Racks & Mounts
Jan 12, 2012 4:55 PM,
By Mark Johnson
Racks and mounts serve a number of practical purposes: They help organize and securely hold various types of equipment. They help position the gear ergonomically for access or viewing where it can operate most effectively. And they help secure it from theft. In their most basic form, racks and mounts are utilitarian workman-like tools. With added engineering and design creativity they can also exhibit a certain elegance that’s generally only appreciated by those with a technical bent.
Mounts are used for attaching speakers and videos monitors to walls; suspending projectors, displays, and speakers from ceilings; and are used in a multitude of applications including boardrooms, digital signage, and home theater. As flatpanels become more ubiquitous sources for visual communication and entertainment, the methodologies and available products for handily positioning the screens in our sightlines has likewise increased. There are slim mounts that provide a low profile against the mounting surface to mounts that cantilever out and provide a wide range of motion side to side, as well as tilt and even rotate for landscape or portrait orientation. Many mounts available have the word “universal” included somewhere in their names. That generally refers to the ability to attach just about any make or model display to the mount. That is due to compliance with the VESA Mounting Interface Standard (MIS), also known as the Flat Display Mounting Interface (FDMI), which are standards defined by the Video Electronics Standards Association. The original and still most common, MIS-D 100, specifies a 100mmx100mm-square bolt pattern. Additional patterns were established later to accommodate larger displays.
Traditionally, racks held amplifiers and system processing for sound systems. Many refer generically to racks as “amp racks” regardless of what’s actually in it. If it’s used for installed AV, it’s probably in a rack or on a mount of some sort. Form factors for racks can be freestanding, wall-mounted, or even desktop. They can be gangable, where modular racks attach to one another for installations that require multiple racks. All racks hold to a standard mounting rail spacing width of 19in. as set forth by the now-defunct Electronic Industries Alliance. The height of the products to be mounted in the racks is typically stipulated in rack units (RU), which is 1 3/4in. high.
Some manufacturers specialize in racks, some in mounts, and some produce both, so it’s a good idea to check the manufacturers websites if you’re looking for more than one type of equipment mounting solution. For mounts, we’ll look at examples of flatpanel wall mounts. The racks in this showcase are standalone models intended primarily for permanent install.
Atlas Sound FMA series
Racks
The Atlas Sound FMA series provide the ability to configure the rack to specific requirements. The rack features 11-gauge adjustable rails with hash marks to indicate rack unit increments. Increased rack width provides for better cable management and working space. The racks are available in a variety of depths and heights.
Audio Video Metals features the Floor Mount Pull Out Rotating Rack, which facilitates access to the sides and back of the rack even when the rack is positioned flush to a wall surface. The rack proper extends full and can rotate left or right with locking positions at 45 degrees and 90 degrees.
Lowell Manufacturing LXR-IAV
The Raxxess series from Chief features the CPROTR captive rotating rack. Designed to facilitate installation, wiring, and maintenance, the freestanding rack pulls out of the enclosure and rotates 90 degrees. It’s also a good option for locations with restricted access to the back of the rack. The rack is available in 35 and 42 space heights.
The STR series of racks from H.O.M.E. (now House of Commercial Product but originally stood for House Of Metal Enclosures) are available in five different heights that features an 11-gauge bottom panel, 11-gauge mounting rails, and 16-gauge side and top panels, and can be assembled in the field. The 16-gauge removable front door features a three-point locking system.
Lowell Manufacturing’s LXR-IAV pre-assembled racks come ready to go with the most commonly used accessories already installed. These include a utility shelf, vent panel, AC power strip, cable-management bar, and casters (quantities depend on size of rack). The finish is a black powder epoxy.
Middle Atlantic Products BGR rack
The new BGR equipment rack from Middle Atlantic Products features the patent-pending LeverLock interior management system that facilitates cable management as well as mounting of small devices on the interior sides of the rack. It’s available with optional solid, vented, or Plexiglas front doors.
The R8010 slide and rotate rack system from Penn Elcom slides forward and rotates for access to the back of the rack. It includes a hinged cable-management system that allows extra cable to be neatly run and enables the rack to move forward or back.
Racks Unlimited features a 38RU 19in. rack with an adjustable depth of up to 28in. The company’s website offers the ability to build your own rack for your specific needs selecting items and accessories from their menu. Features include L-shaped adjustable mounting rails, removable side panels, a smoked Lexan front door with vents and lock, and lockable rear louver door.
The WinstedV8801 70in. Pro Series I rack is 40RU high (70in.) and features vented side panels for convection cooling when fans are employed. The rack uses adjustable 14-gauge front and rear rack rails, and a variety of vertical and horizontal lacing bars for cable management are available.
Racks & Mounts
Jan 12, 2012 4:55 PM,
By Mark Johnson
AVteq UM-1T
Mounts
AVteq manufactures ceiling and wall mounts for plasma, LCD, and LED screens. The UM-1T adjustable universal wall mount can handle most flatpanels from 32in. to 70in. and has a load capacity of 280lbs. The UM-1T has a 15-degree tilt range and M-10 bolts are included for large displays.
Bell’O 7848
The Bell’O7848 tilt/pan articulating wall mount fits screens from 32in. to 70in. and up to 200lbs. in weight. The mount tilts from -10 degrees to +20 degrees. The arm provides up to 28in. of extension. There is up to 9.5in. of post-installation lateral adjustment. The mount includes an Allen key for adjustments and has hidden on-mount storage for the key.
Bretford offers the FPLM-FFP2, which is width and height adjustable for flatpanel monitors from 42in. up to 61in. with a weight capacity of 200lbs. Tilt adjustment is from +5 degrees to -15 degrees. The low-profile design places the monitor 3in. from the wall surface.
Cheetah Mounts APDAM2B
The Cheetah MountsAPDAM2B plasma/LCD articulating wall mount is designed mount on walls with up to 24in. distance between studs. It’s designed to hold displays from 32in. to 65in. and provides 180 degrees of side-to-side swivel; dual arms extend out up to 20in. from wall and provides a 4 3/4in. profile when flat. It also features a center cable passthrough. The mount comes in black, silver, or white.
Chief TS525TU
Chief’s TS525TU Thinstall dual-swing-arm wall mount supports monitors from 37in. to 58in. and up to 125lbs. in weight in a landscape orientation. The mount provides 25in. of extension and 15 degrees of tilt. Enclosed cable covers assist with cable management. Post-installation shift provides up to 16in. laterally and 1in. vertically for screen placement purposes.
CLO SystemsWallWizard X700CB large motorized articulating mount can swivel left or right 28 degrees, tilt up 7 degrees, and tilt down 20 degrees. Included programmable remote provides the ability to store four memory locations. Optional ControlWand App provides control via Wi-Fi (auto, manual, and gyro modes). In gyro mode, the motion of the mount is synced with the motion of the handheld device.
When an off the shelf mounting solution just won’t work, Draper offers custom display mount design services for flatpanel devices.
Racks & Mounts
Jan 12, 2012 4:55 PM,
By Mark Johnson
TM Cantilever UHD
The ErgotronTM Cantilever UHD (Ultra Heavy Duty) features a low-profile design that fits flatpanels up to 150lbs. and from 37in. to 55in. The mount provides a 20-degree tilt range and can extend up to 26.6in. The minimum profile is 3.4in. with the arms completely nested in the mount framework.
Level Mount by Elexa DC65MCL
Level Mount by Elexa features the DC65MCL full-motion motorized cantilever mount, which is designed to fit 34in. to 63in. flatpanel TVs up to 150lbs. The mount uses an RF remote control that adjusts the screen to pan up to 30 degrees, extend 15in., and tilts up to 15 degrees. Also included is a built-in bubble level and a stud finder with battery.
Lucasey Manufacturing LC200DS2
Lucasey Manufacturing’s LC200DS2 articulating wall mount fits flatscreen monitors up to 75lbs. and 32in. The mount provides a ± 45-degree viewing-angle adjustment and an extension of 24.7in. It also features multi-position triple-pivoting arms that provide 180 degrees of swivel. Fits up to 200mmx200mm VESA mounting patterns with either landscape or portrait display orientation.
OmniMount IQLP60T
The IQLP60T from OmniMount is a tilt mount for medium-sized (27in. to 47in.) thin-profile displays. The mount provides up to 10 degrees of tilt and will support monitors of up to 60lbs. The IQLP60T incorporates OmniMount’s Level ‘n Lock feature to facilitate display leveling post-installation.
Peerless-AV Universal Ultra Slim Flat Wall Mount
Thin is in with Peerless-AV’s new Universal Ultra Slim Flat Wall Mount, which boasts a profile of just .19in. from the wall surface. Three models are available to support displays from 23in. to 65in. The mounts also feature a locking arm that prevents the display from being dislodged if accidentally bumped.
Premier Mounts AM100
The Premier MountsAM100 provides support for monitors of up to 100lbs. Three options for the swing-arm placement allows the mount to swing out from the left, right, or center with an extension of 30in. from the wall. The mount provides 15 degrees of downward tilt and 90 degrees of swivel. Constructed of aluminum, the mount retracts to a profile of 1.46in. from the wall.
The SanusVLF220 full-motion wall mount is for flatpanels 37in. to 65in. and up to 130lbs. in weight. The mount extends to 20in. and provides 5 degrees to -15 degrees of tilt, and 75 degrees to -75 degrees of swivel. Sanus provides instructional videos on its website for installing its mounts.
Video Furniture International PM-S
The SecurmountWA-30 double-arm articulating mount provides an extension of more than 30in. The heavy-gauge-steel construction allows it to support monitors of up to 63in. and 175lbs. with full tilt, swing, and angle motion.
Video Furniture International’s PM-S mount for single monitors integrates with VFI plasma carts to provide a solid, secure connection to create a portable roll-about video system. Designed for videoconferencing installations, this unit features a camera/codec shelf. The mount’s hidden cable channel allows cable passage from the camera platform right down into the cart’s interior cabinet. For courtroom and other applications PM-S can also be configured for front- and rear-facing TVs and cameras. The PM-S accommodates 32in. and larger flatscreen TVs.
Video Mount Products FP-XMWAB
Video Mount ProductsFP-XMWAB extra-medium articulating flatpanel flush mount hold displays from 32in. to 52in. with a maximum load capacity of 130lbs. The mount rotates 45 degrees and has an adjustable tilt from 0 degrees to 15 degrees. The profile is 5.3in. fully collapsed and 16.3in. fully extended.
Vogel’s Thin RC 355 is designed for ultra-thin displays from 32in. to 55in. and up to 55lbs. in weight. Adjustments of 60 degrees (30 left/30 right) and almost 9in. of extension are controlled via a remote control.
