Are you looking for solutions on how to run power to a ceiling mounted projector? You’ve landed on the right page.
Modern projectors now come with plenty of wireless connectivity options. However, a projector compulsorily needs its power cable. Sure there are battery-powered projectors; but, they’re useful for a different use case.
There are plenty of ways to power a projector and hide the power cable if you place it on a TV shelf or a coffee table. With a ceiling-mounted projector, things get a little tricky.
Hence, in this article, we’ll learn How to Run Power to a Ceiling Mounted Projector in four simple steps.
Are you ready?
Let’s get started!
How to Run Power to a Ceiling Mounted Projector?
- Look for a power outlet within the ceiling or in the attic
- If not, use a power kit or add a new power line
- Get sufficiently long power cable
- Using the new power outlet, test the projector
The above solutions are easy said than done. Let’s further discuss them in detail and you’ll have a clear idea of what needs to be done.
Follow along!
1. Check for a Power Outlet in the Ceiling or Attic?
Most modern houses and apartments are built with the idea of having a TV in the living room or bedroom. Therefore, there are sufficient power outlets in a place where the TV would sit. Other outlets around the room are close to the floor, while some are at a waist-length or shoulder-length height.
With the increasing popularity of projectors, there’s a chance your house or apartment has a top-mounted or ceiling-mounted power outlet. If your house has an attic, a power outlet could be present in the attic.
Before making any connection, ensure your projector is placed in the center with respect to the projector screen. The projector needs to be in the horizontal center of the screen.
Once you finalize the projector placement, now think about powering the projector.
Also Read: 5 Solutions for Powering an Outdoor Projector
Suppose there’s a power outlet within the ceiling or in the attic. In that case, you can easily connect the projector’s power cord to the power outlet.
The power cord provided with most projectors is around 2 to 3-foot long. If the power cord’s length isn’t sufficient to reach the power outlet, get a longer power cord.
In such a scenario, you might prefer using a power cord extension cable. However, projectors draw a large amount of power.
A power cord extension cable might not handle the immense power surge or provide clean power to the projector. Apparently, an extension cord can also turn into a safety hazard if you don’t use it correctly.
2. Using a Cable Power Kit system
Fundamentally, a Cable Power Kit runs an extension cord from a power outlet to the power grommet.
A cable power kit like the Legrand-Wiremold CMK70 comes with the entire wall cable management system. This system will take a bit of handy work; hence, it is essential to know what you’re doing beforehand.
Suppose you want a power outlet in a different location (for example, ceiling). In that case look for an unused power socket nearby.
The cable power kit will draw power from the unused power socket and supply it to a power grommet via a power cord extension.
The video embedded below gives a good idea on how to use a cable power kit. Later, you can use the cable power kit and place the power grommet near to your projector.
3. Adding a new Power Socket
Suppose the idea of using a Cable Power Kit seems a little troublesome. You can call an electrician and ask the person to add a new power socket near the projector.
Depending on the electrician’s experience, this task might take a bit of planning to get the desired result.
Also, make sure to explain in detail (to the electrician) what you want to do and the results you’re trying to achieve.
It’s crucial that the work is done safely without any loose ends. A shoddy work could result in electrical problems later.
For futureproofing, add a couple of power sockets instead of one. It will ensure you won’t have to do all the work all over again while using another device with the projector.
4. Get sufficient-sized power cable
As mentioned above, projectors usually come with a 2 or 3-foot long power cord.
Suppose the power outlet’s placement is close to the projector. In that case, the longer power cord will hang unnecessarily or you’ll have to roll the power cord around the ceiling mount (not recommended). If you face such scenario, I recommend going with a 1-foot long power cord to prevent additional slack.
Comparitively, if the power outlet is far from the projector, you must get a longer 6 or 10-foot power cord depending on the distance. On Amazon, you can find up to 50-foot power cords to use far away power outlets.
5. Testing the projector
Once you have power outlet placement figured, now’s the time to check the final results.
Before you directly connect the projector to this new power outlet, I recommend connecting an old electrical device or lamp to the power outlet first. If in case something goes wrong, it will save your projector from going kaput.
If all goes well, you can now connect the projector to this new power outlet. If the projector receives power, then congratulations, you’ve successfully powered a ceiling-mounted projector.
Later, make sure the projector is properly lined up and with the required adjustments.
Also Read: Can You Ceiling Mount Short Throw Projectors
Conclusion
As you know, most houses are designed in a way to accommodate a TV. Hence, all the power outlets are placed according to a TV and its complementary accessories.
Thus, if you want to ceiling-mount a projector, then it can be a little tricky at first. However, with the above steps, you can ensure to first look for any ceiling-mounted power socket or a power socket in the attic. If not, then you can add a cable power kit or a new power socket to the desired location.
Once everything is done correctly, make sure this new setup works appropriately, and there are no hiccups during future usage.
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