How To Install a Flat-Panel TV
- June 10, 2008
- 2,178 Views
Contributor
Chris_Kish
How the heck do people get those fancy flat-screen TVs to hang on the wall? It’s not as difficult as you think.
You Will Need
- A flat-panel television
- Mounting brackets
- A hammer
- A drill
- A cloth (optional)
- A stud finder (optional)
- An electrician (optional)
- No electrican, get a PowerBridge
Step 1: See if your TV is VESA compatible
See if your TV says it’s VESA compatible, meaning it conforms to the guidelines established by the Video Electronics Standards Association. If so, it will work with standard mounting hardware. If not, consult your manual for guidance.
Step 2: Buy mounting brackets
Buy mounting brackets. Consider getting brackets that are adjustable after they are installed; you will want to be able to change the angle of your television not only for the best view, but also to more easily hook up other components such as DVD players and video game systems.
Hang the TV so that the top is eye level with someone standing and the bottom is eye level with someone sitting.
Step 3: Find the wall studs
Find the studs — the solid structural elements in your wall — so that you don’t anchor your expensive television to a flimsy section. To find the studs, tap along the wall with your knuckles or a hammer covered with a cloth. You will hear a higher-pitched knock when near or on a stud, and a hollow-sounding knock when between them.
Electronic stud finders are available at hardware stores.
Step 4: Figure out where to drill
Determine the size of the hole you’ll need to make in the wall behind the television so that you can hide the wires. Be sure to factor in all the wires that will be connected to your TV now and in the future — cable, a DVD player, and so on. Hold up your TV to make sure the hole will be entirely hidden.
Before running power cables through your wall, consult building and electrical codes in your area. You might have to have an electrician install an outlet behind your TV. It is against all electrical and fire codes to put the TV power cord or any extension cord inside the wall.
OR
Do it your self with installing a PowerBridge kit
Step 5: Plan the second hole
Plan a second hole near the floor beneath the TV and/or near the closest outlet (if your wires can extend that far).
Step 6: Drill the holes
Triple-check the position of your holes — then make them with a drill bit.
Step 7: Attach the brackets
Attach the mounting brackets according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Put the brackets on the TV before you take them off and attach them to the wall; this will help you see which way they should face when you hang them.
Step 8: Thread the cords
Gather the cords that you will need to hook up to the television and thread them — plugs first — through the hole behind where the screen will be. Try to guide them straight down towards the second hole so they will be easy to grab and pull through. Just be aware not to put the TV power cord in the wall.
Step 9: Hang the television
Attach the television to the mounting brackets. Many TVs will simply slide onto the brackets, but read your instructions for specifics.
Step 10: Check the brackets
Make sure the brackets are holding the television securely. If you have adjustable brackets, make sure that the television will swivel from right to left or up and down — or both.
Step 11: Sit back and enjoy!
Sit back and enjoy the show!
The best distance from which to view a flat-panel TV is roughly three times the diagonal length of the screen.
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