Well I want to put my extra 23" lcd in the floor of the hatch. I want it to sit underneath the floor and will make a cover for it. I want it to rise the top of the tv up on an actuator to make it tilt up so you can see it from the rear of the tc. I just have no idea what kind/where to get an actuator. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Actuator as in a switch to turn the motor on to flip your screen?

 

Well i need to know what all i need to lift the tv out of the hatch. The bottom of the tv would be on a hinge or something and and something has to push the top part of the tv out. if this doesn't make sense i'll make a drawing of it.

 

Well I think I am getting on track what I need. It's a linear actuator setup. I need two of for the actuator to mount to the tv and mdf box. I will need a linear actuator. Lastly I will need a momentary switch because I do not know the actual length i need to go. If anyone has actuator experience please let me know.


Mounting bracket.

http://www.firgelliauto.com/product_...products_id=54

Switch

http://www.firgelliauto.com/product_...products_id=60[/url]

 

Man, I had the same thing in mind for a 22" widescreen that would lay flat and rise up with a linear actuator. Lol. Designed it all out over a month ago. Sadly, I just don't have the money to tackle my entire trunk enclosure (including this), otherwise you'd be late to the game.

I don't know which size actuator you would need, as I never got close enough to the stage of buying one. So I can't really help you there. What I can help you with is the way the tv should be "attached" to the floor. You will need to put a track in the mdf and have it extend off the tv, and attach the actuator to the back of the top of the tv. The actuator will need to be mounted vertically, and will push the top of the tv straight up. The track will guide the bottom of the tv towards where the top was laying on the mdf, as the top extends up. At the stop point of the actuator, the tv will be standing vertically, or as vertically as you set it.

Kind of hard to explain really. Easier if I could draw a picture on a napkin and show you. I can do some basic MS Paint drawings I suppose if you still need the info. Good luck tho!!

 

The only thing about that is wouldn't it look dumb with a space cut out in front of the tv? How would I attach the tv to the tracks? That's my biggest problem.

 

Does it have the mounting points for a wall mount on the back of the tv?

Im thinking mount the tv via its mounted points to an mdf plate or enclosure or even metal for that matter, whatever works for ya. Then mount that plate to the tracks and the actuators

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but are you looking for the top of the tv to rise up and give the tv itself a tilt, all while keeping the bottom edge close to the bottom of the floor? If you are, then disregard my previous post. I just realized that what I had in mind might not be what you want, which might have caused my response to be different than you were looking for.

Assuming I an now understanding you correctly, I would suggest putting a hinge on the backside of the bottom of the tv and mounting the actuator to the top of the tv at an angle. This way, when the actuator extends it will continue at the angle you set it at, and will end at the desired angle you want the tv at. (refer to drawing below. Note: my diagram doesn't take into account you have the tv flush to the floor, but you can make a separate layer of mdf just below the rest so that it works)

Horizontal:


When raised:


The obvious difficulties here would be where to mount the actuator itself (at that angle, under the mdf floor) and what size actuator to get. Otherwise, something like that should give you the desired action you're looking for.

 

Yea that's exactly it. I just don't know what actuator to get and how to mount it because if it's too long it won't let the tv sit flush with the floor. Does that make sense?

 

Exactly, it might be tough. To reduce the length the actuator would need to travel, you could attach the actuator around the middle back of the tv (if it has the mounting points for a wall mount, hookup a steel plate to those mounting points and connect the actuator to that instead). That would allow a shorter actuator to be used.

Another big hurdle, are you keeping your spare tire in there? If so, might be an issue.

 

As far as actuators go, perhaps look for a wrecked convertible 350Z? They have actuators for the convertible top compartment, and if you find one, I'm willing to bet you can grab the motor with it as well. And since it was used in an automotive environment, I am sure that wiring it for power should not be difficult. Fabricating brackets might be tough, but considering the project you are looking to do, you'd have to do it anyway.

 

Well the thing is the TV isn't going to be in there all the time. Just for shows and meets or whenever I feel like it. So I can take the spare out and put it back in. It has a wall mount are back there. How would I attach the hinge to the tv?

 

The actuator will be about $100 so i'm not too worried about that.

 

Actuator and motor?

 

http://www.firgelliauto.com/show_info.php?page_id=35

This is all I need right?

 

I would get a metal plate, drill some holes into it and mount it to the back of the tv. Also drill what looks like 2 holes on the plate to attach your actuator bracket, then attach the bracket to the actuator. As long as you can mount the actuator you should be fine.

In regards to your diagram, I personally think you should move the actuator back towards the middle of the tv. Would help with holding the weight of the tv.

No need for both. The actuator works as a stand alone and just needs electricity to do it all.



^^^ found here: http://www.bcae1.com/actuator.htm

 

Those look right. Now just figure out which one you need. Good luck!!

 

Ahhhh the actuators I'd researched before needed step motors. Cool

 

I have no idea what actuator to get. It'd be easy to get more than i need if the trunk wasn't so shallow. But yea. Thanks for the help guys. I will be moving the actator to the back middle of the tv and bolting the mounting point to it there with a metal plate.

 

Sounds good man. Make sure to take a bunch of pics (even the unpretty ones!!) to let us know how it turned out. Good luck!