CDL Rigging Sling and Grid: Safe Flown Speaker Hardware FAQ

Quick answer

If you are suspending CDL loudspeakers, the hardware choice follows the box count and array model, not personal preference. Use the CDL12P Rigging Grid for two or more arrayed CDL12P boxes, the CDL10P Rigging Grid for two or more arrayed CDL10P boxes, and add the CDL12P Rigging Sling once a CDL12P vertical array reaches four or more cabinets. If you are using the CDL Rigging Extension Bar with a tilt of 12 degrees or more in either direction, the sling is mandatory regardless of box count.

Which rigging grid do I need for my CDL array?

Match the grid to the loudspeaker model. The CDL12P Rigging Grid is the required suspension interface when two or more arrayed CDL12P loudspeakers are flown, and the CDL10P Rigging Grid does the same job for two or more arrayed CDL10P loudspeakers. Each grid supports a vertical array of up to six CDL loudspeakers of the matching model. If you are flying a single box, the grid is not the trigger — but the moment a second arrayed cabinet joins the hang, the grid becomes part of the required suspension path. Ordering the wrong grid for the model you own is the most common planning mistake, so confirm the loudspeaker model before you buy hardware.

When is the CDL12P Rigging Sling required?

Two separate conditions make the CDL12P Rigging Sling mandatory. First, any installation that includes four or more CDL12P loudspeakers in a vertical array requires the sling. Second, if the CDL Rigging Extension Bar is deployed with an upward or downward tilt of 12 degrees or greater, the sling must be used — even if the array has fewer than four boxes. The sling is not an optional accessory for those configurations; it is part of the specified suspension. If your design falls under either condition, include the sling in the bill of materials from the start rather than adding it after the array is assembled.

Can I mix CDL12P and CDL10P cabinets in one flown array?

The supplied catalog facts describe the grids and sling in terms of their matching model: the CDL12P Rigging Grid is required for arrayed CDL12P loudspeakers, and the CDL10P Rigging Grid is required for arrayed CDL10P loudspeakers. The published information does not describe a mixed-model suspension configuration, so treat a mixed CDL12P/CDL10P hang as an open question that needs verification before you fly it. In practice, that means planning separate arrays per model unless you have written confirmation from the manufacturer or a qualified rigger that a mixed configuration is supported. Guessing here is not worth the risk.

What should I verify before the array leaves the ground?

Work through the suspension as a system, not as a list of parts. Confirm that the grid matches the loudspeaker model, that the box count is within the six-cabinet vertical array limit stated for each grid, and that the sling is present if the array has four or more CDL12P cabinets or if the extension bar is tilted 12 degrees or more. Then check the attachment points, the extension bar angle, and the load path against your rigging plan. Because the catalog does not supply working load limits, shackle sizes, or motor specifications, those numbers must come from the manufacturer documentation or a qualified rigging professional — not from assumption.

Rigging FAQ quick checks

Grid model match

CDL12P cabinets need the CDL12P Rigging Grid; CDL10P cabinets need the CDL10P Rigging Grid. Each grid supports up to six loudspeakers in a vertical array. Confirm the loudspeaker model on the hang before ordering hardware.

Sling triggers

Add the CDL12P Rigging Sling when a CDL12P vertical array reaches four or more cabinets, or when the CDL Rigging Extension Bar is tilted 12 degrees or more up or down. Either condition alone makes the sling required.

Mixed-model arrays

The supplied facts describe grids per model and do not cover a mixed CDL12P/CDL10P suspension. Get written confirmation from the manufacturer or a qualified rigger before flying a mixed array.

Load limits and motors

Working load limits, shackle ratings, and motor specifications are not included in the catalog facts. Source those numbers from official documentation or a rigging professional, not from guesswork.

Hardware facts at a glance

• CDL10P Rigging Grid: The CDL10P Rigging Grid is required when suspending two or more arrayed CDL10P loudspeakers, and up to six CDL10P loudspeakers can be suspended in a vertical array. If your hang uses CDL10P cabinets, this is the grid that makes the suspension compliant — and six boxes is the published ceiling for a single vertical array.
• CDL12P Rigging Sling: The CDL12P Rigging Sling is required on all installations that include four or more CDL12P loudspeakers in a vertical array, and it must also be used when the CDL Rigging Extension Bar is deployed with an upward or downward tilt of 12 degrees or greater. Two independent triggers make the sling mandatory, so a three-box array with a steep extension bar tilt still needs it. Plan for the sling before you finalize the array design.
• CDL12P Rigging Grid: The CDL12P Rigging Grid is required when suspending two or more arrayed CDL12P loudspeakers, and up to six CDL12P loudspeakers can be suspended in a vertical array. This is the grid that pairs with CDL12P cabinets. Using it with the wrong model, or exceeding six boxes in the vertical array, falls outside the supplied specification.