Power and Data Integration

Deciding who does what

A/V installations range from super simple to extremely complex.  The plugs in a table are often integrated into a complete audiovisual system that contains many pieces of hardware. In any sizable project, there should be an A/V integrator.  Their job is to work with the client to identify what capabilities are desired, and to choose an equipment set that will accomplish those tasks.

Our job is to engineer the table to receive whatever equipment the A/V expert chooses.  We’re really good at that.  We’ve worked with integrators on projects for NASA, the NSA, the Pentagon, and other clients who have extremely complex requirements.  And we’ve also worked with hundreds of clients who have simpler needs.

So what do you, as the architect or designer, need to do?  Nothing.  Once you’ve brought us into the project. your problems are solved.  Whatever the client wants to do, and whatever equipment the integrator chooses, we’ll make it work.

About wiring

After working with thousands of clients, we can assure you that people care about wiring.  Almost every inquiry we receive mentions power and data as a critical functional requirement.  You don’t want to treat it as an afterthought.

Power and data units come in a huge variety of configurations.  Every piece of equipment is unique.  Fortunately for you, we’ve worked with almost all of them, and know what is required for success.  Here are some principals that we use to guide our design decisions:

• The table should be designed so that a wire entering at any point can be run to any other part of the table through internal wire runs.
• The table should be designed so that the wires are easily accessible after installation.
• It should be possible to set up the base of the table and wire it prior to the top being installed.  This minimizes the chance of damage.
• When in doubt, add more wiring capacity.  There’s always more wiring than you think.

There’s a lot more to know, but you don’t need to worry about that.  If we know what equipment is going into the table, we can work out the details for you.

Hiding plugs: Good ideas

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After completing thousands of projects, and hearing from satisfied clients, we have a short list of best practices for hiding plugs:

• It should always be possible for a user to see at a glance whether there are plugs in the table, and where they are located.  That doesn’t mean the plugs themselves have to be visible all the time.  But users should never have to ask whether they can connect, or search for hidden outlets.
• If you mount plugs under the top of the table, they should be located within 3″ of the edge.  This makes them easy to see and access without having to grope around under the table top.
• When possible, plugs should accomodate the large charging blocks that come with laptop computers.  It’s a bonus if your unit can accomodate more than one.
• Plugs should be within easy reach of a sitting user.  If located on top of the table, put them within 24″ from the edge.
• Sometimes you are going to want every person at the table to plug in, other times it’s just a few users.  In either case, the right number of plugs should be provided.

This is an abbreviated list.  Other best practices only apply to particular situations.  We’ve built every kind of table imaginable.  We’ll put that experience to work to help your project succeed.

Hiding plugs: Bad ideas

We’ve had clients insist on unwise choices.  These situations invariably turned out poorly.  Here are some easily-avoidable problems:

• Even though it makes the top look thinner and sleeker, don’t put under-table plugs far away from the table edge.  Most users won’t even realize they are there.  And if they do figure it out, they’ll need to bend down and maybe get down on their knees to see what plugs are available, and to plug in.  This is undignified and can be easily avoided.
• Don’t specify a base that is too small to accomodate wires.  Sure, tables on thin tapered legs look cool.  But there won’t be room for the mass of wires that will be required.
• Be very careful when specifying pop-up units and screens.  These can be extremely expensive and have a limited service life.  In general, a well made table will long outlast the equipment you put in it.

When we work with a client, we always inform them if we have reservations about what they are asking for.  We have hard-won expertise in our field.  We offer that to you so that your clients will be happy with the project.

Core drilling

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In many of our projects, we’re contacted by the architect or general contractor to determine where wires should come out of the floor.  It’s not hard to figure out where we wish they were located.  In reality, it’s rare that the contractor is able to drill in the specified location.  There’s almost always something in the way.  That’s why we have ways of dealing with wires that aren’t where they should be.   Our project managers work with you and the contractors to identify when this is an issue, and then engineer the table to solve the problem.

Don’t you wish the big furniture manufacturers had the flexibility to deal with this kind of issue?  Since we make everything one piece at a time, it’s no trouble for us to do what is required for success.

Planning for the future

Think back 10 years, or 20 years if you’ve been around that long.  Did you correctly anticipate the new technologies before they showed up?  Did you know that USB-A would be replaced with USB-C?  That Ethernet would largely disappear from common use?  That integrated telepresence units would be a common part of sophisticated tables?  Of course not.  Nobody can see what new technologies will show up in the future.  But you also don’t want to be throwing away expensive tables every decade.

We’re used to thinking about these issues and future-proofing our tables.  Here’s some tips:

• It’s best to use equipment that allows for the plugs to be changed at will.  We prefer systems that consist of a plate with separate inserts (like those made by Extron).  These can be placed under a separate hatch, which is made to be part of the table top.  When the plugs you chose today are no longer needed, they can be switched with different plugs without ruining the table.
• It’s best to avoid integrated units that sit in a hole cut into the top of the table.  These are simple to install, but if they become obsolete then you can’t easily replace them without an unsightly scar on the table top.
• Always assume that change is on the way.

Nobody can guarantee that today’s solution will still be perfect in the future.  But thinking about how one would react to equipment changes is the first step to solving the problem.  As always, we don’t expect the project designer to master all of the tricks.  That’s what we’re here for.