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A Guide to Installing Mounting Systems (3/7/2006)

By Robert de Jong, Chief Manufacturing

Mounting a projector or large flat panel display can be an intricate project - especially for installations where the customer's vision must be balanced with the house or building structure. To help you easily deal with installation practicalities and turn a home entertainment vision into a reality, mount manufacturers have designed a broad variety of systems, including wall mounts, ceiling mounts, carts, floor stands and table stands.

Not all custom installers are fully aware of all of the wall and ceiling mount options that are available, and so miss the opportunity to make flat panel mounts an integral part of the sale, rather than an afterthought. A good start to creating a great installation therefore, is knowing the mounting options that are readily available, and having sufficient knowledge to choose the best one for a particular application.

Determining the correct mounting solution

As flat panel display technology continues to develop for screens ranging from 9 to 60 inches or more, mounting solutions are evolving to meet a greater range of requirements, and come in a wide variety of designs to compliment the appearance of the flat panel TV without disrupting room décor. Large flat panels are usually wall-mounted, and such mounts are designed to meet various needs and price points:

Static Mounts

Static mounts provide an easy way to mount a display to the wall at an economical price. A static mount will fix the display to the wall or ceiling, and no adjustment options are needed.

The Chief PDC dual ceiling mount

Tilt Mounts

Tilt adjustable mounts secure flat panel TVs to the wall and provide as much as 15 degrees of pitch to give an optimal viewing angle. A mount will allow you to pitch the screen by adjusting bolts for rock-solid rigidity, or by enabling you to easily pitch the screen by hand for smooth, versatile adjustments.

The Chief PLP-U fusion tilt mount

Articulating Mounts

Swing-arm mounts add versatility to large and medium flat panel wall mounting. These mounts provide varying lengths of extension and pivot points to give the display up to ninety degrees of horizontal traverse for viewing the display from different rooms and angles. Some swing-out arm mounts allow you to recess the mount into a wall or cabinetry to give the display a flush look, enabling you to easily pull out the screen for cable hook up and expansive viewing angles. Swing-out arms generally provide a cable management plate that runs along the arms to keep the installation attractive and the cables safe from twisting.

The Chief PDR-U articulating a large flatpanel

The Chief JWD articulating a large flatpanel

Concealed Large Flat Panel Display Mounts

Large flat panel displays can be automatically lowered from the ceiling or raised from the floor through a lift mechanism that raises displays from credenzas and cabinets.

The Chief CINEMATIC CM2 automated flat panel lift mount

In this exiting new category, it is important to establish how much upward vertical travel is required to raise the display, what the height of the lift is and whether it can be completely concealed inside the cabinetry. Also, in calculating how much weight the lift needs to raise, be sure to add the weight of the display plus any finishing features such as a cabinet top. Finally, you need to establish what the cabinet size restrictions are and whether the lift will indeed fit inside.

Determining Installation Needs

Get started on the right foot by creating an 'installation profile' for each customer. This will help eliminate potential installation problems and save time if and when an on-site visit becomes necessary. Key questions to ask the customer are:

What year was the building constructed in?
Where is the installation to be located?
What is the wall structure? Is it a drywall, wood studs, concrete or brick?
What are the customer's goals/expectations? Do they want the screen flush to the wall, to tilt, or to articulate for viewing in multiple rooms?
What is the screen size and weight, if already selected?

It is important to always be aware of the mounting situation prior to going to the job site to install the mounting solution. You should establish if wall studs must be reinforced to securely hold the weight of the display and mount. Be sure the wall studs can hold up to four times the weight of the load being mounted and consult a contractor if you are uncertain how to reinforce them.

You should also establish if a lateral shift accessory will be required to fit the stud pattern and precisely position the display on the wall. Most mounts are designed to fit 16" on-centre stud systems. A lateral shift accessory will allow you to securely mount into wall studs and reposition the display. Lateral shift accessories will provide up to four inches of shift on either side of 16" on-centre studs or allow you to span a 24" on-centre stud system.

Be sure also to use precise measurements of the actual screen and mount, and use the correct fasteners for the installation.

Summary

It is easy to educate your customers on the value of using a mount with their new flat panel TV or computer monitor. Mounts can complement the low-profile design of flat panel TVs, save space by eliminating the need for bulky furniture and freeing up desk work space, and can allow viewing from multiple rooms or angles. By persuading your customers to invest in wall and ceiling mounts, and by installing them correctly, you will not only be on your way to noticeably higher margins, but will be rewarded with repeat business and referrals for providing such an elegant solution.

Robert de Jong is Product Marketing Manager for Chief Manufacturing, a leading manufacturer of mounting solutions for the pro AV, residential and commercial markets for over 27 years.

www.chiefmfg.com