QualGear Pro-AV

Mounting a projector: choose by ceiling type. Flat, concrete, sloped, drop, truss or I-beam, and which QualGear Pro-AV adapter each one takes.

A projector ceiling mount is only as good as what it anchors to, and the ceiling decides that. In the QualGear Pro-AV system the ceiling adapter is the one part that changes with the building; the 1.5 in NPT pipe and the QG-PRO-PM-50 bracket stay the same. This guide shows how to identify each ceiling, which adapter and kit its manual documents, the ratings and limits, and where a qualified installer should take over. When you know your ceiling, the builder on the Pro-AV page assembles a compatible system.

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Projector Ceiling Mount Kit
Flat or concreteSloped or vaultedTruss and I-beam

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One system, five adapters

The adapter changes, the rest of the system does not. Every Pro-AV adapter ends in the same 1.5 in NPT socket.

Every Pro-AV ceiling adapter has a female 1.5 in NPT socket locked by set screws; the security version is M5 x 4 mm and needs an M2.5 mm security Allen key. One extension pipe threads into it, and the QG-PRO-PM-50 projector bracket threads onto the pipe. So the choice below is the only one the building makes for you. Two rules carry through every section: the adapter's manual names the structures it anchors to, and nothing else is assumed; and the lowest-rated part in the chain sets the rating of the whole system. The bracket is rated to 70 lb / 31.8 kg, so a flat, sloped or truss system is rated to 70 lb / 31.8 kg, and a drop ceiling system to its adapter's rating.

Flat ceiling

Flat ceiling over a wood joist. The most common case: drywall or plaster with framing above.

A flat ceiling with wood framing is a level finished surface, usually drywall or plaster, with joists or a stud at regular spacing above it. Find a joist with a stud finder, a small test hole or by looking from an attic or access panel. The Pro-AV flat ceiling adapter, QG-PRO-PM-CA-B or QG-PRO-PM-CA-W, is documented for a single wood joist or stud and for structural wood. Mount it to the framing itself, never to the drywall alone.

  • How to identify it

    A level finished ceiling with wood joists or a stud above the mounting point. Confirm the framing with a stud finder or a look from above before you drill.

  • What to use

    Flat ceiling adapter QG-PRO-PM-CA (black or white), or the QG-KIT-CA kit, which adds the 3 in / 7.6 cm pipe and the QG-PRO-PM-50 bracket. Adapter rating 80 lb / 36 kg; system rating 70 lb / 31.8 kg.

    Build a flat ceiling system

  • What the manual documents

    A single wood joist or stud and structural wood. Two wood screws, set screws, M6 washers and a decorative cover are in the box, with a marking template.

  • Limits

    Fasten to framing, not drywall. Between joists, a contractor must add structure first; QualGear has no between-joist adapter. Brick, masonry and metal are not listed.

Flat ceiling

Flat concrete ceiling. A structural slab, common in basements, parking levels and commercial buildings.

A concrete ceiling is a structural slab, often bare or painted, sometimes behind a thin finish. A drill bit meets hard, gritty resistance within the first fraction of an inch and there is no hollow behind the surface. The flat ceiling adapter QG-PRO-PM-CA is documented for structural concrete, and four metal expansion anchors come in the box. Concrete is one of the cases where QualGear strongly recommends professional installation: an installer confirms the slab is structural and places the anchors to the manual's requirements.

  • How to identify it

    A solid slab with no hollow behind the surface, bare, painted or behind a thin finish. If a thin ceiling hides the slab, locate the slab before choosing fasteners.

  • What to use

    The same flat ceiling adapter QG-PRO-PM-CA, or the QG-KIT-CA kit. Four metal expansion anchors are in the box. Adapter rating 80 lb / 36 kg; system rating 70 lb / 31.8 kg.

    Build a concrete ceiling system

  • What the manual documents

    Structural concrete with the included expansion anchors. Drill 10 mm / 3/8 in in diameter and 45 mm / 1.8 in deep for the concrete anchors.

  • Limits

    Professional installation is strongly recommended for concrete. Hollow-core plank, lightweight topping, brick and masonry are not listed. The drop ceiling adapters also anchor into concrete when a grid hangs below the slab.

Sloped or vaulted ceiling

Sloped, vaulted or cathedral ceiling. The adapter tilts so the pipe hangs plumb.

A sloped ceiling rises toward a ridge or follows the roof line; a vaulted or cathedral ceiling is the same surface at room scale. The framing above is usually rafters or a stud, and sometimes concrete. A flat adapter would hold the pipe at the ceiling's angle, so the Pro-AV sloped ceiling adapter, QG-PRO-PM-VCA-B or QG-PRO-PM-VCA-W, adjusts from 0 to 90 degrees and lets the 1.5 in NPT pipe hang plumb. It is rated to 300 lb / 136 kg; with the bracket the system is rated to 70 lb / 31.8 kg.

  • How to identify it

    A ceiling that rises toward a ridge or follows the roof pitch. Rafters or a stud are the usual framing; some are concrete.

  • What to use

    Sloped ceiling adapter QG-PRO-PM-VCA (black or white), or the QG-KIT-VA kit. The adapter adjusts 0 to 90 degrees so the pipe hangs plumb. Adapter rating 300 lb / 136 kg; system rating 70 lb / 31.8 kg.

    Build a sloped ceiling system

  • What the manual documents

    Wood joist or stud and concrete, with three screws, three metal expansion anchors and set screws in the box. A marking template is included.

  • Limits

    Brick, masonry and metal are not listed. The assembled height is measured at 0 degrees; on a slope the vertical drop differs and is not measured. Stack up to six pipes with a connector between each pair for a high ceiling.

Drop or suspended ceiling

Drop or suspended ceiling: hang from the structure, not the tile. Two adapters, one above the tile and one flush in its place.

A drop ceiling is a metal grid of 2 x 2 ft or 2 x 4 ft tiles hung on wire below the real structure. The grid holds tiles, not projectors, so both Pro-AV drop ceiling adapters suspend on wire from the structure above it: wood joists with the four included eye bolts, a concrete slab with the four included anchors, or a truss with a wire loop. Four turnbuckles level the adapter. QG-PRO-PM-SCA-W sits above the tile, its collar slides 1 ft / 310 mm and it is rated to 60 lb / 27.2 kg. QG-PRO-PM-SCA2-W replaces a 2 x 2 ft tile, or half of a 2 x 4 ft tile, sits flush and is rated to 50 lb / 22.7 kg. Both are white, and the adapter rating caps the system.

  • How to identify it

    Tiles in a metal grid. Lift one to see the structure above, because that is what the adapter hangs from.

  • What to use

    QG-PRO-PM-SCA-W above the tile, 60 lb / 27.2 kg, or QG-PRO-PM-SCA2-W flush in place of a tile, 50 lb / 22.7 kg. The QG-KIT-S and QG-KIT-S2 kits add the pipe and bracket. White only.

    Build a drop ceiling system

  • What the manual documents

    Suspension on wire from wood joists, concrete or truss. Wire, four eye bolts, four concrete anchors and four turnbuckles are in the box.

  • Limits

    The adapter rating caps the system. The grid itself is never the anchor. No marking template. Pipe length is nominal because the suspension height varies with the plenum.

Truss

Truss: clamp on, no drilling. Round, square or rectangular tube within the clamp envelope.

Truss is an open framework of welded tubes, common in event spaces, studios, halls and some indoor golf and sports venues. There is nothing to drill into, so the Pro-AV truss ceiling adapter QG-PRO-PM-TCA-B clamps instead: two 10 mm / 0.39 in U-bolts with M10 nuts, washers and lock washers wrap the member, tightened with a 17 mm wrench. It fits round truss up to 3 in / 76 mm in diameter and square or rectangular truss up to 3 in / 76 mm wide by 3.5 in / 89 mm high, and it is rated to 400 lb / 181 kg. With the bracket the system is rated to 70 lb / 31.8 kg.

  • How to identify it

    Welded tube framework with no solid surface. Measure the member you will clamp before ordering.

  • What to use

    Truss ceiling adapter QG-PRO-PM-TCA-B, or the QG-KIT-TA kit. Black only. Adapter rating 400 lb / 181 kg; system rating 70 lb / 31.8 kg.

    Build a truss system

  • What the manual documents

    Two U-bolts with M10 nuts, washers and lock washers wrap the member; a 17 mm wrench tightens them. Round tube up to 3 in / 76 mm; square or rectangular up to 3 in / 76 mm by 3.5 in / 89 mm.

  • Limits

    Larger members are not covered; contact support before ordering. The minimum size is not published. No drilling and no template.

Steel I-beam

Steel I-beam: the truss adapter, within its envelope. Owner ruling PROAV-O1: the truss ceiling adapter is QualGear's I-beam solution.

An I-beam is a single steel member with a flat flange along the bottom and a web between the flanges, often exposed in warehouses, loft conversions, garages and commercial buildings. The Pro-AV truss ceiling adapter QG-PRO-PM-TCA-B is QualGear's I-beam solution: its two U-bolts wrap an I-section up to 3 in / 76 mm wide by 3.5 in / 89 mm high, as the manual's diagram shows, and it is rated to 400 lb / 181 kg. Measure the flange width and the overall beam height before ordering. Beams larger than this envelope are common in buildings, and no QualGear product is documented for them; contact support before ordering.

  • How to identify it

    A single steel beam with a flat flange on the bottom. Measure flange width and overall height; the U-bolts must wrap the whole section.

  • What to use

    Truss ceiling adapter QG-PRO-PM-TCA-B, or the QG-KIT-TA kit, for beams within 3 in / 76 mm wide by 3.5 in / 89 mm high. Adapter rating 400 lb / 181 kg; system rating 70 lb / 31.8 kg.

    Build an I-beam system

  • What the manual documents

    The diagram shows the I-section inside the two U-bolts, with M10 nuts, washers and lock washers, tightened with a 17 mm wrench.

  • Limits

    Beams larger than the envelope have no documented QualGear adapter; contact support before ordering. Flange thickness is not published.

Brick, masonry and metal deck

Ceilings we don't list. No product claim; a qualified installer decides the anchoring.

Brick, masonry, metal deck, metal stud and steel bar joist are not named in any Pro-AV adapter manual, so QualGear makes no product claim for them. The adapter's 1.5 in NPT socket and the rest of the system are unchanged; what changes is the anchoring, and that is a structural decision. Use structural fasteners rated for your ceiling and consult a qualified installer, because QualGear support cannot assess a structure remotely. Hardware for these structures is not included with any adapter. The same applies when a projector must hang between joists: a contractor adds the structure first. Once the mounting point is decided, QualGear can review your plan for a compatible adapter, pipe and bracket.

  • Brick or masonry

    Not listed for any Pro-AV adapter. Use structural fasteners rated for the wall or ceiling material and consult a qualified installer. Hardware not included.

  • Metal deck, metal stud or bar joist

    Not listed for any Pro-AV adapter. A qualified installer must verify the anchoring and supply fasteners rated for it. Hardware not included.

  • Between joists

    QualGear does not sell a between-joist adapter. A contractor adds structure between the joists, and the flat adapter then mounts to that structure.

  • Configuration review

    Send the ceiling photos, the projector make and model, and the hang you want. QualGear identifies compatible Pro-AV components; the installer remains responsible for the structure and the installation.

    Open the builder

Products and warranty

Parts named in this guide. Every link goes to the product page.

Warranty

Pro-AV warranty

QualGear Pro-AV adapters, pipes, brackets and kits carry a 5-year limited manufacturer's warranty, parts only.

Read the warranty

Ceiling questions

Asked about ceilings. Answers from the adapter listings and manuals.

Can I mount to a single wood joist?
Yes. The Pro-AV flat ceiling adapter is designed for a single wood joist or stud, structural wood or structural concrete, accepts standard 1.5 in NPT pipe, and is rated to 80 lb / 36 kg. The QG-KIT-CA kits pair it with the 70 lb / 31.8 kg bracket, so the system is rated to 70 lb / 31.8 kg.
What if the projector needs to hang between joists?
QualGear does not sell a between-joist adapter. Adding structural support between joists is a structural decision that a qualified contractor should make, because QualGear support cannot assess a structure remotely. Once the mounting point is decided, our team can review your plan for a compatible adapter, pipe and bracket.
How do I mount a projector on a concrete ceiling?
Use the flat ceiling adapter QG-PRO-PM-CA, which is documented for structural concrete; four metal expansion anchors are in the box. Drill 10 mm / 3/8 in in diameter and 45 mm / 1.8 in deep for the concrete anchors. Concrete is one of the cases where QualGear strongly recommends professional installation, and the installer should confirm the slab is structural.
How do I mount a projector on a sloped or vaulted ceiling?
Use the Pro-AV sloped ceiling adapter QG-PRO-PM-VCA. It mounts to cathedral and vaulted ceilings over wood joists, a stud or concrete, and adjusts from 0 to 90 degrees so the 1.5 in NPT pipe hangs plumb. It is rated to 300 lb / 136 kg. The QG-KIT-VA kit adds the 70 lb / 31.8 kg bracket and a 3 in / 7.6 cm pipe.
On a high vaulted ceiling, can I hang the projector lower?
Yes. Swap the kit's 3 in / 7.6 cm pipe for a longer Pro-AV extension pipe, in fixed lengths up to 36 in / 91.4 cm. The builder configures up to six pipes with a connector between each pair, and the finished hang is limited by the lowest-rated part in the assembly. If you need more than one pipe's length, request a configuration review before ordering.
Which adapter fits a drop or suspended ceiling?
Two options, both for standard 2 x 2 ft and 2 x 4 ft grids and both white. QG-PRO-PM-SCA-W mounts above the tile and is rated to 60 lb / 27.2 kg; its collar slides 1 ft / 310 mm. QG-PRO-PM-SCA2-W is a 2 x 2 ft panel that sits flush in place of a 2 x 2 ft tile, or half of a 2 x 4 ft tile, and is rated to 50 lb / 22.7 kg. Both accept 1.5 in NPT pipe, and the adapter rating caps the system.
Does a drop ceiling adapter hang from the ceiling grid?
No. Both drop ceiling adapters suspend on wire from the structure above the grid: wood joists with the four included eye bolts, concrete with the four included anchors, or a truss with a wire loop. Four turnbuckles level the adapter. The grid only frames the finished look and carries no load from the mount.
How do I mount a projector to a truss?
Use the Pro-AV truss ceiling adapter QG-PRO-PM-TCA-B. It clamps with two 10 mm / 0.39 in U-bolts to round truss up to 3 in / 76 mm in diameter, or square and rectangular truss up to 3 in / 76 mm wide by 3.5 in / 89 mm high, accepts 1.5 in NPT pipe, and is rated to 400 lb / 181 kg. A 17 mm wrench is needed. The QG-KIT-TA kit adds the bracket and a 3 in / 7.6 cm pipe.
Can I mount a projector to a steel I-beam?
Yes, with the Pro-AV truss ceiling adapter QG-PRO-PM-TCA-B, which is QualGear's I-beam solution. Its two 10 mm / 0.39 in U-bolts wrap an I-section up to 3 in / 76 mm wide by 3.5 in / 89 mm high, and it is rated to 400 lb / 181 kg. Measure the flange width and beam height first. For a larger beam, contact support before ordering.
Can I mount to brick, masonry or a metal deck ceiling?
These structures are not listed in any Pro-AV adapter manual, so QualGear makes no product claim for them. Use structural fasteners rated for your ceiling, consult a qualified installer, and note that hardware for these structures is not included. Send photos and details for a configuration review once the installer has decided the anchoring.
Still have questions? Contact us

Know the ceiling, then build the system. The builder starts with your ceiling and checks every part against the next.

Build your Pro-AV system

Choose your ceiling, structure, pipe length and projector; the builder assembles a compatible system and adds every part to your cart.

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How far should the projector hang?

Lens offset, screen position and sightlines set the drop. The drop-length guide walks through the measurement and the pipe lengths.

Read the drop-length guide