CT Droid
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[Articles] Review: VidaBox iPad Wall Mount
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Thank you Corey for the very good article.
I installed one and I am extremely happy with it.
Quick question,
Has anybody found a recessed plug and/or an IPad charger that will actually fit flush behind a VidaBox wall mount and powerful enough to allow the IPad to be on all the time?
Other than installing a plug sideways (which I believe is against code), I have not had any luck finding such combination.
Thanks.
I installed one and I am extremely happy with it.
Quick question,
Has anybody found a recessed plug and/or an IPad charger that will actually fit flush behind a VidaBox wall mount and powerful enough to allow the IPad to be on all the time?
Other than installing a plug sideways (which I believe is against code), I have not had any luck finding such combination.
Thanks.
Nice review. Few comments:
No final install pics?
The connector cutout area is interesting. Looks like it is filled with MDF? Is the whole piece like this or is this a special insert?
Too bad about the sloppy miters.
I also wonder how cheaply this could be done as DIY. These are fairly common style picture frame extrusions. So if one can find a frame that uses the same size extrusions (seems to be Nielsen #99), it could be as simple as buying the extrusion precut or cutting yourself, milling/drilling out the connector hole, and lining with a little felt. I can get a custom cut frame in approx the right size with hardware kit in Nielsen #99 from warehouseframers.com for around $17 plus shipping. Hardware isn't exactly the same in the kit, so add a few more dollars and you could probably have the same parts. Also there are "corner ornaments" available as an alternative to exposed miter joints. Anyone else who looks into it post what you find.
No final install pics?
The connector cutout area is interesting. Looks like it is filled with MDF? Is the whole piece like this or is this a special insert?
Too bad about the sloppy miters.
This must mean the iPad 2 fits into a more standard and widely-available extrusion size. I don't think these guys are having their own extrusions made.
I also wonder how cheaply this could be done as DIY. These are fairly common style picture frame extrusions. So if one can find a frame that uses the same size extrusions (seems to be Nielsen #99), it could be as simple as buying the extrusion precut or cutting yourself, milling/drilling out the connector hole, and lining with a little felt. I can get a custom cut frame in approx the right size with hardware kit in Nielsen #99 from warehouseframers.com for around $17 plus shipping. Hardware isn't exactly the same in the kit, so add a few more dollars and you could probably have the same parts. Also there are "corner ornaments" available as an alternative to exposed miter joints. Anyone else who looks into it post what you find.
Might want to merge this with the other thread.
You can probably find an aftermarket adapter in flat style that would fit into one of the available recessed outlets. If it has a built-in cable it's connector might not fit into the frame opening. If it has a usb port hopefully there is enough room for the usb plug in the recessed outlet opening. Otherwise you could look at the Leviton REB but it might be too big.
You can probably find an aftermarket adapter in flat style that would fit into one of the available recessed outlets. If it has a built-in cable it's connector might not fit into the frame opening. If it has a usb port hopefully there is enough room for the usb plug in the recessed outlet opening. Otherwise you could look at the Leviton REB but it might be too big.
Thanks for the kind words. Which color did you get?
Do you mean a recessed outlet? Perhaps coupled with something like this slim iPad power adapter, a recessed outlet might work - assuming of course that you have an outlet nearby.
Otherwise, it may be best to run a short cat5e in-wall rated cable from the iPad mount location to a nearby outlet and use the VidaBox iPCX kit.
Final install pics are forthcoming. I actually decided to order another iPad to be used with the VidaBox mount, since I cannot part with my iPad for everyday use. Once I get that in, I will post pictures of the finished install.
As for the cutout, it appears that they created an MDF insert for the area. The rest of the frame shows no signs of being filled with MDF.
Yea, the miters were a slight disappointment, but not bad enough to keep me from either buying it or recommending it.
Neurorad
Senior Member
I also have a Vidabox iPad mount.
The miters are perfect on mine. The build quality is very good, solid frame. I used some muscle to close the miters, before screwing it tight. Maybe you need to spend more time at the gym, Corey.
I've had the iPad in the mount, sitting on the kitchen counter, 2 feet from the eventual wall install location.
I bought the iPad for the Nuvo MPS4 app, to control my Nuvo system, to replace a Nuvo keypad.
The app isn't perfect - about 1/5 times it gives me the message 'server not found', and I have to exit out of the Nuvo app, open something else, close it, and then re-open the Nuvo app.
So, I'm hesitant to mount it permanently. The chosen location would replace the Nuvo KP, so I'd lose control from that KP.
The mount itself is very nice. I bought the Vidabox catx extender, haven't tried it yet. If you have power in the area, a recessed box large enough to house the iPad AC/DC convertor should work fine. I have a few cat6 cables in the Nuvo KP location to choose from, home-run to the closet. The iPad will run forever with continuous power. Vidabox told me the max recommended distance for the iPCX extender was 50 feet. The Vidabox iPower charger max rec'd distance is 300 feet.
When I have a whole-house control system, the iPad will definitely be permanently mounted, using this Vidabox mount. It's very high quality.
The miters are perfect on mine. The build quality is very good, solid frame. I used some muscle to close the miters, before screwing it tight. Maybe you need to spend more time at the gym, Corey.
I've had the iPad in the mount, sitting on the kitchen counter, 2 feet from the eventual wall install location.
I bought the iPad for the Nuvo MPS4 app, to control my Nuvo system, to replace a Nuvo keypad.
The app isn't perfect - about 1/5 times it gives me the message 'server not found', and I have to exit out of the Nuvo app, open something else, close it, and then re-open the Nuvo app.
So, I'm hesitant to mount it permanently. The chosen location would replace the Nuvo KP, so I'd lose control from that KP.
The mount itself is very nice. I bought the Vidabox catx extender, haven't tried it yet. If you have power in the area, a recessed box large enough to house the iPad AC/DC convertor should work fine. I have a few cat6 cables in the Nuvo KP location to choose from, home-run to the closet. The iPad will run forever with continuous power. Vidabox told me the max recommended distance for the iPCX extender was 50 feet. The Vidabox iPower charger max rec'd distance is 300 feet.
When I have a whole-house control system, the iPad will definitely be permanently mounted, using this Vidabox mount. It's very high quality.
