Wall Mounting A TV

[cabinetman]

We're getting U-Verse this week and we decided to upgrade our second TV to an LCD HD TV. The first set (Prima L3217) is about 2 years old, and we can't find the book. We have to hang that TV. I looked on the back and there's no evidence of much that could be considered "structural", to attach to a bracket.

The only real support is the mount for the stand. We're going to take a picture of the back and that stand support and when we go to the store to get the new set, and we'll look at some universal brackets. It's possible the set is not made to be wall mounted. I'm thinking if push comes to shove I'll make a french cleat.
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[LCHIEN]

We're getting U-Verse this week and we decided to upgrade our second TV to an LCD HD TV. The first set (Prima L3217) is about 2 years old, and we can't find the book. We have to hang that TV. I looked on the back and there's no evidence of much that could be considered "structural", to attach to a bracket.

The only real support is the mount for the stand. We're going to take a picture of the back and that stand support and when we go to the store to get the new set, and we'll look at some universal brackets. It's possible the set is not made to be wall mounted. I'm thinking if push comes to shove I'll make a french cleat.
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I think most all TV have standardized mountings now specified by the EIA (electronics Industries of America trade group)

Check with your stores like Best buy, I think you will find standrd wall mounts available.

[crokett]

I put a flat panel on the wall in our bedroom last month. There were holes in the back that the mount screwed into. The mount had a lot of different holes in it - the instructions basically said to find the ones that fit your TV.

[bigstick509]

Check out this link, it should cover anything that you may need to know.
http://www.ergoindemand.com/lcdarms_jm_tech_vesa.htm

[Uncle Cracker]

Hung a half-dozen sets in the last couple of months... various brands. Nowadays, the bolt patterns on the back are standardized (sort of) by size. One fuzzy area is 26" sets. Some "universal" mounting brackets that claim to mount 17- 26" sets simply won't... You have to go to a larger bracket (usually for 26-42" sets) on many 26" TV's. You also have to match the bracket to the TV by weight, as well as size. As opposed to articulating-arm type brackets, the flat-to-the-wall brackets are pretty easy to mount; there are two major pieces, one for the TV and the other for the wall. Once mounted to their respective surfaces, they pretty much just snap together.

[jbrain]

The BEST place to buy brackets is Monoprice. (Plus cables, wires, etc.)

http://www.monoprice.com/home/index.asp

[JimD]

There is a pretty good article in a FHB recently. It did not talk about brackets much, however. I do not know if you are hooking the TV to other stuff but if you are, it could be worth a look. The recommended an outlet over top of the bracket on the wall for the power but also the wire in/out. They put a flexible conduit into the wall to run down to the cabinet that would hold the Blu-ray and receiver.

One neat trick they showed is putting the Low voltage wiring and the 120V in the same box by using a divider. I didn't know that was up to code but apparently, at least according to FHB, it is.

Jim

[iceman61]

We're getting U-Verse this week and we decided to upgrade our second TV to an LCD HD TV. The first set (Prima L3217) is about 2 years old, and we can't find the book. We have to hang that TV. I looked on the back and there's no evidence of much that could be considered "structural", to attach to a bracket.

The only real support is the mount for the stand. We're going to take a picture of the back and that stand support and when we go to the store to get the new set, and we'll look at some universal brackets. It's possible the set is not made to be wall mounted. I'm thinking if push comes to shove I'll make a french cleat.
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I thought the same thing about the structural aspect of hanging flat screen TV's when they first came out. You look at the plastic back of the tv & think there is no way. The structural aspect (steel framing) is on the inside.

If you look at the back, I'm fairly certain you will find 4 holes that are intended for mounting. They will be arranged in an array called VESA (vesa 100, 200 etc.) Take some centerline measurements on the hole locations. This will correlate to a particular VESA pattern that the mount you get will need to cover, along with weight restrictions as UC pointed out. Be creative & hide those cables in the wall instead of having them hanging out in the open & you will be proud of your project.

[mpc]

Any chance of finding the owners manual online at the manufacturer's site? Most have that info, or at least some info on recommended wall mounts, where the wall mount screws go, etc.

Very few TVs made in the last several years do not have "VESA Standard" compatible fittings. Look for 4 screw holes with metal-post/standoff type of nuts inside the holes. Often they're clustered near the bottom/center of the TV - not near the edges/corners like you'd expect. And quite commonly near the structure the stand attaches to as well. I just hung a 58 inch Panasonic for a friend... the holes were about 6 inches apart. Ever pick up a bar-bell by gripping only the center of the bar instead of spreading your hands? Many flat screens mount that way. Looks like a stupid way to design it... but it does work. A different brand (don't remember it now... it's been over a year) had the holes near the bottom and very close to the center - not spaced apart at all. I couldn't believe that's what the manufacturer intended - we actually took the back plastic off the set to verify these holes went into metal beef.

Most wall mount kits will come with about two dozen screws: different diameters, different lengths, and a handful of spacer sleeves so you can match them up to your TV: "VESA Standard" isn't too standardized yet. Wall mounts come in several flavors:
* Horizontal box with two vertical brackets. Usually this tilts so you can aim the TV downwards a little. This is what we used on the first TV I did a year ago.

* Models similar to the above except the vertical brackets mount to a gimbal or other pivot so you get both tilt (up/down) and rotate (left/right) capability.

* Models with a folding articulated arm. These are handy for wiring/cable changes to the TV - you just pull the whole bloody thing a foot or two out from the wall. Because of the arm, left/right rotation is a given, most have a tilt axis at the TV end of the arm as well. CostCo sells such a gizmo, it's what I used on that big plasma.

Most flat-screen wall mounts start with a simple horizontal rectangular frame (to span 2 wall studs) with a center portion that moves left/right so you can position the TV somewhat independently of the studs. The brackets attach to this center piece. Some use big metal dowels, running horizontally, and you slide the TV left/right on those to position it on the wall.

Things to watch for when selecting a mount (based on my two-TV experience):
* Where are the VESA mount holes for your TV? Mostly how close are they to the various cable connectors. See if you'll need to have the cables connected BEFORE the TV is mounted; sometimes there isn't enough room to get your hands in there once it's on the brackets or wall. You may need 90 degree angled connectors for some stupidly designed sets too. If the cable connectors are inside/between the VESA mount points, it'll be extra-hard to reach them. For poorly placed connectors, consider the articulating arm style mounts.

* Verify the stud material in the wall: wood studs or the more rare metal studs. Most wall mount manufacturers require the wood studs; getting solid attachment to the metal studs (and not having them flex/bend from TV weights since, unlike kitchen cabinets, the TV isn't resting against the wall surface) is more difficult. Going into brick+mortar? That can be done... with the right fasteners. Some wall mount kits even come with the necessary bits. The online manuals available for some mounts will specify if they'll work with brick and if they include the necessary fasteners.

* The distance between the wall and TV back varies from mount to mount. Keep that in mind especially for the family's interior decorator... "wall mounted" may not end up quite what they had in mind. For a true "TV flush to the wall" look you generally have to inset the mounting bracket stuff into the wall like a bathroom medicine cabinet.

When assembling the wall mount, part of it goes on the wall, part of it attaches to the TV. Then you lift the TV and snap the parts together typically. You'll need a helper to lift the TV of course; often a 3rd person to actually line it up and snap it into the brackets.

Use masking tape, blue painters tape, whatever, to outline the TV on the wall before you mount it. Sit in your viewing chairs/couches and verify:
* It's not too high. Many people hang TVs like pictures - at eyeball heights when they're standing. That's too high for comfortable viewing from the couch.

* Check for window light/glare at various times during the day. If that wall gets blasted by sunlight at all, it may wash out the picture or glare... a mount that rotates left/right can help relieve some of this glare. LCDs are typically brighter than plasmas so they suffer less from this issue. Better window curtains/coverings may be necessary.

mpc