| It's no doubt that if you've purchased, or are | | | | Also consider the lengths and quality of wire you will |
| considering purchasing a flat-panel Plasma or LCD TV | | | | require. In most cases, lengths won't be an issue if |
| that you've thought about mounting it to the wall. Many | | | | everything is in the same room, but if your lengths start |
| people start off with placing their Plasma or LCD TV | | | | to become very long, you should take the time to find |
| on a stand with the hopes of wall-mounting it later. | | | | out if there's a maximum recommended length for |
| Why would you want to wall mount your TV? Well, | | | | your cables, especially when you're talking about 1080p |
| besides the fact that it looks really cool, it's a huge | | | | HDMI. |
| space saver and really opens up the space in your | | | | Also, if you're connecting your equipment with an HDMI |
| room. We'll tell you what you should consider before | | | | Cable, consider some method of securing your cable. |
| making your decision, then how to go about it once | | | | This may be anything from using a wire tie to secure |
| you decide. | | | | your HDMI Cable to the Mount so that it removes |
| Some things to consider before you make the decision | | | | stress from your cable and helps keep it from falling |
| to wall mount your Plasma or LCD TV are: | | | | out, to using a Locking HDMI Cable or Universal |
| 1. Where will you mount your TV? 2. Where will you | | | | Locking Adapter which attaches to your HDMI Input |
| place your equipment such as cable or satellite box, | | | | and locks your HDMI Cable in place, as well as |
| AV Receiver, DVD player, Line Conditioner, etc. 3. | | | | eliminating stress on your HDMI Input. |
| How will you route the wires from your TV to your | | | | 4) How will you get power to your TV? |
| equipment? 4. How will you get power to your TV? 5. | | | | If you're running all of your cables outside of the wall, in |
| What type of wall-mount will you use, and what things | | | | most cases you can run the power cable inside of |
| do you have to consider when mounting it? 6. Can | | | | your molding and plug it into an outlet, or we |
| you, and should you do the job yourself? | | | | recommend using a quality surge protector or line |
| We'll go over these issues one at a time, and at the | | | | conditioner. If you will be running your cables inside the |
| end of this article, you'll know everything you need to | | | | wall, I recommend having an electrician install a |
| know to make your decision and proceed with your | | | | surge-protected outlet, such as ones made by |
| plan. | | | | Monster Cable and Panamax, behind your TV so you |
| 1) Where will you mount your TV? | | | | can safely plug your TV into an outlet, and at the |
| The first step is deciding where you will mount your | | | | same time protect your Plasma or LCD TV from |
| Plasma or LCD TV. Of course, this will depend on the | | | | damaging surges and electrical spikes. Click here to |
| layout of the room, but you should decide a few things | | | | see blueechoav.com's selection of in-wall surge |
| before proceeding. You must consider things like | | | | protectors. You should also avoid running your cables |
| where the critical viewing seats will be, if you'd like to | | | | alongside high-voltage lines, as they can introduce noise |
| be able to watch the TV from different areas in the | | | | into your sound and picture, taking away from your |
| room or just a central seating area, what type of light | | | | experience. |
| do you have in the room, what's behind the wall where | | | | 5) What type of wall-mount will you use, and what |
| you'd like to mount it, and where the rest of your | | | | things do you have to consider when mounting it? |
| equipment will be. | | | | There are many very high quality brands of mounts |
| Once you determining your viewing area, you can | | | | available, and we recommend that you take the time |
| decide which wall you'd like to place the TV on so that | | | | to research to find the right mount for your TV. Most |
| everyone can see the TV comfortably. Ideally, the TV | | | | mounts are fairly universal, but we recommend |
| shouldn't be mounted too high as it will be | | | | confirming that the mount will work for your TV before |
| uncomfortable viewing if you have to tilt your head up | | | | you purchase it. Most of the better mount |
| to watch the TV. You will have to balance this with | | | | manufacturers like Sanus Systems, Chief |
| your room's aesthetics, and may be willing to make | | | | Manufacturing, Peerless and OmniMount will have |
| some sacrifices. In many rooms, having a TV mounted | | | | mount finders on their websites, which allow you to |
| on an empty wall at the perfect level might look funny | | | | find the right mount for your model TV. Quality mounts |
| in the room, so most people will mount the TV higher | | | | such as mounts from these companies are |
| to make it look better on the wall. An ideal height for | | | | manufactured using the best materials and engineering, |
| your TV would be to have the center of the TV at | | | | and they provide you with features such as cable |
| eye level when seated. It might be a good idea to | | | | management, one touch adjustments, and they offer |
| make a cardboard cutout the same size of your TV | | | | very flexible mounting options for off-center mounting, |
| so that you can visualize it on the wall. If you decided | | | | etc. |
| to mount your Plasma or LCD TV higher than that, you | | | | The most common types of mounts available for your |
| should use a tilt-mount. That's a mounting bracket that | | | | Plasma or LCD TV are flat mount, tilt mount, |
| allows you to tilt your TV vertically so that you can | | | | articulation mount and motorized mount. You can also |
| more comfortably view your TV. | | | | find ceiling mounts, desktop mounts, even a motorized |
| If your viewing area is very wide, or if you'd like to be | | | | under-bed mount, but we'll just talk about the basic four |
| able to view the TV from another room then you will | | | | here. Flat-mounts are the lowest profile mounts, |
| use an articulating mount. Besides being able to tilt your | | | | typically around 1 inch deep from the wall to the back |
| TV vertically, you can extend your Plasma or LCD TV | | | | of your TV. These mounts have no options for |
| away from the wall and turn in left or right up to 90 | | | | adjusting your TV, so once your TV is mounted, it |
| degrees, depending on your mount. These also come | | | | cannot be moved from that position. Tilt mounts are |
| in motorized mounts now, so you can do this with the | | | | usually 1.5 to 2 inches deep, and allow you to adjust |
| touch of a button. An example of when this would | | | | your Plasma or LCD vertically, usually up to 10 |
| come in handy if you have your TV mounted in your | | | | degrees, up or down. These are great when your TV |
| family room and you want to be able to watch your | | | | is mounted higher or lower than the optimal viewing |
| TV in your dining area. You will be able to rotate your | | | | height. |
| TV so that it's facing an adjacent room so you will | | | | Articulating mounts and motorized mounts allow you to |
| have no problem viewing it. Another great reason to | | | | adjust your TV vertically or horizontally. Mounts are |
| use an articulating mount is that if you're watching TV | | | | available that allow you to turn your Plasma or LCD |
| in a very bright room, you can adjust your TV at | | | | TV 90 degrees left or right. These mounts are usually |
| different times of the day so that it minimizes the glare. | | | | very massively built, as they have to support the |
| You should also find out what's behind the wall you | | | | weight of your TV while it's extended away from the |
| intend to mount your Plasma or LCD TV to, and make | | | | wall. They also will have the most space between the |
| sure there are at least two studs to mount to. If you're | | | | wall and the TV, usually 4.5 to 6 inches. This can be |
| mounting if above your fireplace, I recommend having | | | | eliminated by using an in-wall mounting box available |
| a contractor or installer inspect the area to make sure | | | | from many manufacturers for their mounts. These |
| it's safe. Most gas fireplaces will cause no problems, | | | | in-wall recessed boxes allow your TV to sit flat |
| but many brick fireplaces will be very difficult to mount | | | | against the wall when fully collapsed, and still allow you |
| your TV too, and provide nowhere to run cables. If you | | | | full adjustment of your TV for optimal viewing. These |
| decide that this is where you're going to mount your | | | | mounts are also great for bright rooms as they allow |
| TV, please have someone experienced with this take | | | | you to adjust the viewing angle of your TV depending |
| a look before you begin any work. | | | | on the time of day and how the light is hitting your TV |
| 2) Where will you place your equipment such as cable | | | | screen, making for much less glare in bright rooms. The |
| or satellite box, AV Receiver, DVD player, Line | | | | motorized mounts allow you the same adjustments, |
| Conditioner, etc. | | | | but from your remote control. Pretty soon you'll never |
| It's important to think about where your Plasma or LCD | | | | have to get up from your couch again! |
| TV will be in relationship to your equipment such as | | | | I have a few strong recommendations when |
| your cable or satellite box, Audio Video Receiver, DVD | | | | purchasing an articulating mount. If your TV is on the |
| Player, etc., because you will need to run cables | | | | high side of the recommended range, go for the next |
| between your TV and your equipment. This will | | | | mount up. For example, if you have a 50 inch Plasma |
| determine how difficult it will be to run wires, whether | | | | TV, and you have the option of an articulating mount |
| it's in the wall or out of the wall, the type and length of | | | | with a range of 42 to 50 inches, or the next mount up |
| cables used, if you will need to add an infrared | | | | is recommended for 50 to 60 inches, go with the 50 to |
| repeater or radio frequency repeater system for your | | | | 60 inch mount option. I've seen far too many cases |
| remote control, and what type of surge protector you | | | | where someone is on the high range of the mounting |
| will use. | | | | option, and over time the mount begins to sag and |
| You really have a lot of options when it comes to | | | | make very loud squeaking noises when adjusted. Even |
| where you will put your equipment, but generally the | | | | though it works and will support your TV, you will not |
| farther away from your TV, the more involved it will | | | | be happy if your TV starts to sit on your wall and is |
| be. For example, many HDMI cables have a maximum | | | | crooked, or sags when pulled away from the wall. |
| recommended distance that the cable can carry a | | | | Also, if you're not sure you'll use it, but you think you |
| 1080p signal. Anything longer than that you'll need to | | | | might want the ability to turn your TV, invest in the |
| have boosters or converters. For many people, since | | | | articulating mount. If you get a flat or tilt mount, and |
| the purpose of wall mounting your Plasma or LCD TV | | | | later decide you want to turn it, you're stuck without |
| is to eliminate cluttery, they will place the equipment in a | | | | that capability. Last recommendation, make sure you |
| closet or hidden in a cabinet. This will require creative | | | | allow enough cabling to extend with the TV. |
| wiring and will also require that you take measures to | | | | Otherwise, your cables will come unplugged every |
| enhance your remote control, otherwise you may not | | | | time you pull your TV away from the wall, or they will |
| be able to change channels or control your system. So | | | | limit your range, neither of which is a great option. |
| for practical purposes, it's generally easier if your | | | | 6) Can you, and should you do the job yourself? |
| equipment is close to where you will mount your TV. | | | | Mounting a TV to the wall is not a difficult job. Running |
| 3) How will you route the wires from your TV to your | | | | wires in the wall can be more difficult, and can actually |
| equipment? | | | | be dangerous if you're dealing with high voltage cables. |
| Either way, you'll have to make some connections | | | | We recommend that you have your TV professionally |
| from your TV to your equipment. If you decide to run | | | | installed, especially if you're running cables in the wall. |
| the cables out of the wall, I'd recommend using a | | | | I've seen many installs go wrong by do it yourselfers, |
| molding to conceal your wires. These are hollow plastic | | | | and they end up costing much more to fix or replace |
| mouldings that have double-sided tape on the back so | | | | equipment than if they would have paid a professional |
| they stick to the wall, and you can run cables inside of | | | | to install it. |
| them to conceal your wires. They can usually be found | | | | With that said, I realize that many people will still tackle |
| at your local hardware store or an electrical store. | | | | this themselves. Mounting the TV is an easy process. |
| They are also paintable so they will do a pretty good | | | | Usually the mounts come in two parts, the main |
| job of concealing your cables. If you are going to place | | | | mounting plate, which attaches to the wall, and the |
| a stand below your TV or close to your TV, these are | | | | mounting plates which attach to your Plasma or LCD |
| a good alternative to running your cables in the wall. | | | | TV. The Plasma or LCD TV with the brackets |
| If you will run the cables in-wall, there are many things | | | | attached is then usually hung onto the wall plate, and |
| to consider. First of all, you should check with your | | | | secured with the provided hardware. All of the major |
| county to make sure that all of your work is being | | | | mounts I've worked with provide very good |
| done according to your county's regulations, and | | | | instructions, but I'll give a few things to watch out for. |
| whether or not a permit is required. This can be an | | | | Make sure that you find the center of the stud when |
| important factor when you want to sell your house, as | | | | attaching the wall plate, and make sure that you span |
| well as if there is ever an issue where you will need to | | | | at least two studs for larger Plasma or LCD TVs. |
| make a claim with your insurance. Many installers will | | | | When hanging the TV to the wall plate, make sure that |
| do things that can cause problems for you down the | | | | you have two people to lift the TV. Be sure you know |
| road. For example, many installers will run your AC | | | | what's behind your wall before you start drilling or |
| power cord in the wall from your TV to either an | | | | cutting into your drywall so you don't accidentally cut |
| outlet or a surge protector. This is unsafe and violates | | | | into a high voltage line, or gas or water pipe. |
| building code, and in the event you had a house fire, | | | | If you're running cables in the wall, you should have an |
| this might cause big problems getting your insurance to | | | | electrician install an outlet behind your Plasma or LCD |
| cover things. Also, you should use UL/CL3 rated | | | | TV. You should also plan how you will run your cables, |
| cables inside the wall. These are rated to be safely | | | | and make sure that your cables are the right cables to |
| ran inside the wall. Many cables that are not UL/CL3 | | | | run in-wall. This should help you plan where you will |
| rated can contribute to a fire, so you should not use | | | | mount your Plasma TV or LCD TV, as well as exactly |
| those. | | | | what you need to do the job. |