.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/0612091442.jpg

A single one of those florescent lights can weight anywhere from 15-25 pounds, not to mention the ceilings also need to support other utilities, such as air conditioning, sprinkler systems, ect.

I don't think a 10 pound mirror ball will be much of a problem.

Good to know. Thanks.

Windows 95
04-10-2012, 09:24 PM
A single one of those florescent lights can weight anywhere from 15-25 pounds, not to mention the ceilings also need to support other utilities, such as air conditioning, sprinkler systems, ect. Actually all of those are supported on their own, not by the drop ceiling. If you completely removed the drop ceiling & it's rails. All of those things would still be there.

HBL Entertainment
04-16-2012, 05:53 PM
How much weight do you think a typical drop ceiling rail could hold?

BillESC
04-16-2012, 07:08 PM
If you're near a support 25 lbs. shouldn't be a problem.

Windows 95
04-16-2012, 07:30 PM
How much weight do you think a typical drop ceiling rail could hold?http://www.ehow.com/how_5805228_hang-stuff-suspended-ceiling.html
A suspended ceiling, often referred to as a drop ceiling, is functional as well as cost effective. While this type of ceiling has many advantages, it also has some limitations. These ceilings are intended to support the weight of the bracket and ceiling tiles and very little else.I definitely wouldn't be trying to hang a 10 pound object from one of those rails, that's just asking to have it (And part of the ceiling.) fall on someone's head.

BillESC
04-16-2012, 09:07 PM
Perhaps your experience is different than mine. I've hung an Altman Shakespeare ellipsoidal reflector spotlight from the drop ceiling track and they weigh in at 24#. Yes, it was within inches of a support point.

BillESC
04-16-2012, 09:18 PM
But I've only been doing this a little over 40 years.

Windows 95
04-16-2012, 10:21 PM
This thing weighs 13 pounds.
http://www.oberonwireless.com/WebDocs/1052 Spec Sheet.pdf
It houses a two pound item.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16839120003
That's about 15 pounds total.

You'll notice that it could rest on the rails like a ceiling panel, so the weight would be spread out evenly across the rails. (If you were to improperly mount it like that.)
But at 2 minutes 10 seconds into the video it states:

Note that the enclosure must be supported by the building's structural support, not the ceiling grid work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joaCdqI3YXg

Just because some people feel it's OK to take short cuts at the risk of public safety, it doesn't make it a good idea.

Drop ceilings are designed to hold the weight of ceiling panels, anything over that is going beyond what it's design to do. It's like putting a 100 lbs speaker on a speaker stand that's only rated at 80 lbs. Sure you can do it & maybe you've been doing it that way for 75 years without a problem, but that doesn't make it any less of a bad idea.

STLRiverCity
04-16-2012, 10:59 PM
Those ceilings cannot support much weight at all. Just take out a few tiles that are next to each other and see how flimsy the rails get. Anything installed in a drop ceiling must be supported by wires to the main structure. This is required by most local building codes, especially in commercial spaces. The plus is the support wires are cheap and easy to install. You can get them at any building supply store. Just imitate the other wires, basically they are just twisted onto themselves at each end. Use three support wires in a triangular fashion to keep the motor from twisting the cable. If you only use one cable it will twist when to motor first turns on. It can take a while to settle down.

The other thing to keep in mind is that, per NEC, no outlets can be above the ceiling in plenum space. The outlet much be installed in a ceiling tile and then the motor can plug into that. It will be visible in the room, but it can be done to look nice. This applies to the pin spots as well.

I know this all might sound scary, but it isn't difficult to do.