Knowledge Base General - Ball Sizes
Ball Sizes
There are five different sizes of RAM® Ball components; each determined to support the following weight capacities:
Naming Conventions
| Ball Size | Naming Convention | Examples |
|---|---|---|
A Size | RAM-A-______ | Diamond Plate: RAM-A-238U |
B Size | RAM-B-______ | Diamond Plate: RAM-B-238U |
C Size | RAM-______ | Diamond Plate: RAM-238U |
D Size | RAM-D-______ | Round Plate (Large): RAM-D-202U |
E Size | RAM-E-______ | Round Plate (Large): RAM-E-202U |
Common Applications
| Device | Ball Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Camera | B Size (Light Duty) | |
Fish Finder | C Size (4" - 12" (30.5 cm) on Boat or Kayak) | *Hi-Torq™ Wrench required for 12"-16" (40.6 cm) units |
GPS | B Size | |
Handheld PC | B Size (Light Duty) | |
Monitor | C Size (Small Monitors, Light Duty) | *Steel reinforced post version of mount recommended |
Phone | B Size | |
Printer (Mobile) | C Size | |
Radio | B Size (Handheld Radios) | |
Scanner Gun | C Size | |
Tablet | B Size (Small Tablets, Light Duty) |
When to use A Size
The A Size ball is not commonly recommended because it costs more to manufacture but does not support as much weight as the B Size ball. The A Size ball is sometimes preferred when holding a very small-light weight item that is not as bulky as the B Size ball & socket system, such as a low profile security camera.
When to use E Size
The E Size ball is not commonly recommended because it typically supports large enough devices that are not in need of the unique adjustability that the RAM® Ball & Socket system offers. For most mobile terminals and rugged tablets that require modular mounting, the D-Size ball is sufficient. The E Size ball is sometimes preferred in military applications, where devices of this weight capacity require unique mounting in vehicles that cannot be achieved with other components.
Steel Reinforced Post
The necessary ball size in a given application will depend on the overall weight and environment. Typically if one mount is desired but the weight of the device is beyond the weight capacity of the ball, it is recommended to upgrade to the next size ball to support the weight. However, upgrading the size of the ball can be costly, and the weight of the device may be questionably close to the original size ball's weight capacity. In these instances a steel reinforced post version of the ball base can increase the weight capacity of the ball by ~1 lb (454 g), which can be sufficient to support a slightly heavier device without needing to upgrade the entire mount.
