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Advice on wall-mounting a flat panel

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  • #1

    Advice on wall-mounting a flat panel

    After a couple of years, I'm finally ready to wall-mount the TV in my media room, and could use a bit of friendly advice. I'm reasonably good with tools/drywall/home repair, but probably not quite up to the level of a few on here. I have a few thoughts:

    1. Any thoughts on type of mount? It's a 50-inch plasma (Panasonic in make).

    2. What are people's preferences re running cables behind the wall instead of using a paintable plastic hider? I would only have to run two HDMI cables, one YRG component and one power cable - although I do understand that I should probably make sure all the cables that go behind the wall are up to code. Any thoughts on mechanisms?

    3. Any other all-purposes tips, other than don't drop the TV?
    Awesomeness now has a name. Let me introduce myself.
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  • #2
    Originally posted by nikuman View Post
    After a couple of years, I'm finally ready to wall-mount the TV in my media room, and could use a bit of friendly advice. I'm reasonably good with tools/drywall/home repair, but probably not quite up to the level of a few on here. I have a few thoughts:

    1. Any thoughts on type of mount? It's a 50-inch plasma (Panasonic in make).

    2. What are people's preferences re running cables behind the wall instead of using a paintable plastic hider? I would only have to run two HDMI cables, one YRG component and one power cable - although I do understand that I should probably make sure all the cables that go behind the wall are up to code. Any thoughts on mechanisms?

    3. Any other all-purposes tips, other than don't drop the TV?
    Obviously, running the cables behind the wall is more work if you have to open up the wall. I personally wouldn't worry about it, provided I had good structure to support it in the place that I wanted to put it. If you have to add structure anyways then I'd run the cables in the wall.

    I'll be doing this same thing this summer (if I get to it) so I'll be interested in hearing ideas on the brackets.
    Dio perdona tante cose per un’opera di misericordia
    God forgives many things for an act of mercy
    Alessandro Manzoni

    Knock it off. This board has enough problems without a dose of middle-age lechery.

    pelagius

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    • #3
      Originally posted by pellegrino View Post
      Obviously, running the cables behind the wall is more work if you have to open up the wall. I personally wouldn't worry about it, provided I had good structure to support it in the place that I wanted to put it. If you have to add structure anyways then I'd run the cables in the wall.

      I'll be doing this same thing this summer (if I get to it) so I'll be interested in hearing ideas on the brackets.
      It is no bigdeal and doesnt require any drywall work unless you want a recessed box. I ran cables behind the wall by using remodel gang boxes. I put a ganbox down below on the wall, which only required a studfinder, a sheetrock saw (I sued a dremel like cutting tool) and then the same thing behoind the TV mount. My TV is on a swivel/swing mount so I put the box behind and below it and then zip tied the cables ot one of the arms of the TV mount. No mess and very clean.

      Cut the two holes and then drop the cables down then feed them into the boxes and then attach them to the back of the plates and so forth. If you have a bit of blocking between studs you could have a problem, but I checked for that with my stud finder so I had a pretty good idea I would not have any obstruction. Any decent electronics store will have what you need fopr parts. I got everythign at home depot (the remodel gang boxes) and Fry's.

      If you are going to have a pernmanent nonswivel/swing mount, you can make it easier on yourself by using a grommet intended to run cables through a desktop. Just cut a hole to fit in the wall above and below and use the grommets to finish the hole and then you run your cables direct from compnent to TV. This is better becaus eit avoids more cable connections but it also leaves the wall open. It is not noticed if the TV does nto move, but it is seen if the mount swings or swivels.

      This was a stream of consciousness post and if it make sno sense and if you want more detail, let me know. It is an easy project. Just don't drop the TV.
      Last edited by creekster; 02-08-2010, 10:08 AM.
      PLesa excuse the tpyos.

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      • #4
        Buy the mount and any cables here: http://www.monoprice.com/home/index.asp

        Best prices I found anywhere.

        For the rest I have yet to work that part out still.

        Comment

        • #5
          Originally posted by BigPiney View Post
          Buy the mount and any cables here: http://www.monoprice.com/home/index.asp

          Best prices I found anywhere.

          For the rest I have yet to work that part out still.
          I agree. Do NOT buy a wall mount from an electronics store.
          Ain't it like most people, I'm no different. We love to talk on things we don't know about.

          Dig your own grave, and save!

          "The only one of us who is so significant that Jeff owes us something simply because he decided to grace us with his presence is falafel." -- All-American

          "I know that you are one of the cool and 'edgy' BYU fans" -- Wally

          GIVE 'EM HELL, BRIGHAM!

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          • #6
            Originally posted by falafel View Post
            I agree. Do NOT buy a wall mount from an electronics store.
            I bought mine at costco, where I bought my TV. But, if I find a better one on the web site for less money I can always take the mount back, right?
            PLesa excuse the tpyos.

            Comment

            • #7
              Originally posted by creekster View Post
              I bought mine at costco, where I bought my TV. But, if I find a better one on the web site for less money I can always take the mount back, right?
              No comment.
              Ain't it like most people, I'm no different. We love to talk on things we don't know about.

              Dig your own grave, and save!

              "The only one of us who is so significant that Jeff owes us something simply because he decided to grace us with his presence is falafel." -- All-American

              "I know that you are one of the cool and 'edgy' BYU fans" -- Wally

              GIVE 'EM HELL, BRIGHAM!

              Comment

              • #8
                I posted a long time ago about me installing the flat panel in my office here: http://www.cougaruteforum.com/showthread.php?t=6580

                It is stupid simple. If it is on an interior wall, even easier. I originally ran the cable channel and it looks like crap. I think I spent $32 dollars total (not including the mount).
                "I can get a good look at a T-bone by sticking my head up a bull's a$$, but I'd rather take a butcher's word for it". - Tommy Callahan III

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                • #9
                  I ran the cables through the wall on my tv and it looks 10x better. I orginally ran a conduit pipe for the cables when I was working on that wall anticipating a new tv. What I didn't account for was the wide heads on the HDMI cables and couldn't feed them through. My TV is above the fireplace on an exterior wall with insulation, so it was a bit more involved. If your TV is being mounted on an interior wall, it will be a breeze. Just follow the monkey's advise and you can't go wrong. I am happy with how mine came out...now I just need a bigger TV to match the width of the mantle
                  I'm your huckleberry.


                  "I love pulling the bone. Really though, what guy doesn't?" - CJF

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by BigPiney View Post
                    Buy the mount and any cables here: http://www.monoprice.com/home/index.asp

                    Best prices I found anywhere.

                    For the rest I have yet to work that part out still.
                    Thanks guys, and especially BigPiney. I ordered my stuff from this website and should be installing my TV this Saturday.
                    Awesomeness now has a name. Let me introduce myself.

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                    • #11
                      I got my mount from Costco, mounted it myself, and have had no problems with it. For a couple of reasons, partly related to laziness, I didn't go into the wall. I don't like the looks of those plastic wall-cover thingies, so we just have the TV a couple of feet above a small cabinet that holds the DVR, DVD player, etc. On top of the cabinet, we put a decorative basket that goes up to the bottom of the TV, and the wires just run behind the basket. You can't see them at all, and I preferred placing a basket on the cabinet to running the wires through walls.

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                      • #12
                        So I did the install today. Slick and easy. One of the easiest projects I've ever done, and makes a HUGE difference in my media room. I should have done this months ago. Only snag was that the mount kit I got from monoprice.com had the wrong size washers - a few pennies fixed that one.

                        I did have a major trial with a new digital dimmer I was trying to install. Turns out that the dimmer was faulty - once I got a new one, everything worked out fine.

                        I did forgot to take before and after pics.
                        Awesomeness now has a name. Let me introduce myself.

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