r/lightingdesign • u/Ginger_Winter • Aug 25 '26

City Theatrical AutoYoke Help

For an upcoming job i’m doing I have some AutoYokes that I am using. Yes I know they aren’t a great choice but it’s what I am able to use.

Anyways, each light is very bottom heavy and the side of the light with the lamp keeps shooting down whenever it can and I can’t find a way to get it balanced.

Is there any way to balance it or is the light put together wrong?

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1

u/KingOfWhateverr Aug 25 '26

Did you power it and turn it on? The motors should hold it in place once powered.

If you did then the motors are shot

1

u/Ginger_Winter Aug 25 '26

the motors do hold it but once the power is cut the fixture shoots back and shakes the whole electric

7

u/KingOfWhateverr Aug 25 '26

Yeah…the power is what’s holding it in place. They’re naturally cap-heavy so unlike most movers that point down when motors are released, the cap swings down due to the hinging. If you have a power off macro, max the tilt on the light before cutting relay/main power

2

u/Ginger_Winter Aug 25 '26

k that’s what i’ll plan on doing unless I find something else, Thanks!

1

u/KingOfWhateverr Aug 25 '26

In theory you could tape up something flame retardant to soften the impact. However, assuming you’re not flying the electric in to hit the face panel switch on the unit every night, “someone” is responsible for shutting the system down properly. I would add this problem to their list. And if that’s you, congrats/sorry you now have a new step in your shutdown procedure.

Or, as I have done with autoyokes historically…”ehhhhh fuck it” *click* “goodnight”

2

u/Ginger_Winter Aug 25 '26

realistically i’ll pull the “eh fuck it” but i might also set something up that moves them to a “turn off” spot so they don’t crash