Chief Chief CMS006 black column

Chief CMS006, 15 cm fixed extension column

Sometimes just a few centimetres can throw off an entire installation: a lens aimed too high, a projector pressed against a ceiling soffit, an image spilling beyond the screen’s frame. This Chief column adds around fifteen centimetres between the ceiling-mounted plate and the mount holding the device. It is a simple aluminium part, threaded at both ends, that serves as a link in an installation assembled component by component.

A threaded tube fitted between ceiling components

The CMS006 is an aluminium tube measuring 15.2 cm long and 48 mm wide, weighing 450 g. Both ends have a 1.5-inch NPT thread, with a nominal diameter of 3.81 cm. NPT is an American tapered thread standard originally used in piping: the thread tightens as the part is screwed in, and the connection becomes firmer on the final turn. This thread is the common interface across the entire Chief range of plates, columns and suspension accessories.

On one side, the column screws into a ceiling plate or a Chief accessory with the same thread; on the other, it accepts the projector mount. Chief groups these columns under the Speed-Connect name, which refers to this direct screw-in connection, without a flange or intermediate part. The hollow body allows HDMI cables and the power cord to run inside it to the device, so nothing hangs between the ceiling and the projector.

Lowering the image by around fifteen centimetres

The most common situation involves a projector without lens shift (or with a limited shift range), whose image needs to start right at the screen’s top edge. Without a column, the device mounted directly to the ceiling projects too high and the image ends up outside the frame; keystone correction is then required, at the cost of reduced resolution. Physically lowering the lens solves the problem at its source.

The 15 cm also help keep the device clear of a beam, soffit or suspended-ceiling enclosure that would obstruct the beam or ventilation. In a room with a low ceiling, the short length is an advantage: the projector drops just enough without intruding into the line of sight or walkway. The same column can be used with Chief ceiling mounts for flat-panel displays that use this thread.

The 15.2 cm is the total length of the tube, including the threads. Each end screws into the adjoining part, so the actual drop gained is slightly less: it is worth taking this into account when measuring.

A load capacity to consider alongside the rest of the installation

The column supports up to 226.8 kg, a figure far beyond the weight of a home projector, which ranges from a few kilograms to around twenty for large home cinema models. This figure reflects the safety margin of the part itself. The capacity of a complete installation remains that of its weakest link: the projector mount, the plate and, above all, the ceiling anchoring, which requires a different approach in a concrete slab than in plasterboard.

The CMS006 is certified by TÜV and UL, two organisations that check the mechanical safety of mounting equipment. It is manufactured in the United States.

One length in a whole range of columns

Chief offers fixed columns from 7.6 cm to 1.83 m, all with the same thread, allowing the installation to be adapted to the ceiling height without changing the plate or mount. The CMS006 sits at the lower end of this range. When the final height is not known in advance or requires adjustment to the nearest centimetre, the range also includes adjustable columns, including a 15 to 23 cm version. The fixed column has no adjustment collar to lock: once screwed in, its length stays unchanged.

Technical Specifications

Dimensions

• Length: 15.2 cm
• Thread diameter: 3.81 cm

Performance

• Maximum load capacity: 226.8 kg