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Plasma TV Installation Guide (2)
Installing a Plasma TV Wall Mount

Discover how to install a plasma TV wall mount - or in that case, any flat-panel TV - the professional way.

Panasonic TH-50PZ700U 50" 1080p Plasma HDTV

Wall Mounting Your Plasma Television set - a simple process but...

A great way to display your plasma TV is to mount your flat-panel television on a wall. Not only, this is a great space saver and ideal for spaces with small children running around. It is also an effective way of integrating that plasma television set with the rest of your room decor.

Thanks to the availability of plasma TV wall mounts, wall mounting a plasma television set is a relatively straightforward job.

Still, as expressed in the first part of our Plasma TV Installation Guide, the whole process should not be under-estimated. It is not as easy as it seems, and the person handling the job should still have an average level of DIY skills. 

For example, you need to be confident with operating an electric drill. You also need to know how to use properly a spirit level to level off the TV panel. Fixing your plasma TV wall mount perfectly level is critical - it would be hard to fix a poorly done job later, so re-check your measurements. After all, the only way to get a professional looking job is to work with precision.

Moreover, if you are after a professional job, you have to think about how to run and hide the AV cables and the power line. Again, this requires a minimum of DIY skills, but in general, it should be relatively easy if you are dealing with drywall. More on this in the first part of our Plasma TV Installation Guide.

Installing a Plasma TV Wall Mount

The level of DIY skills normally required to install a plasma TV wall mount may vary somewhat depending on the type of plasma TV mount in question. Normally, the whole process would require that you drill four holes, attach the mounting bracket to the wall with screws, and then lower the plasma TV into place.

The standard flat wall mount is the easiest to do it yourself. This is the plasma TV wall mount that takes up the least space - it adds no more than two inches to your plasma television set depth. If you have ever hung a bathroom cabinet, you can handle the job.

Tilted and articulated arm wall mounts add a bit more depth to the overall mount, but these mounts leave your interconnecting options open, as they will enable you to add more cables to support new gear later without having to remove the plasma display panel from the supporting brackets. With a fixed-flat type plasma TV wall mount, you have to remove the plasma television set every time you want to plug in a new device.

Once you decide on the type of plasma TV wall mount to employ, purchase your mount only from a reputable source and ensure that it fits your plasma TV. In particular, check that its load bearing capacity matches that of your plasma television.

Important: Irrespective of the type of mounting option you choose, ensure that the plasma TV wall mount you opt for comes with a VESA compliant mounting hole pattern.

This is the standard measurement for flat-panel TV mounts. Universal stands designed to fit various sizes normally come with multiple hole patters to fit the different screen sizes.

The VESA mounting standard includes the VESA 50, 75, and 100, while larger models may use the VESA 200. The number behind the VESA standard indicates the mounting hole pattern in millimeters. For example, the VESA 100 will have four holes placed at the corners of a 100mm by 100mm square. The exception is the VESA 200, which comes either in VESA 200x100mm, or VESA 200x200mm hole pattern.

It is true that plasma television sets are slim, BUT they are heavy...

As already indicated earlier on in this article, plasma television sets are relatively heavy - even substantially heavier than an equivalent screen size LCD TV. A 42" may easily weight over 90 pounds while a 50" plasma television set may easily exceed 100 pounds. This means that not all walls are suitable to take a plasma TV wall mount. If in doubt, either call professional assistance or use a pedestal stand.

In particular, if you are installing your plasma TV wall mount on a drywall, be sure to screw your mount into wooden studs, not just into the wallboard, otherwise your display panel will crash to the ground.

Alternatively, if your drywall makes use of metal frames, use the appropriate spring loaded fixtures for the job - ordinary self-taping screws are not safe enough to hold your TV.

In either case, always ensure that the fixtures you adopt penetrate the stud.

Once you find the studs, mark their location in pencil on the wall. Measure the vertical distance between the screw holes on the mount. Now it is time to decide on how high to mount your TV. Both the 'flat' and the 'swivel articulated-arm' plasma TV wall mounts are normally fixed such as to set the centerline of the plasma display panel at eye-level when seated. On the other hand, the tilted wall mount is usually set at a higher level.

After deciding on the height, mark in pencil where you will place each screw. Double-check that it will be level by using a spirit level or by measuring the distance from the floor up to each screw hole you have marked. It is crucial that you mount it perfectly level - it will be hard to fix a poorly done job later, so re-check your measurements.

Also, use heavy-gauge screws that are capable of taking the full load of the plasma display when screwing your plasma TV wall mount to the supporting wall. The best way to fix thick-gauge screws is to first drill a pilot hole; this is a hole slightly smaller in diameter than the diameter of the screws you are using. Attach the mount with the screws - check before tightening to ensure that it is perfectly level.

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Tip: Double-check the stability of your plasma TV wall mount. Once you fix the plasma TV mount in place, pull on it as hard as you can to make sure it is absolutely firm in place; do this before proceeding to hang on your plasma television set.

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Once your mount is in place, hang the plasma television set on the mount. You would need someone to help you hold the plasma panel till you manage to hang the unit in place.

Irrespective of the model and brand, the mounting process for a plasma television set is practically always the same. You first screw the back plate of your plasma TV wall mount onto the wall and attach the front plate to your flat-panel TV. Then all you have to do is to lower the plasma TV with the mounted front plate assembly (with the help of an extra pair of hands) in place into the rest of the wall mount. Models vary considerably, so make sure you follow the installation guides that come with both your plasma TV wall mount and your TV set.

More Plasma TV Installation TIPS!

• Recessed Installation: If you plan to recess your plasma television set to keep the screen flush with the wall, it is important to allow at least three inches of open space above the top of the unit - plus the necessary extra space on either side of the TV to attach the side speakers - if applicable in your case.
  
  In addition, ensure that the recess is deep enough to allow air to circulate behind the unit to avoid any overheating. Remember that ventilation is especially important with plasma television sets since these tend to get hotter than their LCD TV counterparts as a result of the higher power requirements. A 42-inch plasma TV may easily consume anything close to 400W as against the 250W to 300W required for an equivalent screen size LCD HDTV.

Note that while aesthetically, recessed installations are an interesting option, yet keep in mind that you are stuck with the size of the recess. In other words, you cannot upgrade to a larger plasma television set at a later date should you desire so.

• Finding Studs: In new houses, studs are generally placed 16 inches apart. Therefore, if you find one, you can look for one that far away. In addition, power outlets are usually placed adjacent to a stud, so look for a stud there.

If for some reason, you cannot locate the studs, get an inexpensive $20 stud finder - available from any hardware store.

For slightly more, you can get an all-in-one metal and wood stud finder and electricity cable locator. A great all-in-one product is the Zircon 60371 OneStep Stud Finder. It sells for under $30 and includes auto depth sensing, auto re-calibration, and even an integrated erasable marker to make it easy to mark the spot for anchoring without removing the tool from the wall.

For more information on the Zircon 60371, click either on the image above or the link here: Zircon 60371 i65One-Step stud finder

Safety First

• The biggest concern when installing a plasma TV wall mount is buried electricity wiring in the wall. Be careful not to drill or screw into any wiring. The best way to work safely is to get an inexpensive electricity cable locator - usually available from hardware stores. The Zircon 60371 i65One-Step stud finder referred to above is also capable of finding buried electricity cables.

• It is true that plasma television sets are slim, but as stated earlier on, they are very heavy. If you are not sure of your DIY skills, or in doubt about the load bearing capacity of your wall, call professional assistance.

A Final Recommendation

You have mounted your plasma television set in place - yet there is still one more thing you have to do: Adjust the various settings on your plasma TV for the best viewing experience. The best way to do this is to invest in a good set-up DVD. 

A great calibration disc we used to recommend is the AVIA Home Theater Set-up DVD, an exceptional AV calibration tool for both the novice and the expert. This disc is being replaced by the Avia II, an updated version with dozens of new calibration tools and additional information on the latest HD technologies.

Another interesting TV calibration tool that comes in an HD version is the Digital Video Essentials HD, but this is more suitable for advanced users.

For more information on set-up discs, check our Guide to Home Theater Set-Up DVDs.

Now that your plasma television set installation is complete, all that remains is to sit back, relax and enjoy the show!

Additional Plasma TV Installation Guides available under this section:

Where to Place and How to Hang Your Plasma TV
Discover how to select an optimal place for your plasma television set, explore alternative mounting options, and learn how to mount the plasma display panel in its new environment.

Installing a Plasma TV over the Fireplace
Mounting a plasma over the fireplace is a great way to display your new flat-panel TV.

Wiring Solutions for Flat Panel TVs - Superb Home Theater Wiring Channels
The Superb Home Theater wiring solution concept is easy home theater installation.

For details on available flat-panel TV mounts, please check also our LCD TV Mounts Guide; the info contained in this guide applies to both plasma television sets and LCD HDTVs. To access the full range of available flat-panel TV mounts at amazon, please follow this link: Plasma TV Wall Mounts

 

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