"Table-top" retractable cable panel without a lid?

D

Daniel Postilnik

Junior
Jan 14, 2011
304
1
18
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San Francisco, CA
My company is in the process of getting a Crestron-based system quoted for our main conference room. The table in that room isn't a typical executive table. It was custom built with a pair of pockets in the center with lids that open for access to multi-media cables. The problem we had was that the baluns behind the connectors that were installed in the pockets, converting the signal to Cat5, were poor quality so we had connectivity and image quality issues.

Anyway the point is this - we visited the Crestron showroom and really liked their "Flip-Top" product with a retractable cable system. Take a peek here:
http://www.crestron.com/resources/p...alog/default.asp?cat=1021&subcat=1541&id=2515

The only problem is that we need it without a lid because we already have a lid! The vendor has recommended that we "have a shop take the lid off" but I'm concerned the unit would get damaged cosmetically in the process.

Is there a non-Crestron unit with similar functionality?
Does anyone have experience taking off the lids of these units?

Thanks,
 
Re: "Table-top" retractable cable panel without a lid?

Check out FSR, while most of theirs have lids they could be removed or have them make the boxes custom. What ever box you look at is going to take some metal work to configure it like your Crestron example. Rapco Horizon also have boxes and custom metal work.

http://www.fsrinc.com/
http://www.rapcohorizon.com/c-41-floor-pockets.aspx
 
Re: "Table-top" retractable cable panel without a lid?

While I haven't seen one of these boxes in person, a competent shop should be able to remove the lid with no damage to the rest of the box, cosmetic or otherwise. In fact, looking at the product documentation and photos, it looks like there's a good chance that the lid is held in place with only 2 screws (but will likely require a bit of other disassembly to remove it).
 
Re: "Table-top" retractable cable panel without a lid?

Daniel Postilnik said:
My company is in the process of getting a Crestron-based system quoted for our main conference room. The table in that room isn't a typical executive table. It was custom built with a pair of pockets in the center with lids that open for access to multi-media cables. The problem we had was that the baluns behind the connectors that were installed in the pockets, converting the signal to Cat5, were poor quality so we had connectivity and image quality issues.

Anyway the point is this - we visited the Crestron showroom and really liked their "Flip-Top" product with a retractable cable system. Take a peek here:
http://www.crestron.com/resources/p...alog/default.asp?cat=1021&subcat=1541&id=2515

The only problem is that we need it without a lid because we already have a lid! The vendor has recommended that we "have a shop take the lid off" but I'm concerned the unit would get damaged cosmetically in the process.

Is there a non-Crestron unit with similar functionality?
Does anyone have experience taking off the lids of these units?

Thanks,
Click to expand...
Extron offers retractors that work with their Cable Cubbies:
http://www.extron.com/product/listbytype.aspx?subtype=586
http://www.extron.com/product/listbytype.aspx?subtype=587&s=3

Kramer has retractors that work with their TBUS pockets:
http://www.kramerelectronics.com/pr...?&groupli=8&src=2&subgroupli=32&simplefli=445

Whether either of these is easier to disassemble, I don't know. I know of none that come WITHOUT the lid previously installed.

I'm curious as to why you think you can't further customize your table to allow for use of the integral flip-tops of these products. If the Crestron unit isn't large enough to 'fill the hole' left by the removal of the existing pocket lids, the Extron and Kramer products might have one large enough. In the past, we've made custom inserts to accommodate a change in pocket styles.
 
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