Question: How do I mount the ATND1061 Beamforming Ceiling Array Microphone (flush mounting)?
Answer: In a previous article of our series on installing the ATND1061 Beamforming Ceiling Array Microphone we discussed wiring the microphone. Now we will review the steps for mounting it. The ATND1061 can be flush-mounted in a drop or hard ceiling, surface-mounted to a drop or hard ceiling, or mounted in open architecture spaces via a standard VESA mount. In this installment we will cover flush mounting the microphone.
Flush Mounting the Microphone in a Drop or Hard Ceiling
Tools needed: long Phillips screwdriver, utility blade, tape measure.
Find a location on the ceiling where the microphone will be about equal distance from each talker in the room. The location should not exceed 20 vertical feet from the talker.
The flush mount adapter needs to have a minimum ceiling tile grid opening of 22 inches by 15 inches with at least 4 inches of clearance above the grid for microphone supports and connections.
Using the included installation template, cut the opening in the ceiling tile or hard ceiling for the flush mount adapter.
If recessing the microphone in a hard ceiling, the included tile bridge may not be needed. Verify that the ceiling material will support the weight of the microphone and flush mount adapter.
The tile bridge needs to be assembled and installed when recessing the microphone in an acoustic tile as part of a drop ceiling. The tile bridge comes in 3 parts – parts A, B and C – and is assembled with provided 10 mm M4 screws.
To mount the microphone in the center of a 2-foot by 2-foot ceiling tile, assemble using the center round holes on part A as shown below.
To mount the microphone off-center, utilize the other elongated holes shown here. Position the center of the microphone as needed.
Attach tile bridge A to tile bridge B using the 10 mm M4 screws supplied.
Attach the other tile bridge A to tile bridge B, forming a square.
Attach the four tile bridge C parts.
Measure the depth of the tile grid to determine the height of the tile bridge C parts. Grids are usually between 1-inch and 1½-inch thick. Measure the thickness of the ceiling tile and subtract that amount from the depth of the grid. The result can be used to locate the distance of tile bridge C from the bottom of the mount.
In this example, the tile grid depth is 1-3/8 inches and the ceiling tile is ½-inch thick, so the tile bridge C part should be positioned 7/8 of an inch from the ceiling tile.
Measure tile grid depth.
Measure ceiling tile thickness.
Subtract the tile thickness from the tile grid depth to determine the position of tile bridge C.
Tile bridge C should rest on the spine of the tile grid and support the weight of the assembled tile bridge without any space between the bridge and the ceiling tile.
Attach the surface mount adapter to the flush mount adapter using the 10 mm M4 screws and nuts. Align the four holes and insert the screws and attach nuts on the backside of the flush mount adapter. Snug the Phillips screw and M4 nuts.
When installing in a drop ceiling, set the assembled tile bridge above the ceiling tile and center it on the opening. Make sure that the tile bridge C wings are supported on the ceiling grid.
Determine if one or two knockouts are required for microphone wiring. Snap bushings are provided to protect cables from nicks and abrasions in non-plenum installations. Where required, use the included hole cover to cover the unused knockout.
Cover the unused knockout.
The mount and hardware are UL 2043-compliant, allowing for installation in a plenum space according to most building codes. In most cases conduit connections (not provided) should be used to meet local building codes.
Insert the flush mount adapter into the opening from below the ceiling tile or hard ceiling.
Carefully turn the four mounting tab screws so that they support all sides of the adapter on the tile bridge.
The tabs should be snug, but not crushing the ceiling tile.
Use the seismic cable to secure the flush mount adapter to a structural part of the building not connected to the ceiling grid.
Make any final cable terminations and cable tests.
Connect to the microphone.
Align the microphone in the mount and click into place.
A zip tie is provided as an additional lock for securing the microphone to the mount.
Insert one end of the safety belt into the flush mount adapter.
Insert the other end of the safety belt into the flush mount cover.
Apply the flush mount cover by aligning the metal tabs into the cutouts of the flush mount adapter.
The microphone is now ready to be powered on and configured.