How to Wall Mount Your Plasma TV
You have just bought a new Plasma TV or you are thinking about purchasing one, but youre just not sure whether to buy a nice Plasma Television stand or Wall Mount it. Its a big decision and can really affect how large a TV you purchase. The larger the Plasma TV the harder it will be to Wall Mount it. On the other hand a wall mounted TV looks great and is perfect if space is an issue. We will help you decide if you want to wall mount your Plasma TV and explain what you need to do in order to Wall Mount your Plasma TV. If you need to purchase a Wall Mount for a Plasma TV check our are great selection of Plasma TV Wall Mounts.
 

So here are few questions to ask yourself before you decide whether to wall mount your TV or buy a Plasma TV stand:

1. How much space do you have in the room where the Plasma TV will be?

2. How much wall space do you have in the room where the Plasma HDTV will be?

3. Do you have kids or pets, would it be easier and safer if the Plasma TV was wall mounted?

4. Can you mount the Plasma TV yourself or will you need a Professional, can you afford the cost?

Those are the main questions to think about before you decide to wall mount your new TV or just buy a nice look Plasma TV stand. So lets take talk about the questions one at a time.
 

Space for your Plasma TV:

This is pretty easy, if your new Plasma Television is going into your family room you probably have space to either wall mount it or use a TV stand. On the other hand wall space may not be so available. Depending on the layout of your family room a chimney, mirror or shelves may really limit your wall space. Remember that the Plasma Television is only one part of your Home Theatre System. Dont forget about the HD DVD Player, Sound System, VCR, and Gaming Systems. So you will need to have a place to store these devices that is fairly close to the TV system.
 

Kids and Pets and Plasma TVs:

We all know that kids love to run around and once in awhile have a few accidents. A wall mounted Plasma Television is a great way to eliminate that worry. The last thing you want is for that new TV to come crashing down breaking the TV or hurting someone. In truth most Plasma TVs are pretty steady and most TV stands will prevent an accident, but there is no guarantee the TV will live through it. as for pets; dogs and cats both love getting into small spaces and sometimes love to chew on anything available. This is definetly an advantage of wall mounting a Plasma TV.
 

Installing your Plasma TV, you or a professional?

Installing a wall mounted Plasma TV is not the simplest thing in the world. You do need to have some knowledge to do it and some do it yourself skills. If your planning on hiding the wires to your AV connections and power cable you will have to be able to run cables. The good news is that many new houses have these connections and power outlet built into some of the walls. Another option is to have a professional come in an install your Plasma TV this costs about $300.00. You might want to check out some reviews on the installer before you hire one. Nothing worse than having that beatiful Plasma TV hanging on the wall and find out the connections dont work. So its up to you if you like doing things yourself go for it, if you want it done quick a professional is the way to go.
 

Actually Installing your Plasma Television:

So youve decided to wall mount your Plasma TV. Here are couple tools you need:
  • Stud Finder - extremely important that you find the studs to install it. worth the $20 for one remember that TV cost $1,000.
  • Wall Mount Kit - make sure it matches your TV size
  • Laser Level - make sure its straight, its very annoying to watch a crooked TV.
  • People - 2 people to help you lift the TV, 3 even better.
  • Electric Drill with screw attachments for mounting
  • Instructions for the wall mount - PLEASE read them.
  • Pencil - Mark the studs
  • Fish Tape - used for running cables (if applicable)
  • Outlet boxes - If your running cables.
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Preparation for Wall Mounting your Plasma TV

First you need to purchase the wall mount for your Plasma TV and ensure it fits. Check out this article that tells you how to find the right wall mount for your Plasma Television. Make sure you get a wall mount that will successfully handle well above the Plasma TV weight, I usually look for 4x the weight. Then PLEASE read the instructions for the wall mount you only have one shot to get everything right. Measure twice and drill once as they say.

 

Drilling for the Wall Mount

Use the stud locator to find the wall studs where you are going to hang the Plasma TV. This is the most important part of the process make sure you find a stud. Your TV will just fall down if it is just hung by dry wall only. When you find the center of the stud make sure to mark it with your pencil. Studs are normally either 16" or 24" apart. Newer houses are normally 16", but use the stud finder to check it. Power Outlets are normally located near studs so this can help you find one as well.
 
Now you need to decide how high you want the Plasma TV to hang. This is where having some extra people around can be useful. Having two friends hold up the Plasma Television so you can get a good look on how high you want to the TV. Dont mount the Plasma TV too high it is tempting to mount it at picture level, but a lot of people prefer watching it more at eye level. Usually this means the center of the TV is 40-45 inches off the floor. Another way to check is use your old TV stand and place the Plasma TV on it is that too short you can always add a few books under it and see how it looks then. Another option is to cut out the shape of the TV from cardboard and then tape it to the wall to get an idea of what it will look like.
 
When you decide on the height you need to remark the center stud. Then measure the vertical distance between the screw hole on the mount and mark those on the wall as well. Double check the marks by using your Laser Level to ensure it will be mounted level. Once again measure twice and drill once, it is very difficult to redo if your only off by little bit, unless you are willing to move the Plasma TV higher or lower.
 
When your installing you should be using big screws usually 1.5" screws. These should come with the Wall Mount may not in all cases. You will now need to use your drill to start a pilot hole. Just like your normally would compare the screw to the drill bit and choose 1 size smaller than the screws. Make sure you dont dril into any wires while your drilling take it slowly. Some high end Stud finders include the ability to detect live wiring.
 

Wiring for your Wall Mounted Plasma TV:

Before you install the wall mount you probably want to cut a hole behind the TV to run the wires for the AV and power connections. The beautiful look of mounted TV can be ruined by wires running down the wall. Running wires does take some know how and can be a little difficult the first time. Heres a link to a detail explanation on how run cables in your house. Basically you will need to use your fish tape to run the wires through the walls. It is not the easiest thing to do but once you have completed you will love the look and you would have learned a new skill. Just be careful not to mess with any other wiring while your doing.
 
If you decide to run cables then buy high quality cables that prevent interference. Also make sure you have the right size of AV and power cables. You do not want to run out of cable in the middle of running wires. Its good to future proof your installation by including additional cables you may need it will save you money at the end of the day. This could include having 2 HDMI cables a DVI cable and all the cables you need. Check out Buying Plasma TV guide for list of connection types with pictures.
 
If you add power outlets andor Data Cable outlets (av) you should position them above or below the TV bracket, but of course still behind the Plasma TV. I recommend below, but it really doesnt matter where you place them. Remember that the power outlet boxes must have closed back which you can buy at any hardware store. Low voltage cables like A/V connections can use outlet boxes with an open back which makes it easier to add more cables later if you need to. It is recommend that you make a proper wall outlet for power. If you run an extension cord through the wall it may not comply with building codes and poses a fire risk.
 
On the other side any data cables (AV) going into the wall must be a specific standard to pass inspections. They will cost you a little bit more, but its worth it to prevent having to pull the wires out if you ever decide to sell the house. Another option to think about if you want to hide your audiovideo equipment in a closet or another room you can install an infrared reciever to relay your remote control signals to your hidden equipment.
 

Wall Mounting the Plasma TV:

First you need to mount the wall mount using your large screws. Your drill comes in handy again if it has the ability to switch to a screw bit. Always double check to ensure that it is level. Also take a few moments and see if you can find something with some wieght to put on the mount to make sure it is firmly in place. If you have a weight set or young kid (just kidding) they work great. Remember that most Plasma TVs weight between 50 and 150 lbs..

Once your sure everything is secure go ahead and mount the Plasma Television on the mount. Usually this means you will have to attach rubber or plastic mounts to the back of the TV, sometimes called mounting adapter. Place the mounts through the holes in the mount and letting it settle into place. Be sure to read the Instructions before doing this and I recommend that two people do it. If you can get a third to direct that is even better. Once the Plasma TV is mounted double check that its stable and in place.
 

All thats left is to connect your wiring and being blown away by your new wall mounted Plasma Television.

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