Pulley lights or an alternative plan

[Four Cofffee]

My old house has a double height lounge so the main light fitting hangs 4 feet down from a 23 feet high beam. It is a nightmare to clear or replace bulbs as it requires a double extension ladder leaning against the beam above the fitting and someone to foot the ladder on the wooden floor. The light needs to be high up as it also lights the landing.

I have seen counter weighted systems where you can pull down the light fitting with a hook and the counterweight takes it back op. I have also seen small pulley systems to lower the fitting. None of these system seem to work with a large drop ( I need to lower it by about 14 feet to teach it.

Any ideas?

[Solitude]

what are you gonna teach it ?

[Four Cofffee]

Solitude said:

what are you gonna teach it ?

????

[JM]

Four Cofffee said:

My old house has a double height lounge so the main light fitting hangs 4 feet down from a 23 feet high beam. It is a nightmare to clear or replace bulbs as it requires a double extension ladder leaning against the beam above the fitting and someone to foot the ladder on the wooden floor. The light needs to be high up as it also lights the landing.

I have seen counter weighted systems where you can pull down the light fitting with a hook and the counterweight takes it back op. I have also seen small pulley systems to lower the fitting. None of these system seem to work with a large drop ( I need to lower it by about 14 feet to teach it.

Any ideas?

Might explain the above ^^

I'd have thought you would be able to get a pulley system for a large drop, maybe look at commercial rather than domestic suppliers.

[Simpo Two]

I bought one years ago from Habitat. It was essentially just a counterweight, a pulley fixed to the ceiling rose, and the cable ran over it. You could have fun making your own!

[Four Cofffee]

Simpo Two said:

I bought one years ago from Habitat. It was essentially just a counterweight, a pulley fixed to the ceiling rose, and the cable ran over it. You could have fun making your own!

I have seen the design, it is just the size of it all.

[Simpo Two]

It wasn't very big... the counterweight was a hollow sphere that unscrewed in the middle and you filled it with lead shot to counter the weight of the shade. That would be difficult to reproduce but a bean tin makes a handy mould for any lead bits you happen to have around!

If lead isn't dense enough try mercury. I am possibly the only PHer to have immersed his forearm in mercury!

Now where's my Japanese Admiral's uniform?