Chief

Eden Prairie, Minn., USA (JUNE 2014) - www.chiefmfg.com - Chief, an industry leader in AV mounting solutions, is coming to InfoComm with several new storage solutions designed with installer feedback. 

Engineers talked to customers about current in-wall boxes to find out what was working well and what more could be done to solve installation problems.

“We found out they wanted good trim kits and covers that could be ordered separately to match real world installation conditions. Many times, the boxes are installed by electricians long before the AV installation takes place, and attaching flanges and covers at that stage works against the construction,” said Luke Westin, product manager. 

In some regions, it’s becoming more common for commercial construction to use thinner stud bays, Westin said. Installers needed boxes that allowed for shallower depths.

Chief engineers took this feedback to create an in-wall box with the features to meet various requirements. The box comes in two sizes. The PAC525 is 9 x 14.25 x 3.9” (229 x 362 x 99 mm), and the PAC526 is 14.25 x 14.25 x 3.9 (362 x 362 x 99 mm).

Features include:

The boxes come in black, but the flanges and covers can be ordered in black or white and are paintable to blend with any environment. They work with any dual stud wall mount. 

Chief’s new above ceiling boxes will be launching in late June and debuting at InfoComm. 

Installer feedback led Chief engineers to design a better storage box to eliminate frustrating swing down doors that can get in the way during installation and servicing. The ceiling tiles include an industry first drop down feature that lowers the entire frame enough to slide the tile out of the way. 

Designers also focused on maximizing the column location within a tile space for less reliance on digital adjustments and lens shift to the image. 

Chief’s plenum rated boxes come in 1x2 and 2x2 sizes. They ship with all the speed connect hardware needed for installation. Power can be added either in the box or facing the room. A detachable power plate allows the electrician to pre-wire the area before box installation begins. Passive cooling vents help with thermal management.  

The boxes can hold 100 lbs (45.4 kg). That includes 50 lbs (22.7 kg) for the projector and up to 25 lbs (11.3 kg) per shelf. AV components can be loaded to the shelf before bringing it to the ceiling for further installation convenience.

The above ceiling boxes can be ordered with or without a column drop. All boxes come with one shelf. Accessories to further customize the installation include another shelf and a 1RU rack rail. A fan kit for active thermal management will be available at a later date.

See all the new storage solutions at InfoComm booth C6830, and have a cup of coffee on Chief.