Where many impressive new technologies have streamlined the vehicle for sound, video and communication signals, cable remains the highway and power is still the fuel for getting content to its destination. The distance limitations of digital video have put new demands on precision cable manufacturing and modern AV circuitry requires increasingly stable and reliable power sources. The devices shown here represent the latest advances in cable and power support for AV transmission and trouble-free delivery.
The CNK222 Cable Nook from Altinex is designed to give conference room presenters a simple yet versatile tool for easily connecting AC power, USB charging HDMI, network, and other media sources right on the table top. The cabling can be stored inside the box and covered by the on-rails lid. The CNK-IP-210 faceplate is equipped with two CNK-IP-200 single gang dual power, dual USB plates and one CNK-IP-217 HDMI module. This provides a total of four AC outlets, four USB charging ports, an HDMI pass-through connector and four blank snap-in ports that can be customized.
For 20A AC power distribution with remote activation AtlasIED offers the APS20RT with EVS (Extreme Voltage Shutdown) to safeguard connected equipment and RFI/EMI noise filtering. The remote activation allows up to 20A of clean electrical power to be switched on or off with a simple latched dry contact closure. With the a remote activation switch, 12VDC at 100mA is available to power a remote status LED. On the rear panel the single space rack unit features six switched, two unswitched AC outlets and remote activation bypass switch. On the front is a single unswitched convenience outlet.
The Belden 4K Ultra HD Media Cable is designed for optimal performance in 4K HDBaseT transmission which it can deliver to distances over 100 meters. The compact cable, rated to withstand 45lbs. of pull tension, has a small bend radius and it incorporates a corrugated foil shield and a helical drain. They can be terminated using the Belden REVConnect product line of modular shielded plugs and jacks eliminating the need to separate the bonded pairs.
Black Box can provide their OM-1 62.6 Micron Multimode Fiber Optic patch cables with a variety of choices on connectors including ST, SC, LC and MT-RJ connector styles. They are also available in duplex or simplex and in riser (PVC) or plenum types. Standard length is 3.2ft. This is one of many fiber optic cables in a wide range of styles, colors and termination selections that Black Box can supply.
SSF fiber cable from Cleerline Technology Group is available in a wide variety of types. Their Simplex cables are available in OS2, OM2, OM3, and OM4 and jacketing options include Riser, Plenum, and LSZH for usage on indoor or outdoor projects. SSF Duplex can be used for voice or data communication backbones requiring 3.0mm jacket diameter. Micro Distribution style is especially suited for indoor networking while Breakout Cable is made of individually jacketed cables bundled within one overall jacket. Cleerline’s other options include Aluminum Interlocking, Armored Direct Burial and Tactical cable.
Crestron’s PC-200 is a single RU rack mountable 15A, 120V AC power controller, conditioner, and surge protector with energy monitoring of all connected devices. It has switching of three separate outlet banks and it features network connectivity, web browser setup, event logging, ping monitoring, temperature sensing, and UL 1449 compliance. Front panel LED indicators show power, faults, protection activation and shutdown. There is also a front panel always-on AC outlet.
The DVIGear HyperLight Series optical cables are fully HDCP 1.4 / 2.2 compliant and support signals with data rates up to 32.4 Gbps to support very high resolution applications at 4K/60Hz (4:4:4) with cable lengths up to 100 meters and 8K/30Hz (4:4:4) up to 50 meters. Plenum rated (UL CMP-OF), compact, lightweight and highly flexible, the HyperLight cables have a minimum bend radius of just two millimeters and their DisplayPort docking connectors may be detached, revealing a connector crosssection that measures just 10 x 12.4 millimeters to get through tight openings. The video signals are transmitted over four optical fibers, which make them immune to interference from environmental noise.
The SPC-20 AC power conditioning and sequencing system from FSR is designed to provide surge protection and RFI shielding and its rear panel expansion port allows it to power any number of additional circuits all connected via a six wire low voltage line. The unit includes three sequenced AC outlets at the rear along with a single unswitched outlet. On the front are another unswitched outlet and LED indicators for faults, alarm, power and surge circuits. The SPC-20 is rated for a total of 16A output.
Furman’s CN-1800S is a single rack space device featuring SmartSequencing technology and with bidirectional communications between multiple units a primary can control and sequence multiple secondary units. Its RS-232 ports and command sets enable it to be operated through control systems and an optional RS-232-to-Ethernet adapter adds full IP-addressability to the unit, allowing it to be controlled, programmed, and monitored from a smartphone, tablet, PC, or any Web-enabled device. It includes noise filtration, voltage/ surge protection and it provides a total of nine AC outlets.
Hall Research put removable ends on their CHD-DExx 4K-Javelin active plenum HDMI cable and configured them to extend HDMI signals 33-100 ft. with zero loss. DVI cable ends are also available. A light-weight hybrid of fiber and copper, the cable has proprietary circuitry inside the HDMI connectors to make the conversion from video to light pulses and back. The onboard converters operate on HDMI bus power and a pulling capsule with eyelet is provided in each package.
For a low cost solution to short fiber optic runs Hosa Technology has a variety of lengths from 3 to 30ft. in its Pro Fiber Optic Cable each of which is terminated in Toslink connectors. This plastic optical fiber (POF) cable is designed to interconnect digital audio components and it is compatible with ADAT and all S/PDIF formats, including Dolby Digital and DTS surround. The polished optical terminations provide minimum signal loss and the tough construction will stand up to demanding applications.
The Juice Goose CQ-1520 has 7 AC power outlets on the rear panel with a total rating of 20A. One of these is unswitched and the others are grouped into three power pods of two outputs each. The power pods’ activation can be sequenced and each CQ-1520 unit can be the master or slave in a power sequencing system. Indicator LEDs on the front provide real time monitoring of the processor and sequencing functions.
Kramer Electronics designed the TBUS-202xl Dual Pop–Up Table Mount Multi–Connection Solution to be accessible from either side of the conference table with its pneumatic lifts that close flush with the table surface. They can be fitted with a custom choice of Universal, USA, European and many other power connections and each includes 15–pin HD, HDMI, 3.5mm and Ethernet ports. The enclosure is constructed of anodized aluminum and tops are available in silver and black.
Another very slick looking power and cable connecting box is the Legrand-Wiremold Integreat A/V Table Box with USB. Available in a selection of attractive finishes, the unit has an activation surface that can be lowered in 1/2in. increments from 1in. to 4in. to accommodate a range of longer cable connectors. The accompanying template makes installation hole cutting easy and the unit can be purchased in both cord-ended and fieldwired versions.
The Lowell Manufacturing ACSPRSEQ6-2009 rack mounted power sequencer has nine AC outlets, six of which are switched and three are unswitched. The four-step sequencer has a screwdriver adjustable delay between steps that can be set between 0.5 and 10 seconds and this can be activated either by a front panel rocker switch or through a rear panel remote control terminal block. The unit includes surge suppression and an alarm interface. The front panel includes LED indicators for power, circuit activation and surge protection.
The expanded line of DC power distribution products from Middle Atlantic Products work to allow installers to make best use of available AC outlets and eliminate the swarm of small DC transformers that grows in typical racks. The new 200W and 300W models provide high current capacity for up to 24 devices, maximizing the same voltage in a single unit, 5V, 12V, or 24V, or splitting between 12/24V. The multi-mount design can be installed in an available 1RU space or at the back or side of the rack for zero-U mounting, providing ultimate installation flexibility. A supported input voltage range of 100-240VAC, 50/60Hz additionally provides design flexibility for international applications.
Among the wide range of connectors and cables from Neutrik is the PowerCON TRUE 1 series. These are the familiar locking 20A true mains types with breaking capacity (CBC) and dust and water resistant according to IP65 in mated condition. This line of connectors has unique Neutrik cable retention and they are ENEC certified according to IEC 60320. The male connector is the NAC3MX-W and the female is the NAC3FX-W.
The Opticis HDFC-200 HDMI 2.0 active optical cable can be operated on USB bus power at the receive end or for applications that require more power there is an optional USB power cable on transmit side. To avoid accidental disconnection, the HDMI connectors are high-retention types. The cable supports resolutions to 4K (4096×2160) at 60Hz at 328ft. and it is CEC, EDID, and HDCP 2.2 compliant.
The VT4315-PRO from Panamax has a vertically rack mounted for factor that offers 15A power control with linear noise filtration, automatic voltage monitoring and catastrophic surge protection. The BlueBOLT enabled system enables users to remotely reboot 12 outlets in 8 individually controlled banks as well as monitor energy use, set alerts and program scheduled commands. The outlets are spaced apart to accommodate wall wart DC power transformers and at 37 inches it fits into most racks 20 RU and up.
Rapco Horizon’s “S” Series snakes feature nylon “D” series type connectors on a steel box with raised edges to guard against connector damage and the return lines can be specified as either 1/4in. or XLR on the fanout end and on the box. The 6 through 16 line variants include nylon strain relief grip and each line has a channel number ID. The 24 – 40 channel versions have metal mesh grips and all circuits are hand soldered.
SnapAV has a sophisticated power backup solution in the WattBox KIT-UPSIP12-1500 with its 12 controllable outlets and 1500VA capacity. The UPS and surge conditioner are connected with a single cable, so that the heavy UPS and batteries can be installed at the rack bottom while the outlets can be located wherever it works for the specific installation design. The Pure Sinewave UPS features battery backup, full automatic voltage regulation (AVR) and Graceful Shutdown of a connected PC via USB port.
The SurgeX UPS-1000-OL is a stand alone 1000VA UPS that uses online double conversion technology and hot swappable internal batteries to deliver AC power with zero interruption in case of an external outage. Also configurable for 19in. rack mounting, the unit has a load rating of 8.3A and an extended scalable runtime up to 8 hours via self-charging extended battery packs. There is an RS232 port, USB Type B and on optional SNMP card, an RJ45 terminal.
Thinklogical’s PDU 4/4 Remote Power Distribution Unit provides eight individually controlled AC power outlets in a single rack unit system. It features password security, user definable port names and port groups along with a front panel LCD for easy setup and configuration. It also has redundant DC power supplies for built-in I/O and control circuits and individually programmable Reboot Time Delay on each outlet. The unit works in conjunction with Thinklogical’s Secure Console Servers. The PDU offers effective out-of-band management by enabling users to power cycle, hard boot, and control power to individual servers through console management sessions.
The OMNI1500LCDT Line-Interactive Tower UPS System from Tripp Lite provides surge suppression and Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR) circuits continuously regulate brownouts and overvoltages from 92V to 150V back to usable levels while maintaining backup battery power. The back panel has 10 built-in outlets, 5 with full battery backup and surge suppression. The built-in USB port enables optional unattended system shutdown without data loss in case of extended power failure and the PowerAlert software can be downloaded.
Whirlwind’s versatile PLR Distro series can provide power in a range of connector types and it can be fitted with a custom assortment of input panels, main breaker panels, combo panels, output panels, and power meter/accessories. The custom made PLRs are built into a self-contained UL listed enclosure. The PLR-SKB02 puts all of this capability into an SKB waterproof case to make it ready for the road.
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