Disco ball motors: a cautionary tale.

[Sleek]

Like ALL TRUE MEN, I recently decided to install a disco ball in my living room. I got the mirror ball, a smart plug and a couple of pin spots, then went to amazon and ordered a motor, not thinking of any particular parameters, because a disco ball motor is a disco ball motor, right?

Anyway, it shows up, I install this whole situation. I say the magic phrase: "Alexa, play Disco and turn on plug 2" and wait for the magic to happen...which it does...BUT...

The danged thing is rotating too fast! Turns out the key parameter for a disco ball motor (aside from weight rating) is RPM. The one I got was 6 RPM, and that shit will make your ass dizzy.

...so I ordered a second motor. This time I went with a 1 RPM motor...and...

THIS ONE IS TOO FUCKING SLOW. Liiiiike, it might be okay for "How Deep is Your Love" or something, but is just too pokey for something like the 12" 16:49 version of "Love to Love You", and certainly would not support the energy of a "YMCA" or "The Hustle".

So I just hit up Amazon again...got a 3 RPM disco ball motor on its way. I feel like this will be the sweet spot, but if it is not, I may have to just give up and move into the woods and spend my life as a hermit off-the-grid in a cabin writing manifestos and stuff.

Wish me luck, and please, LEARN FROM MY EXPERIENCE so none of you have to endure the heartache I have felt.

[Turner Coates]

Please don't tell us that you're putting together a KC & the Sunshine Band tribute act.

[GreatWhiteSnake]

Talk about your fucking first world problems...

[Sleek]

First world problems are still problems!

This is a pain that no person living in a Yurt on $4 per year will ever know.

I envy those noble savages.

[AlexVonHaig]

In the words of Steve Dahl, "disco balls sucks"

[daveg]

Might be the most random thing ever posted on here.

Do you need it to accent your black velvet posters and lava lamps......or for better ambiance for your waterbed

[Bono Nettencourt]

[HueyRamone]

Might be the most random thing ever posted on here.

Do you need it to accent your black velvet posters and lava lamps......or for better ambiance for your waterbed

No, he bought multiple black lights to accentuate his posters.
This is not a random comment, but rather a verified statement of fact.

Could you buy a variable speed motor, so the ball can spin to whatever you're in the mood for that day?

[Anthrax442]

Now this is the kind of post I come here for. (furiously notes down desired RPM for future reference)

[diablomozart]

if you try the hermit in the woods life, i suggest writing a novel instead of a manifesto...d.m.

[Mister Freeze]

"Alexa, please play "I Just Want to be Your Everything" by Andy Gibb, scan Grinder for bears in my area, and order a Rainbow Chamomile Latte for delivery on DoorDash."

[Sleek]

Could you buy a variable speed motor, so the ball can spin to whatever you're in the mood for that day?

That was my first thought, as you know I am always DOWN to mess around with electricity.

Turns out (no pun intended) these motors only operate at one speed and one voltage...if you put them on a dimmer and drop the voltage, they just don't turn

"Alexa, please play "I Just Want to be Your Everything" by Andy Gibb, scan Grinder for bears in my area, and order a Rainbow Chamomile Latte for delivery on DoorDash."

I woke up with that song in my head today!

Sadly, there was a lady in my bed tho

She didn't even have a ladycock. I think I gotta put some more Village People on my playlist

[SikkiNixx]

I'm trying to imagine 6 rpm it doesn't seem like it would be that fast.. so 3 rpm is hopefully the sweet spot

This is useful information and now I'm armed with it.. unless 3 is not good either, but it should be

[Sleek]

This is my living room with it at 6RPM.

PURE. FUCKING. CHAOS.

https://youtu.be/oh7duUCeqNo

[Turner Coates]

This is my living room with it at 6RPM.

PURE. FUCKING. CHAOS.

https://youtu.be/oh7duUCeqNo

Bet it would work for this guy....if he had electricity.....and a room......and an Amazon account.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrJ3g9Vnpqk

[HueyRamone]

Can u bring it to rehearsal tonight and a skyhook for it to hang from?

[Sleek]

Awww, I WOULD, but I am going straight from work to rehearsal.

Besides, if I brought it, DISCO might break out.

[prog]

Disco is awesome and anyone who disagrees is wrong. Now I’m inspired to get a disco ball in my 900 square foot Manhattan apartment and serenade my neighbors with some Village People and Saturday Night Fever. This is gonna be a fun Friday night now.

[Mister Freeze]

[Bono Nettencourt]

This is my living room with it at 6RPM.

PURE. FUCKING. CHAOS.

https://youtu.be/oh7duUCeqNo

https://youtu.be/98W9QuMq-2k?si=L6tXCJzMPKykASMl

[DrumminAway]

First world problems are still problems!

This is a pain that no person living in a Yurt on $4 per year will ever know.

I envy those noble savages.

Yurts so good.

[Turner Coates]

Yurt So Vain.

[Sleek]

Update: Got the 3 RPM motor and installed. THIS IS THE ONE.

So...disco party at my place? Who's got the blow?

[Brainy Lane]

Update: Got the 3 RPM motor and installed. THIS IS THE ONE.

So...disco party at my place? Who's got the blow?

Thank God!
I couldn’t sleep agonizing over this.

In the Navy > YMCA

[Sleek]

What am I going to do on a submarine?

[dmbrocker]

What am I going to do on a submarine?

Do the Hustle whilst showing off your bacon torpedo?

[Turner Coates]

[Gibsonite]

No fog(cx) machine? Fucking amateur..

[metalmetalrdu]

This is my favorite thing ever posted here.

[Sleek]

No fog(cx) machine? Fucking amateur..

Why would you impugn my dignity so?

OF COURSE I have a fog machine.

That said...a hazer would be better for this application. Hmmm....maybe it's time to spring $3500 for that DF-50 I've always wanted...