Draper Accuset Low Profile Video Projector
Ceiling Mount Review
PROS
Excellent value for dollar
Easy to install
Very adaptable
CONS
Our kit was incomplete, lacking the Allan key
Installation instructions confusing, although
the paper they were printed on made an excellent paper airplane
The
Draper Accuset Low Profile Projector Mount is a complete ceiling
mount solution for small to mid size video projectors. It provides for a
great deal of flexibility with 30 degrees of pitch and roll and 360
degrees of yaw. This is a lot of adjustability, more than you’ll
likely ever need on anything resembling a standard ceiling
installation. Included in the package are the required bolts, spaces
and washers, as well as longer arms, the bits that spider out from the
mount itself and attach to the projector. Our
Sanyo PLV-Z5 projector used the smaller arms.
The first step is to position the mount hub in
the center of the projector. To preserve the look of your projector,
place something soft underneath it so you don’t scratch it. Don’t
tighten the main hub quite yet. Align the holes in the arms with the
mounting holes on the projector. With the Z5 we had to remove one of
the arms by simply sliding it through the hub. Remember to leave
access to any maintenance ports in the bottom of the projector. Draper
provides several plastic sleeves which act as spacers to go between
the projector and mount. These spaces are flanged along their length,
allowing the distance between the projector and mount to be
customized. For our installation we’ve set the spacers as near as
possible to the projector. The small wrench is to twist the spacers,
locking them at the desired height.
Next, tighten everything down. Don’t over
tighten! You just want to get everything snug and secure. Start with
the central hub, tighten it just so the arms don’t slide, then adjust
the vertical spacers to the desired height.
The supplied instructions are interesting, a
blend of diagrams and arrows we can only assume mean something. They
look like they were written by the same person who does all of the
Ikea instructions – no surprise, considering that like your new
folding couch, this mount originates in Sweden.
When properly installed, the
Draper Accuset feels like it’s become part of the projector. Next
up? The ceiling plate. Remember, you want to make sure you’re screwing
this into a joist, or at least something in the ceiling that’s load
bearing. Modern HT projectors don’t weigh much, but you’re still hanging
several thousand dollars 7 feet in the air. Slide the collar on the Accuset mount around the nub on the plate and tighten. If the Allan
key to adjust the yaw had been included in our kit we could have
finished our installation with some really impressive action shots. We’re assuming that your kit will be more complete. Get the thing
level by adjusting for pitch and roll, again snug everything down, and
you’re done. Make sure that the projector is throwing an even light
patch with all edges square before you hop off the ladder. Time spent
to this point, about 8 minutes.
Overall Impression
The
Draper Accuset is a rock solid projector mount that doesn’t
require a lot of attention after it’s hung. Set up is quick and easy,
in spite of the sometimes arcane installation diagrams. They’re also
priced better than before. Not long ago this was a $200 projector
mount. It’s incredibly forgiving of less than perfect
installation environments with a wide range of adjustability. The
bottom line? A really good mount at a very good price.
