Customer supplied TV lift cabinet is being delivered this week:
http://www.americantvlift.com
Sony tv with Xfinity receiver as only source. No control system planned - Xfinity remote only.

Anyone have experience with this lift? It doesn't allow for voltage trigger to control motor - only momentary contact. What's the best way to supply momentary contact to raise and lower lift? I can use a current sensing outlet and provide trigger voltage based on TV power state - how can I translate that to momentary contact?

No control system, no programmable remote. Let them use the manufacturer's solution if they don't want to pay for proper integration.

You can use a voltage trigger to latch a relay and provide contact closure.

You can send voltage into this and it will open and close for you. [Link: xantech.com]

Or if this customer is being super cheap you could get a couple doorbell buttons from the depo or for that matter just show him how to short the wires out.

I have a question as it relates to this. What, if any, difference does it make if the contact closure is eternal instead of momentary? Is it bad for the equipment? I have always used two separate relays from my controllers and program in the delays and often wondered if I could just use one relay, say, for a projector screen and use The NO side for up and the NC side for down.

Depends on how the manufacturer does it. I would contact them and ask.

You should be okay if the unit is built right.

Is it really momentary contact with just two wires?  Example, close contacts for 1 second to raise and then close contacts again for 1 second to close???

It's more common to have three wires where constant or momentary contact from the common wire to the "up" wire will raise the lift and then constant or momentary contact from the common wire to the "down" wire will lower the lift.

I did this recently with a 5vdc relay from powered from the USB port on the TV and it's been working flawlessly.  Did it with off the shelf parts and only cost a few bucks.

Here's the relay I used along with a micro USB cable:

[Link: amazon.com]

[Link: amazon.com]

The relay has a timer function, but I didn't need to use it so not sure how it works (might be a delayed on, instead of a delayed off).  I think all I had to do was solder a jumper wire to set the trigger mode, plug into the USB port on the TV and then connect the three wires from lift.  TV on... lift goes up, TV off... lift goes down.

Don't forget that if the TV is in the cabinet, you won't be able to turn it on using an IR remote.  If the Sony TV doesn't have an RF remote (and you don't have a control system) you'll need an IR repeater to control it. You mentioned an Xfinity remote which I'm guessing is just IR for TV control? Maybe the TV lift cabinet has an IR repeater built-in?

Here's a photo of the setup I did this summer:

I haven't seen it yet, but according to mfg it's a 2 wire setup. Momentary contact - up. Momentary contact again - down. So it's a toad. 3 wire or voltage sense would be nice, but that's not what's being supplied.

Yes, IR will be used for TV on/off/volume. Repeater is built in to unit and acceptable.

And yes, a control system would be preferable since the unit has discrete up/down commands. Cost is not the reason to exclude control - customer is willing to pay for a solution that retains Xfinity remote. He loves voice control. I know the drill - he either loses his precious voice control in favor of a remote that works the lift better, or he pays for a solution. I'm looking for the solution (paid) before I tell him it won't work.

I can use a processor and setup a couple IR events based on voltage trigger. Paul's relay can help with that - thanks.

I'll know for sure what can be done when I get my hands on it.

Are there safety devices in this lift?
Beware if you are going to be liable for smashing fingers.