CineStarPanel™ Installation & Specifications

CineStarPanel™ Star Ceiling Panel Design and Installation Tips

Click here for a pdf file with complete installation instructions.

We start with reinforced fiberglass master sheets of 4' x 8' x 1" and will cut to fit your project - singles, or multiples to evenly fill your ceiling area, plus custom areas with radius cuts and other special shapes available to suit your setting. You can easily field cut the panels for speakers above, "can" lights, projector poles, air vents and the like, plus you can tap on the edges if the fit is a bit too snug.

CineStarPanel™ 2' x 2' and 2' x 4' panels can be made to fit standard "T-grid" suspended ceilings. However, ceiling grid systems are not recommend for rooms with audio systems, as they vibrate with sound. We also no longer offer domes, as they're a parabolic dish that gathers and focuses sound from the room to directly below the dome - not at all good for proper sound quality. 

We use Rotofast anchors (click here for info), as they make for quick, simple installs that any handy person can do in no time. No side, or overhead access is needed for installation, as the panels install straight up to your ceiling, even into coffered areas. A screwdriver and an Allen wrench to install the anchors, plus 2 people with 2 step-ladders, are all that's needed to quickly install the panels - they're lightweight, but bulky, so 2 people are needed. The Rotofast anchors even self-level the panels for a perfect, virtually seamless installation. We also offer Cloud Anchors for suspended star panel installations.

CineStarPanel™ Power, Wiring and Install Tips

Powering Star Panels: You need to to plug our provided 12 volt power transformer with 3-prong cord into a switched outlet in your equipment stack, or mechanical room, or whatever area works best for your setting. Do not dim, as it’s a transformer that needs constant AC. You can use a standard wall switched light outlet, or the best is to use a switched AC Outlet Module from the remote control company you use so the on and off is already programmed into the remote.

You may also want to connect the power supply to a triggered power strip that you may already use to power up your AV electronic equipment stack. You can install a recessed switched AC outlet above the star ceiling location with a light switch on your wall to turn it on and off, but recessing the @ 7" x 4" x 2" transformer with 3- prong power cord will take quite a bit of ceiling space and the transformer gets a bit hot, so this is the least desirable power method – plus a transformer in the ceiling probably won’t meet local building code requirements.

Pre-wiring Star Panels: Pull one Cat5/6 from your equipment stack, or a mechanical room/head-end, to anywhere above the star panel area. This will power the whole low voltage panel area, plus run power and control signals for our optional LED accent lighting. Leave plenty of extra cable at the panel end, so it can drop down from the ceiling and easily attach to the top of the star panel area when it's resting on 2 step-ladders - attaching the one to the center of any panel,

Connect the Cat5/6 wire from our power supply to the first star panel and we provide the power jumper cables to then simply connect panel to panel (dasly-chain). If you're considering multi-color remote control accent lighting near the star area, that's also handled through the single Cat5/6 wire you've pulled. CineStarPanel™ products don't require licensed electricians to install , as they use low-voltage 12 volt DC power, enabling easy installation and very efficient, dependable operation.

Installing Star Panels: click here for our installation guide and it's important to install the Star Panels last in your setting, otherwise you will be getting on a step ladder and using a lint roller to remove dust and any particles in the air from the panels. They are best installed in a finished room with usually a painted drywall ceiling that meets all code requirements. We can also suspend panels by a few wires for unusual ceilings and coffered areas, as our panels are light-weight and don't require load-bearing support.

Installation Parts: we use Rotofast anchors (click here for info), as they make for quick, simple installs that any handy person can do in no time. No side, or overhead access is needed for installation, as the panels install straight up to your ceiling, even into coffered areas. We provide the poking tool and Allen wrench to install the panels, plus you'll need 2 handy people with 2 step-ladders - that's all you need needed to quickly install the panels. They're very lightweight, but a bit bulky, so 2 people are needed to install. The Rotofast anchors even self-level the panels for a virtually seamless installation. We also offer Cloud Anchors (click here) for suspended star panel installations - contact us for details.

To field cut star panels for protruding objects, as you’re installing the panels, mark the location of the protrusion on the upper side of the panel. Remove any fibers in the area and use our poking tool to re-insert them elsewhere in the panel. Then carefully cut only the 1” Fiberglas for the measured opening with a sharp non-serrated knife or box cutter, making sure not to cut the fabric below. Then, make an “X” in the fabric below and fold the 4 fabric flaps up into the opening, gluing them over the top of the panel to create a finished area, using a light adhesive spray, such as 3M Super 77 spray. You can also field cut for speakers and air vents, but you leave the fabric intact and reinsert the fiber strands through the fabric, after cutting only the Fiberglas on the panel.

To field cut star panels that are slightly larger than the installation area, you first “un-rap” the fabric on the side that you need to shorten. Mark the new line to cut on top of the fiberglass panel and remove and re-locate any fiber optics in the area. Being careful not to nick any fabric, cut to the new size with a sharp non-serrated knife or box cutter. Then re-wrap the fabric over the top with slight tension, using a light adhesive spray such as 3M Super 77 spray to tack the fabric back over the top of the panel edge..

Star Panel Accent Lighting Options

A great framing idea is to use standard wood molding attached to the ceiling around the Star Panel area to create the illusion of having a framed skylight with the night sky in a window above. We can also provide spacers for an inch clearance between the ceiling and the molding and we then cut and pre-attach our Remote Control Multi-Color LED Lighting package on the top of and panel area, bathing the LED light around the ceiling near the panels lip of the molding, casting an indirect glowing colored light to bathe accent lighting on the ceiling around the panel perimeter. With each of our many control options, you have color selection and dimming capabilities, so you can create sunset and sunrise effects with the accent lighting, plus change to a myriad of colors, intensity levels and automated fades from color to color.

Another great idea is to surround the CineStarPanel™ ceiling area with a cove or wood molding with accent lighting facing up into the panel perimeter to create the illusion of cloud horizon, bathing the outer edge of the panel area with color using our multi- control dimmable multi-color LED light strips. You need the strips down at least 3” below the panel perimeter, with an attached horizontal perimeter “lip” that’s at least 2” in from the molding, or cove. Mounting the light strips 4”-5” below the panel perimeter creates a larger, but dimmer, horizon effect. Call 612-243-1000, or Contact CinemaShop.com for more options, discount package prices on CineStarPanel™ products, or for more creative layout ideas.

Star Panel Accent Lighting Package

We offer high-quality RGB Multi-color LED light strips carefully selected for bright lighting and long life. We pre-cut and install the strips around either a 4' x 8', 8' x 8', or whatever panel area we create for you. We can also pre-cut and solder the strips to fit the upper lip of your molding surrounding the panel and ship for you to easily install on-site with double-stick tape. Package also includes the matching power supply, any needed voltage amps, lighting controller with IR remote, RF remote, RS-232 Controller, or our exclusive Wi-Fi Controller with AndroidŽ or AppleŽ iOS control app. Call 612-243-1000, or Contact CinemaShop.com for package pricing and for more accent lighting options.

 

 

CineStarPanel™ Warranty Information

With purchase of our star panels, there is a 1 Year Manufacturer’s Warranty. This guarantees that any products with defects in materials and/or workmanship will be repaired or replaced by the manufacturer for a period of 1 year from the date of purchase. During this warranty period, the manufacturer will replace or repair any defective parts and correct any defect in workmanship without charge for parts and labor. For warranty labor, contact us, as any reimbursement must be pre-approved by us before proceeding. We will not cover any warranty labor that has not been pre-approved and performed by a qualified provider. For this warranty to apply, the products must be installed and used in accordance to its written instructions. Damage to, or destruction of any product caused by the end user is not covered by this warranty. Additionally, normal wear and tear are not covered by this guarantee.

Shipping Damage is Not Covered under this Warranty. All shipments received by you that seem damaged, must be noted to the freight carrier, then refused and returned to the address on your shipping label for claim processing. You must report any damage claims immediately so that the party responsible for the damage can make amends. We will not be held responsible for any shipping damage and you may have to claim freight damage with your own insurance company, if you do not note it with the shipping carrier.

We will not be liable for any implied warranty or merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose to any person other than the original purchaser and user. Under no circumstances will the manufacturer be liable for property damage, economic loss, or any consequential damages sustained in connection with the purchase and use of any products. Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, or do not allow the exclusion of limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations or exclusions may not apply to you. The manufacturer neither assumes nor authorizes any representative or other person to assume for it any obligation or liability other than such as is expressly set forth herein. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which may vary, from state to state.

CineStarPanel™ Specifications:

We use Guilford of Maine cloth to cover our CineStarPanel™ products - click here for specifications.
Each panel draws 12V and 2.5W, or @ 0.2 amps max. Note: Panels with a shooting star contain two (2) CineStarPanel™ control boards with LED light sources and will increase the panel another 2.5W, for a total of 5W. Multiple shooting stars per panel add an additional 2.5W per pattern. Our CineStarPanel™ control electronics are all UL certified.

• UL fire rated material.
• UL certified control board electronics.
• Realistic Starry Night effect.
• Consists of a simple anchoring system (included with purchase).
• Optional Shooting Stars are usually a 5' on a single panel, or an 8' across 2 panels.
• Optional LED Accent Lighting effect with sunset effect, morning sky effect, etc.
• Optional star constellations, plus the big dipper are very popular.

Optional Anchorage Fabric Colors for the CineStarPanel™

Note: Colors will vary from screen to screen, call us for fabric swatch samples for an exact color match - 612-243-1000 Monday-Friday 9 am to 5 pm Central Time.

Click for larger samples.

Red Delicious Onyx Slate Amber Pumpkin Pine Needle
Midnight Quarry Blue Wolf Willow Straw Angora
Aubergine Mulberry Cobalt Eucalyptus Green Olive Goose
Cumin Deep Water Henna Asteroid Sea Vanilla
Graphite Sunshine Coffee Bean Geranium Thistle Green Apple
 
Goldenrod Poppy Fossil Lapis Birch  

 

Optional FR701 Fabric Colors for the CineStarPanel™

Click for larger samples.

Wheat Wedgewood Baltic Crystal Blue Grey Mix Medium Grey
Quartz Aquamarine Rose Quartz Opal Cherry Neutral Apricot Neutral
Green Neutral Vanilla Neutral Blue Neutral Black Silver Neutral Lavendar Neutral
Claret Accent Cinnabar Pumice Amethyst Buff Blue Spruce
Eucalyptus Ultramarine Sienna Pearl Bayberry Chrome Green
Bleu Papier Bronze Silver Papier Blue Plum Verte Papier Deep Burgundy
Straw Bone Dune Cement Mix Terra Lilac
Violet Light Moss Leaf Lake Stream Desert Sand