The price of these essentially simple devices is insane (or at least I can't find anything except direct from China with a ship cost of 3 times the item value). Has anyone found a reasonable supplier in Thailand or done a satisfactory DIY project. There are many on Your Tube but few if any are very explicit about construction.

Doesn't have to be this smart!

You might try these guys:

http://piyanas.com/en/

http://www.mahajak.com/en

HomeXpert Asia market electric lifts for chandeliers that work quite well. Maybe one of them can be modified?

They are www.homexpert.asia and are on Chaengwattana Road somewhere.

02 962 0145.

They make models for 75kg, 200 kg and 300 kg.