Dimensions of projector screen mounts

parker · Oct 13, 2007 3:45 pm

Because I am trying to plan for a projection system but don't intend to do it straight away, I don't have the actual gear to work around and measure etc, so I'm hoping someone can tell me what theirs is like please?

I'm putting a bulkhead above the TV and want to mount the screen up there eventually...
I don't think my budget will ever stretch to a motorised set up, and without knowing the exact size, I don't really see how I can have the bulkhead constructed to allow for a recessed arrangement.

What I thought of that might work is this:
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Where the screen is mounted to the underside of the bulkhead, and an additional bit of bulkhead hides it. But I don't know how far down this bit would need to hang (ie how far between the red lines), and I'm not sure that that is the best way to go.

Rodda · Oct 13, 2007 7:45 pm

Hi Parker.

You said you didn't think you'd get a motorised screen, and yet your picture indicates a form of retractable screen (as opposed to a fixed one).

Are you seriously considering a manual pull down screen?

parker · Oct 13, 2007 8:12 pm

I was...

It needs to retract to move in and out of the way of the TV. Way too impractical you think?

Rodda · Oct 13, 2007 9:03 pm

Way too likely to develope ripples in the screen! Pulling the screen down from the centre of the bottom has a habit of stretching the material over time (towards this point at the centre of the bottom), and a 'V' pattern of ripples starts to appear.

We never recommend manual pull down screens, mostly for this reason (it also tends to reduce the cool factor quite considerably).

We've never installed a manual pull down screen in any of our home theatre installations. The ONE we did install was at a Fire Station in their classroom.

It looks like you're putting quite a bit of thought and effort into the design and implementation of your theatre. Yeah, a decent motorised screen could take the cost of the screen from $500 to $1500 (includes IR receiver and remote) - depending on it's size - but I reckon you shouldn't scrimp on this.

What size were you thinking? It's very possible that I can give you the exact dimension(s) you are after (for example, my 115" 16:9 Screen Technics ElectriCinema has a canister that is 130mm x 130mm x length).

parker · Oct 13, 2007 10:28 pm

Some good points... thanks
Is the 150" measurement the diagonal, like in TV's?
What size could I get in a 2.6m width space?

<edit>looks like 110" might be it
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/110-2-79m-MOTORI ... dZViewItem
</edit>

Rodda · Oct 14, 2007 11:18 am

Whoa, whoa. What size is the room?

parker · Oct 14, 2007 6:43 pm

4.4 x 5.2

Rodda · Oct 14, 2007 8:25 pm

OK (phew). That's a cool size.

What exactly are your restrictions on screen size then? Is the 2.6m you mentioned above the overall width of an alcove or something? I panicked a little because some people forget to leave enough room for speakers either side of the screen...

Usually for a screen (both fixed or motorised in Screen Technics' case) you have to add 160mm (80mm x 2) to the image width to get the overall physical width of the screen.

So, here are some examples of overall screen widths (image + borders or width of the bottom rod in a retractable) of a couple in the Screen Technics range:

100" - 2375mm
110" - 2595mm
115" - 2705mm

The price of these in the ElectriCinema range (motorised with an included IR kit) is a bit over the $1500 mark.

parker · Oct 14, 2007 8:38 pm

Yep, the 2.6 is set into an alcove bit.

Thanks for taking the time to get me those measurements etc. Very helpful.

Rodda · Oct 15, 2007 9:27 am

No worries Parks.

Something I should have thought of before. Perhaps the most important measurement you need to consider is the overall width of the canister that houses the screen, if you are going to hang this thing inside your alcove, as I did:

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For a Screen Technics ElectriCinema motorised the canister width = Image width + 250mm. So, in the case of my 115" screen the canister width that I had to fit into my alcove was 2545mm (image width) + 250mm = 2795mm overall. My alcove has an internal width of 2865mm. I actually would have liked the 120" version of my screen but I just couldn't squeeze the canister in - by 40mm (well, without cutting into both sides of the alcove which really was out of the question)...