Home audio & video: Is it safe to mount a flat screen over my fireplace?
- 2/27/09 2:41 PM
Mounting a flat screen over fireplace
by southerncat - 2/21/09 6:27 PM In reply to: Is it safe to mount a flat screen over my fireplace? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
That's got to be a judgement call on your part. Ask yourself two questions.Does the area where you're placing the screen get hot enough to cause a delicate piece of electronics to malfunction? Do you have the funds available to have it repaired/replaced if it did get that hot just once?
out of the loop
by Philcokid - 4/18/09 2:02 AM In reply to: Mounting a flat screen over fireplace by southerncatI guess I'm just out of touch; I don't get the whole aesthetic thing about having a TV mounted above a fireplace; the idea is just totally lost to me.
A fireplace has its own charm and its own place in the house/home. And so should the TV. I've seen pictures of TV's mounted over fireplaces in Home Theater and other magazines and while this arrangement seems to be very popular, questions and concerns continue to rise regarding this set up as evidenced by the very existence of this forum.
It's been my experience that most TV's (my own included/Sharp 36" Aquos) look best in a darkened room; I can't imagine watching a movie or show with the dancing flames within 'eyeshot'! It would seem to me that to have a light source (of any kind) that close to the TV would affect the overal picture quality (contrast/brightness) although I've heard some say that the fire does not affect the picture at all. This I have difficulty believing. I have a chandelier that I dim to darken the room and the picture sparkles. The slightest increase in light tends to 'dim' or 'dull' the picture. Even in a movie theater, if the lights are slow to dim when the movie begins, inevitably, the crowd will quite vocally 'inform' those in charge.
How could a light source, in this case a fireplace, underneath a TV screen not have an affect on the picture quality? Both are within your line of sight so both are competing for your eyes' attention, so to speak. Then there is the noise factor. Some fires can be noisy, popping and crackling even when burning low. I would find that quite distracting and annoying but that's just me.
Then there are the questions and concerns that so many people raise in reference to potential damage to the unit from heat and gasses from the fire or chimney. No matter how much heat from the fire enters the room, the immediate area surrounding the fireplace will be a few degrees warmer and that would include directly above the mantel.
I guess it still comes down to the old sayings, different strokes for different folks/to each his (or her) own, etc. I like my TV to have its own special place and space in my home; I don't have a fireplace but I can assure you, if I did, there wouldn't be a TV anywhere near it!
I know I haven't offered any help or solutions but just wanted to weigh in. Good luck!
LCD over Fireplace
by ProToolsGeek - 2/21/09 6:42 PM In reply to: Is it safe to mount a flat screen over my fireplace? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
If your fireplace is vented outside I wouldn't worry about it. Just make sure you keep the fan on. I have a gas fireplace and the top vent is about two feet below the mantle. It doesn't get hot up there. I wouldn't do this with a wood fireplace, however, since LCD screens love to attract dirt.
How I Mounted Samsung LN52A550 LCD Over Fireplace
by bucknut87 - 2/22/09 4:20 AM In reply to: Is it safe to mount a flat screen over my fireplace? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I read before starting this install to take a temp. reading when fireplace burning full blast. I did exactly this on our gas fireplace, max temp. was 77F. Onto project....I put the fireplace in 11 years previous and thought it would be too high, so I actually cut down mantel and top plate about 6" (this hurt, but necessary), now a height of 52". I have a fireplace chase that is hollow and we installed all a/v components and a PC into cavity. We are using a remote extender to control all components (except PC). My son who is very tech savvy set up PC with DVR, DVD, digital and analog tuners, bluetooth capability to control PC. I then installed front L/R and center speakers into this cavity above TV and made my own custom speaker grille. Also ran rear speaker wires into crawl and up to a kneewall (loft area) and installed speakers into wall, again custom made speaker grilles. I also mounted my sub-woofer into fireplace chase. I ran all wires through back of TV directly into this cavity and installed doors over the cavity. The results....no wires or speakers are showing ANYWHERE! The sound is great, even with sub-woofer enclosed. We can browse the internet while watching TV, watch a digital or analog broadcast at the same time (split screen), use the DVR, all by using the PC with the bluetooth keyboard and mouse. My son is awesome at this type of setup, he spent a great deal of time with the PC install, software and working out the glitches. Were running Windows Media Center that controls everything perfectly. The PC actually found/captured many extra channels on my cable we didn't even know existed! The remote extender works well to control everything with one remote. I am planning to post pics of the install when I get a chance. This install took a lot of extra work to do right, but was well worth it. When someone comes over they are quite amazed at the sound that seems to come out of no where! I have to say when the PC is the input, the picture is stunning and very sharp! We sit about 15-20 foot away and I can read the text everywhere on the desktop without my glasses! This TV also has a very good tuner, we are getting only 3-4 bars on signal strength (working on that), yet get a very good digital pic with very infrequent pixelation. We live in the country and do not have a set-top box. I should say that this room was begging for this upgrade, as it perfectly suited for it. If you're room is suited for it, I would do a temp. check first and go for it!
It depends on if its ventless or vented gas logs
by Jim Morris - 2/22/09 6:26 AM In reply to: Is it safe to mount a flat screen over my fireplace? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
You said your fireplace is gas. What you did not say was whether the gas logs are ventless or vented. With vented gas logs, almost all of the heat goes up the chimney. With vent free gas logs, the flue is closed and all the heat boils up out of the fireplace and rises directly up and over the mantel. I speak from experience here, as I have a set of vent-free gas logs in my own fireplace, and the mantel gets quite hot.
If your fireplace heats the room significantly, then it is vent free set, and I would highly recommend against putting an expensive TV up there. In my own case, the fireplace is an old all brick masonry fireplace with brick chimney, and the mantel above the fireplace gets very hot. Things on the TOP of the mantel stay cool, but the mirror we have over the fireplace gets hot a couple of feet above the mantel - I would say up around 120F or so when the logs have been on a long time.
As an electrical engineer who designs LCD computer displays in my current job, I highly recommend against putting the TV up there unless you either have vented logs, or just don't use the fireplace much. As others have stated, heat is not a friend to electronics, plastics, or LCD panels. And it is certainly not a friend to plasma displays, that run very hot on their own, without help from a fireplace.
Jim in Huntsville, Alabama
Should not be a problem !
by de3king - 2/27/09 7:18 PM In reply to: It depends on if its ventless or vented gas logs by Jim MorrisI dont know about the person that says his mantel gets hot , he does have a problem ! BUT , In any case _ I've had my flat screen for just over 3 years now hanging over my mantel without any problems what-so-ever . I'm burning ventless gas with no blower and no heat problems at all ! GO FOR IT ! If you have a mantel , it will stick out beyond the TV to protect it from direct heat !
Need to ventilate even if you have ventless logs
by Karenwms - 2/28/09 3:27 AM In reply to: It depends on if its ventless or vented gas logs by Jim MorrisI was told by a fireplace shop that even if you have ventless logs you should open the flue slightly and you will not have a problem with any heat coming up and over the mantle. Good Luck.
Recommended height for viewing is much lower
by rfowler64 - 3/16/09 4:50 AM In reply to: It depends on if its ventless or vented gas logs by Jim MorrisAt first, above the fireplace seems to be an attractive choice.
The recommended height is the center of the screen at eye level.
Do you plan on watching TV from a bar stool?
El_Rojo
Yes
by javaverses - 2/22/09 7:42 AM In reply to: Is it safe to mount a flat screen over my fireplace? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
These days builders are installing outlets above fireplaces for flat screens, so I's say its pretty safe. I wouldn't recommend cutting into the wall to install it for 2 reasons. 1) You would need to make sure that the TV could receive adequate ventilation if you do that. 2)You will have a hole in the wall. How long do you plan to live in the home? Chance are you probably replace your TV more often that you move, and is it really worth fixing sheet rock?
Better hang on to your old CRT TV
by senginc - 2/22/09 8:20 AM In reply to: Is it safe to mount a flat screen over my fireplace? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
If you want to watch SDTV without your eyes hurting from the blurred images you need a CRT TV.
Fixed pixel flat panel TVs do a poor job of translating standard TV shows (represents probably 80 % of my TV viewing).
Has anyone found a flat panel TV that can compare to CRT quality for SDTV?
(NT) yes.Pioneer plazma do excellent job on any signal type
by tomera69 - 2/28/09 6:49 AM In reply to: Better hang on to your old CRT TV by senginc(NT) Pioneer has halted all production of televisions permanently
by WarriorMan256 - 2/28/09 12:36 PM In reply to: (NT) yes.Pioneer plazma do excellent job on any signal type by tomera69Sony XBR CRT
by Philcokid - 2/28/09 1:07 PM In reply to: Better hang on to your old CRT TV by sengincmy understaning is that plasma are the closest we can get to CRT in terms of picture quality: resolution, angle of view and non-smearing of fast moving images!
My Sharp Aquos does a very decent job of analog broadcasts. I sit about 10' from the screen which produces a 720p resolution. Keep in mind that different channels tend to have different broadcast quality. If you can find an old Sony XBR CRT widescreen (that weighs a ton), you can get HD and standard with excellent picture quality. The problem is finding this hughmongus sets!
Flat Screen TV.
by montdor1 - 2/22/09 8:37 AM In reply to: Is it safe to mount a flat screen over my fireplace? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
The answer is really a question, "How much did you pay for it?" because you're going to need another one! Most likely at least. If a lot of heat is transferred to your flat screen, it can melt! It's just a specialized (transitorized) piece of plastic. You may have a plasma FS. I don't know. If so, the advice is the same.
Would you put a box of baggies on your mantle then leave the house?
If not, then move your monitor elsewhere (assuming that's easier than moving your fireplace!(jk)). I don't think we have developed very good heat shields that include shielding hot air currents. Maybe the space shuttle can give you a hint of the danger of heat to electronics. Electronics and heat are like mortal enemies. Unless you've got some ceramic tiles below and in front of your FS, something will fail. Heat dissipates, it spreads itself out (evenly, eventually) to all that is less energetic (hot) than itself, to cool(ness). This process, a part of the infamous physical law of entropy, is unstoppable. Heat will diffuse to cool. Again, definitely move your monitor or tv. May I suggest not hanging it on the wall? That makes it much easier to place. Good luck to you.
You may be able to test this yourself.
by DougC-3 - 2/22/09 9:00 AM In reply to: Is it safe to mount a flat screen over my fireplace? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I haven't had personal experience with this, but here are some thoughts while you're waiting for some one to come along who has. Since you are not burning a real coal or wood fire, which could produce very large and unpredictable amounts of heat, the problem may be simple.
Display manuals usually list the maximum operating temperature in their specs. Just place a thermometer on the wall in the area where you plan to install the flat screen TV. Thermometers that will record maximum (and minimum) temp are pretty inexpensive and readily available at places like Target and Walmart. This would be handy, but any air temp thermometer will do.
Just place it on the wall where you plan to put the display and fire up the heater until the room gets, for example, maybe somewhat hotter than you would normally have it. To be safe, I would leave it like this for two or three hours and take note of the highest temperature the thermometer registers. Then check the specs of some of the flat panels you have in mind and see how the max operating temp compares to your thermometer readings.
Also, if the wall itself gets too hot, you could mount the thermometer away from the wall an inch or so with cardboard or styrofoam and see how it reads; and, likewise, you would probably want to make sure air can circulate behind the monitor when you mount it.
I don't think you would have to worry about the gasses coming from the heater, because they should be going up the chimney, and would be more dangerous to you than the TV in the first place.
I really don't see how anyone could give you a simple yes or no answer without knowing what sort of a heater you have, unless the display has a very high maximum operating temperature (my Samsung 40- inch lists 104 degrees F). Some such heaters, for example, are designed to radiate heat from a metal fireplace and mantle, which would produce more heat above than a normal fireplace and mantle.
If you'll allow me to "geek out" for a second, as we learned in 7th grade science class, there are three types of heat: convection, conduction, and radiant. Here we would be mainly worried about the convection heat, that is, the air temperature. However, if your wall is getting hot, conduction heat would come into play, but this could be avoided by standing the unit away from the wall to allow air to circulate behind it. Radiant heat would not come into play, since there would be no line of sight from the fireplace to the display (unless you have one of those antique metal mantles).
Long story short, I think the answer is probably yes 
| Forum legend: | |
 |
Locked thread |
 |
Moderator |
 |
CNET staff |
 |
Samsung staff |
 |
Norton Authorized Support team |
 |
AVG staff |
 |
Windows Outreach team |
 |
Dell staff |
 |
Intel staff |
