HDMI cables to projectors

[petben]

Looking at replacing the VGA cabling to projectors and putting in HDMI, we are finding the cables in the wall sockets are too proud and gets knocked/broken. Even 90 degree ones. Does anyone use a solution where the cable is plugged on the underside or in a protected box.

Found these but it a big, ugly expensive thing, we only need HDMI and audio.

 

https://saharaav.com/connectivity/cable-kits/5m-sahara-cable-kit-2

[BKGarry]

Where we do use HDMI (mostly we use Microsoft wireless display adapters) we use a brush plate to replace the front plate. Then we run the hdmi into the trunking/box, and then attach a HDMI Extender to pop out of the brush plate.

[chazzy2501]

I just have the cable come straight out of the trunking and looped around a coat hook. Teachers like it as it obvious what to do, in some room we have docking stations so there is nothing to do but plonk the laptop.

 

In the future I'll have a single usb c cable to do everything... out of the trunking on a coat hook.

[Andrew_C]

I'd not do that. Have a short, easy to replace, cable from the wall to the teachers' machine.

[SamanthaD]

We prefer to have a direct cable to the projector. Less breaks in the chain means less points of failure, so we use brush plates. Possibly run it to a switch first so the projector run is permanent, then you just have a short fly-lead to a laptop which can easily be replaced if damaged.

[DrBeaker]

Faceplate on the wall or in trunking for either VGA or HDMI. Then a VGA or HDMI flylead from the computer to the faceplate. Cheaper, easier to manage etc. Might add a SPoF I guess but compared to everything else, once it's in, it's likely to be in there for years and hardly move which reduces the risk. Either way once it's installed and working if it's damaged afterwards that's a teacher/classroom management/SLT problem then.

[Andrew_C]

AND if a 10+m HDMI does get the end ripped off by a teacher forgetting to unplug before walking off, it costs £afew rather than many £10s plus getting ladders, towers, caretakers involved in repairs.

[DrBeaker]

Faceplate on the wall or in trunking for either VGA or HDMI. Then a VGA or HDMI flylead from the computer to the faceplate. Cheaper, easier to manage etc. Might add a SPoF I guess but compared to everything else, once it's in, it's likely to be in there for years and hardly move which reduces the risk. Either way once it's installed and working if it's damaged afterwards that's a teacher/classroom management/SLT problem then.

 

AND if a 10+m HDMI does get the end ripped off by a teacher forgetting to unplug before walking off, it costs £afew rather than many £10s plus getting ladders, towers, caretakers involved in repairs.

 

There's a reason it's called "best practise" etc. Unfortunately however as we can all attest to, how things SHOULD be done in schools, isn't often the way it is ACTUALLY done in schools.

[caffrey]

I always use those Sahara things, ugly yes but they work

[chazzy2501]

@SamDavis brush plates are a luxury touch. I'm doing that in the future.

[HTCPCP]

As long as it's a sensible length run, I tend to hide a coupler within the trunking, with a short 2m lead running out through a brush plate. It adds a failure point, but also means that repair and replacement times (and costs) can be cut, and reduces the risk of cables being broken from sticking out of the wall socket. Also keeps it looking nice and tidy too. That being said, those sahara things are amazing if you need different options for connecting them. On one of our remote sites, I did go and put a docking station inside one, without any issues at all.

[DrBeaker]

As long as it's a sensible length run, I tend to hide a coupler within the trunking, with a short 2m lead running out through a brush plate. It adds a failure point, but also means that repair and replacement times (and costs) can be cut, and reduces the risk of cables being broken from sticking out of the wall socket. Also keeps it looking nice and tidy too. That being said, those sahara things are amazing if you need different options for connecting them. On one of our remote sites, I did go and put a docking station inside one, without any issues at all.

 

I'll be honest - when a high falutin AV company installed their kit in our hall, I did similar. The network cable they put in and expected me to use was far too short, there was simply no slack on it. The drawer I was supposed to put the PC in wasn't on runners, yo literally had to pull the PC out. So I used an RJ45 coupler on their network cable to connect to my own, with a decent amount of slack that makes it a LOT easier to remove the PC when needed.