LX2160 Owner's Manual Revised July 29, 2019
Page 8 800.445.7846 · www.electro-mech.com
PLANNING YOUR SCOREBOARD INSTALLATION
A good plan is important to the success of any project, and installing shot clocks is no
exception. An important first step in planning for your shot clocks is determining the
optimal location. Key factors here are visibility and accessibility.
By "accessibility" we mean the ease with which you can get people, equipment, cabling,
etc. to the shot clock displays during installation, as well as ease-of-access for future
service. If you position the clocks so that using a lift or ladder to reach them is
impractical, you will almost certainly add cost to the installation and to service calls.
By "visibility" we mean the ease with which spectators, participants, and the operator of
the shot clocks can see the displays. Most shot clock displays are mounted on the
structure supporting the basketball goals, although it is also common to mount them on
walls or other structures. Because every sports facility is unique, there is no one-size-
fits-all way to describe the perfect shot clock location. We can tell you that the vertical
placement of the displays should be high enough to give spectators a clear line of sight
over the heads of players but low enough to allow fans to glance up from the game and
check the time without straining their necks. For safety, you will want to keep the
bottom of the cabinets at least eight feet above the floor (to prevent people from
smacking their heads against them).
For some indoor facilities, it is important to make sure people cannot – accidentally or
intentionally – interfere with the shot clock displays or cables connected to them. For
example, indoor shot clock cabinets are sometimes mounted along the front facade of
balcony seating. This can make it tempting for fans to reach over the balcony and touch
the display, snag a cable, drop a soda on it, or otherwise make a nuisance of
themselves. One solution would be to install a shield above any display in this position.
If you are planning for the construction or renovation of a new facility, then you will likely
have more options for locating your shot clock displays. In addition, you may be able to
choose helpful positions for electrical outlets, plan for conduits, and control other details
that will make installation, operation, and service easier. Your scoreboard sales rep
should be able to answer questions and offer advice that will help you with these plans.
If you are adding this shot clock set to an existing facility, your options may be more
limited. In some cases, we can modify the shot clock cabinets to meet special needs.
An example of this would be accommodating power entry through the back of the
cabinet rather than via the standard power cable on top. These sorts of details must be
worked out prior to the release of a scoreboard order. Your sales rep can guide you
through the process.
The sections that follow in this document primarily discuss the details of the mechanical
and electrical installation of a single set of shot clocks. If your project includes multiple
clocks, scoreboards, or other electronic displays, please check with your scoreboard
sales rep to make sure you have any project-level documentation you may need.
