Ceiling Mounting Projector + Cable Run...

WetDaddy

So, I have my screen installed and have been using my Optoma HD65 on a coffee table to date. However, I want to finally bite the bullet and get it mounted on the ceiling and possibly run all the cabling at the same time.

I have the requisite mount, brackets and even the ludicriously long cabling bought already. I would love to have a crack at this job myself, but I feel that in the long run, I'd better off if I got someone more familiar with DIY *and* Home Theatre installations to carry it out. It's the measuring / positioning of the projector mount and also the joist v. no-joist issues I might run into that has me a little concerned about doing it on my own

I was quoted by a group a while back, but they said it would take them at least a day and half to do. They also had never heard of a media centre or the idea of using a PC as video source, so that was an instant "no" from me.

I'm in North Dublin - can anybody recommend an installer or company who could do this? Again, I'd really like someone with AV installation experience as I'd like them to be able to say things like "Sure - that will work, but you might run into problems when you're running two sources over a single HDMI cable" or "That position won't give you a decent picture if you swap to a 1080p projector down the line", etc.

Thanks in advance!

nacimroc

(Absolute noobie here with no experience but just happened to be stumbling the forum). I just bought a projector and am waiting on the unit plus the mount.

I'm running a 10 metre VGA, HDMI, cat5 and coax (Future proofing). If you buy the cables on ebay for about a tenner each, give them to the installer and tell them you want them going from your PC to the projector, they wouldn't need to know about anything techie. You seem to know whats needed anyway.

The throw distance is the only major thing. Look up the manual. See what the maximum width you want is and look at the table to see how far back it should go. Take into account the zoom aswell. You could always just plug it in, lift it up to the ceiling and mark where it should go.

You can chase out the walls or just run conduit but I presume you just want to chase the walls.

Heres what I've done so far. (2 chases - 1 for power, 1 for video cables)


Just grab a hammer....sure what could go wrong

The Ritz

If you feel comfortable chasing walls and large scale repairs to ceilings, plastering etc, that's one way to go. If not, a diy trunking job can be pretty discrete and a lot less invasive. If you are inexperienced in dealing with these issues,then getting someone to install the kit for you can be the best route to take.

A word of caution - if you are running a HDMI signal over a 10m cable, you should make sure that the cable is certified for that distance by a reputable cable manufacturer - if you've bough a no-name cable from an ebay seller, at the minimum I suggest that you rig up your devices and make sure that video signal, switching etc all work flawlessly before burying the cable in your walls/ceiling.


Ritz

nacimroc

I'll second what he just said. One of the 10m VGA cables I bought was faulty when I tested it so had to get another. Would have been a disaster if installed before I figured it out.

WetDaddy

Thanks for the replies, folks.

Nacimroc, while I'd love to get my teeth into what you've started yourself above, it's just not an option with time, work, kids, etc. Also, I don't have the experience when it comes to things like re-plastering / skimming, etc. I know the only way to learn is to do it, but unfortunately this job isn't the job for me to do that.

Good points re: the cables. I have everything for the job pre-purchased (save for one item, more on that in a sec) and ensured I got cables from certified manufacturers. I *didn't* think of testing them first and now I feel stupid, but I'm much happier to be stupid now than stupid after the job is finished... Thank you both for that suggestion! I'm going with 2 x HDMI, 2 x CAT6e, Coax, VGA and optical (should I need a passthrough of some kind at a later date).

The only item I haven't purchased yet is a long power cable. I'm not sure what the best option for this is... Should I source a 10m IEC cable, have it pop out near the wall sockets and plug it in there?

Last question for nacimroc: How come you chased along the ceiling and down the wall? My plan is to get at the ceiling from the room above and fish the cabling down the wall cavity, creating 2 small holes; one above the projector and one down where I want the cables to terminate (beside HTPC, TV point, power, etc.).

nacimroc

WetDaddy wrote: »

Last question for nacimroc: How come you chased along the ceiling and down the wall? My plan is to get at the ceiling from the room above and fish the cabling down the wall cavity, creating 2 small holes; one above the projector and one down where I want the cables to terminate (beside HTPC, TV point, power, etc.).

I have nice wooden floors upstairs so didn't want to go ripping them up. The room that its in needed an overhaul anyway so chasing gaping holes was no big deal. I cut a hole in the ceiling easily and will just screw the removed piece back and throw a bit of filler in. Only a 5 min job. The chases will take a good bit more work to fill, plaster. I'm guessing its a plasterboard partition wall you have, which means you will have noggins between the studs, that you need to get past aswell ?

As regards power, your idea of an IEC lead is fine. . It may be no harm doing what I am and installing a fuseable spur switch. Take power from the nearest socket into the fused switch, then onto the projector. It gives you somewhere to isolate the power to the projector.

On a side note:
My advice, NEVER buy an IEC cable off ebay or a cheap site. Get a proper rated one as the ebay ones are cheap **** that can likely cause shorting/fire. (Cut one open some day if you want proof)

slave1

Jut reading this post now, also include a long headphone cable as this is the standard for 'trigger' devices, eg when I power on my PJ the trigger lead drops the screen.