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Disco ball motors: a cautionary tale.

Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2023 3:11 pm
by 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.

Re: Disco ball motors: a cautionary tale.

Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2023 6:50 pm
by Turner Coates
Please don't tell us that you're putting together a KC & the Sunshine Band tribute act.

Re: Disco ball motors: a cautionary tale.

Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2023 8:30 pm
by GreatWhiteSnake
Talk about your fucking first world problems...

Re: Disco ball motors: a cautionary tale.

Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2023 9:48 pm
by 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.

Re: Disco ball motors: a cautionary tale.

Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2023 4:51 am
by AlexVonHaig
In the words of Steve Dahl, "disco balls sucks"

Re: Disco ball motors: a cautionary tale.

Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2023 5:47 am
by daveg
Might be the most random thing ever posted on here. :D

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

Re: Disco ball motors: a cautionary tale.

Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2023 6:03 am
by Bono Nettencourt
Image

Re: Disco ball motors: a cautionary tale.

Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2023 7:05 am
by HueyRamone
daveg wrote: ↑Fri Nov 10, 2023 5:47 am Might be the most random thing ever posted on here. :D

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?

Re: Disco ball motors: a cautionary tale.

Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2023 7:23 am
by Anthrax442
Now this is the kind of post I come here for. (furiously notes down desired RPM for future reference)

Re: Disco ball motors: a cautionary tale.

Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2023 8:05 am
by diablomozart
if you try the hermit in the woods life, i suggest writing a novel instead of a manifesto...d.m.

Re: Disco ball motors: a cautionary tale.

Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2023 8:26 am
by 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."

Re: Disco ball motors: a cautionary tale.

Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2023 11:22 am
by Sleek
HueyRamone wrote: ↑Fri Nov 10, 2023 7:05 am
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 :(
Mister Freeze wrote: ↑Fri Nov 10, 2023 8:26 am "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 :oops:

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

Re: Disco ball motors: a cautionary tale.

Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2023 12:32 pm
by 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

Re: Disco ball motors: a cautionary tale.

Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2023 1:18 pm
by Sleek
This is my living room with it at 6RPM.

PURE. FUCKING. CHAOS.

https://youtu.be/oh7duUCeqNo

Re: Disco ball motors: a cautionary tale.

Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2023 1:33 pm
by Turner Coates
Sleek wrote: ↑Fri Nov 10, 2023 1:18 pm 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

Re: Disco ball motors: a cautionary tale.

Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2023 1:47 pm
by HueyRamone
Can u bring it to rehearsal tonight and a skyhook for it to hang from?

Re: Disco ball motors: a cautionary tale.

Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2023 2:11 pm
by Sleek
Awww, I WOULD, but I am going straight from work to rehearsal.

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

Re: Disco ball motors: a cautionary tale.

Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2023 2:56 pm
by 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.

Re: Disco ball motors: a cautionary tale.

Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2023 3:19 pm
by Mister Freeze
Image

Re: Disco ball motors: a cautionary tale.

Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2023 11:36 pm
by Bono Nettencourt
Sleek wrote: ↑Fri Nov 10, 2023 1:18 pm This is my living room with it at 6RPM.

PURE. FUCKING. CHAOS.

https://youtu.be/oh7duUCeqNo
https://youtu.be/98W9QuMq-2k?si=L6tXCJzMPKykASMl

Re: Disco ball motors: a cautionary tale.

Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2023 9:14 am
by DrumminAway
Sleek wrote: ↑Thu Nov 09, 2023 9:48 pm 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.

Re: Disco ball motors: a cautionary tale.

Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2023 9:52 am
by Turner Coates
Yurt So Vain.

Re: Disco ball motors: a cautionary tale.

Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2023 3:41 pm
by Sleek
Update: Got the 3 RPM motor and installed. THIS IS THE ONE.

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

Re: Disco ball motors: a cautionary tale.

Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2023 4:00 pm
by Brainy Lane
Sleek wrote: ↑Sun Nov 12, 2023 3:41 pm 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

Re: Disco ball motors: a cautionary tale.

Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2023 4:16 pm
by Sleek
What am I going to do on a submarine?

Re: Disco ball motors: a cautionary tale.

Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2023 6:13 pm
by dmbrocker
Sleek wrote: ↑Sun Nov 12, 2023 4:16 pm What am I going to do on a submarine?
Do the Hustle whilst showing off your bacon torpedo?

Re: Disco ball motors: a cautionary tale.

Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2023 6:48 pm
by Turner Coates
Image

Re: Disco ball motors: a cautionary tale.

Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2023 8:48 pm
by Gibsonite
No fog(cx) machine? Fucking amateur.. :lol:

Re: Disco ball motors: a cautionary tale.

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2023 4:59 am
by metalmetalrdu
This is my favorite thing ever posted here.

Re: Disco ball motors: a cautionary tale.

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2023 11:13 am
by Sleek
Gibsonite wrote: ↑Sun Nov 12, 2023 8:48 pm No fog(cx) machine? Fucking amateur.. :lol:
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...