How to automate a rope-operated sun screen?

Post by **MindBender** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 12:22 pm

Currently the sun screen at the front of my house is operated manually by a rope and a cleat instead of the usual tape reel. I know about automated tape reels, but I haven't found any rope-equivalences. Of course I could tie a piece of tape at the end of the rope and use a motorized tape reel instead, but I can hardly imagine I'm the only one with this 'problem'.

Does anybody know about any (affordable) solutions or products?

Post by **Jfn** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 12:40 pm

Have you considered this: Pay a visit to your local 4x4 car-graveyard and get yourself the cheapest winch ('lier') you can find.

A friend of mine uses this for an extendable antenna installation.

Do not forget to add switches for marking the start/stop position (You would not want the winch to pull the sunscreen off the wall ...)

Post by **MindBender** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 1:08 pm

Hm, not a bad idea actually. Though pulling the screen of the wall sprang to my mind too

. And end-switches are easy to implement by tying knots in the rope and using a ring with two switches.

Yet I'm still wondering if there aren't any purposly made products on the market to solve this problem. It will be installed on the front side of my house so it shouldn't be too ugly.

Post by **wimmer** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 8:16 pm

You can find the "winch" from JFN by Conrad seach for "IGARASHI MOTOR 20G-380" You have to glue something (garenklosje)on the axle to roll up the rope of your sun screen.

When it is good, try to make it better, use it only when it is best!!