Mounting Concern: Miscellaneous Projector Mountings for Masterful Maintenance

The joy of home theater ownership is the wide spectrum of choices available for system components, room design, and presentation options. Although many home theater systems are mounted with telescopic arms or extended pipe to meet the needs of the viewer in larger viewing areas, some systems require a shorter mounting system. Rather than the need for adjustability in the length is the need for a very flush mount. When searching for the perfect mount in shorter mounting situations, there are flush options available.

For those home theater owners who need a combination projector mount, there exists a 4-in-1 projector mount. The product is so named because of the components that are included in the kit. There is a standard ceiling plate and there is a 9-to 12-inch extension arm. On the extension mount there is a base that has been cut at an angle in order to allow the product to be wall-mounted, ceiling-mounted, or vaulted ceiling-mounted. For an added option, the 9-to 12-inch extension may be removed completely and transformed into a low profile mount. For most similar mounting kits, the adaptors or the housing may be removed and the mounts are converted from wall or ceiling mounts to flush mount products.

Naturally, one responsibility that comes with home theater ownership is repair and maintenance. For those who prefer a quick release option to easily service their theater components, there is a product referred to as a bayonet clip. The bayonet clip is designed in a bayonet mechanism, which basically makes it easy for overhead maintenance and repair. What happens typically is people put a projector up in an installation and they forget that eventually it has to come down. The problem often experienced is that with a lot of the products that are on the market, any type of service or maintenance requires a pair of pliers, an Allen wrench, or a screwdriver of some type so in order to remove the projector from its overhead mount. What the quick release clip allows is easy access and removal of the projector. The clip uses two round screw knobs for tightening and protection of the mount once the projector is installed and in place. All that is needed for removal is to loosen the two nuts and then activate the quick release clip and the product just slides off. When the projector is ready to put be returned to the mount after maintenance or repair, it simply slides back on and the two nuts are tightened. The quick release mount does not require any tools for overhead maintenance. Specifically, the quick release makes projector access much easier for the Pro AV crowd because a Pro AV Installer is typically working in environments in which they are installing large numbers of projectors in classrooms or office settings. Maintenance of the large numbers of projectors is much easier for the installers when overhead access is not part of the servicing process.

One final note regarding projection mounts is of particular interest to those individuals who are working on whole room media management systems where they have a receiver in close proximity to the projector itself. It is suggested that a bundled product be purchased that includes the receiver bay and also acts as the projection mount with an included adjustable bay. A slide bay locking mechanism is used, which is by itself a security projector mount. There are many options available; however, when you more costly projector mounts are being considered, the security projection mounts should take center stage in order to lock the product into the mount and protect it from avoidable damage.