Mounting LCD TV above mantel with wood insert

[burntime]

If it gets that hot there is something wrong. I just bought the liner insulation to put on mine and a block off plate will be installed instead of the rock wool. Mine gets to 90 degrees tops the way it sits and will be less with the liner insulated.

 

[Jay777]

Regardless of the heat, that just looks waaaay too high.

 

[burntime]

Then you need a better recliner! ;-P It depends on how close you are as well. My chair and sofa are 18 feet away from the tv. I think it would be a hard sell at say 10-12 feet but 18 gives you some distance so the angle is not as harsh.

 

[struggle]

If you have people that will watch the TV sitting on the floor you will find many are not going to like this set up. Like another said hope you have a recliner since it will be hard on the neck to watch.

After we spent $2,800 on ours there is no way I wanted to compromise comfort for watching it. We also have a home theater setup as well, so if you are considering that later down the road you might want to consider space for a center channel speaker under the TV as well.

 

[daleeper]

There is no way I would put an LCD or plasma tv over a functioning fireplace, stove, heating equipment. One of the most common failures of these sets is the power supply and heat is it's enemy. They generate enough heat on there own to kill themselves. They don't need any help.

 

[Dix]

They generate enough heat on there own to kill themselves. They don’t need any help.

Amen.

My post, page 1.

In my off time from the internet, I manage an electronic service center . Contracts, warranties, installs, etc.

We won’t do an install over any FP, unless it is capped off and not in use.

LCD’s & plasmas get very hot on their own, additional heat could cause part/pcb failure inside the set. Soot & heat will also distort the glass display, and cause problems between the layers of glass that are the screen assembly. Plus the PCB’s that are attached to the display from the rear of the TV, as well as the fans and motors. These conditions could void a warranty/service contract.

Better to stick with the Norman Rockwell over the FP, and find another spot for the set.

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/21002/


In 3 -5 years, when your picture quality is craptastic, due to PCB and/or a compromised screen assembly(multiple glass levels), due to soot, ash. etc, and you call for service, and are told that a new replacement panel is going to be $1500-$4000 +, IF it's still available (I have brand new LCD's & PDP's that I can't get parts/support/service info on, let alone the other stuff), what are you going to do?

I've been in this business for 25 years. I know my stuff.


My 2 cents.

 

[PeteD]

You may want to put cable and power there now for a couple of reasons, even if you decide not to put a flat screen there for any of the possible negatives listed here.

1. Resale value. Someone may want to put a flat screen there if you sell the house and pre-wiring will be a plus to those people. They may have no desire to use the stove, or be oblivious to the negatives.

2. Alternative flat screens that are impervious to the effects of heat will likely be available at some point in the not-so distant future.

The best bet would be to run a conduit to the location (from a closet, basement, or other accessible area) where whatever wires are needed for the device can be pulled at that time. These things change all the time...coax, RCA, component, DVI, HDMI, etc.

I am in the same situation and am convincing myself as I write this post that I probably I need to do something while my wall is completely open in the back. I recommend a conduit and power. Worst-case you never use it, but you won't regret it later.

Pete

 

[JimmyMood]

cykins, about your questions:

The top of the mantel is around 4"6'. I'm about 6', and I am eye level with the bottom 1/3 of the screen standing up. As far as comfort, my non-reclining couch is about 15' feet from the TV and I do not find watching it uncomfortable.

The best advice I found looking around on the web was to make a cardboard cutout of the TV screen and tape that on the wall. Look at it for awhile and see if the position and screen size is comfortable. Maybe you can draw a nice picture on the cardboard to make looking at it more interesting. I couldn't find the 15* reference again, but I did find this tidbit from Crutchfield: (scroll to the Height paragraph)

http://www.crutchfield.com/learn/learningcenter/home/flatpanel_install.html?page=2


Despite the location, I am operating the TV well within the ambient temperature requirements in the manual. This may not be the case with your installation, and you will have to take your own measurements. For your situation, I would sit the TV on its pedestal on the hearth until the insert is installed. After the insert is installed, fire it up and test the temperature above the mantle.

 

[burntime]

They generate enough heat on there own to kill themselves. They don’t need any help.

Amen.

My post, page 1.

In my off time from the internet, I manage an electronic service center . Contracts, warranties, installs, etc.

We won’t do an install over any FP, unless it is capped off and not in use.

LCD’s & plasmas get very hot on their own, additional heat could cause part/pcb failure inside the set. Soot & heat will also distort the glass display, and cause problems between the layers of glass that are the screen assembly. Plus the PCB’s that are attached to the display from the rear of the TV, as well as the fans and motors. These conditions could void a warranty/service contract.

Better to stick with the Norman Rockwell over the FP, and find another spot for the set.

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/21002/


In 3 -5 years, when your picture quality is craptastic, due to PCB and/or a compromised screen assembly(multiple glass levels), due to soot, ash. etc, and you call for service, and are told that a new replacement panel is going to be $1500-$4000 +, IF it's still available (I have brand new LCD's & PDP's that I can't get parts/support/service info on, let alone the other stuff), what are you going to do?

I've been in this business for 25 years. I know my stuff.


My 2 cents.

I am not doubting you its just I don't care. Thats where I want my tv. I will spend 2gs and the reality is they will last 10 years and its time for a new one anyway. They keep getting cheaper so the next one will probably be the same or less in 10 years, I can live with that. The area does not get warm and it is well within specs so it should make it 8-10 years without a problem.

 

[DiscoInferno]

I know my mantle (above the BIS Ultima) collects an impressive amount of ash. I think it's from ash that falls out when the door is opened, which then gets sucked in and blown out by the blower and/or rides a convection plume up and over. Be prepared to dust a lot.

I thought about mounting my new LCD up there, but besides the ash I could tell the angle would be too much as the seating is too close. We put it on a pretty short stand off to the side of the fireplace instead. So now when a commercial comes on, I can turn and watch the fire.

 

[burntime]

I know what you are saying. My wife is a dust nut so when I remove ash it is a slow and steady job. Still have ash, just getting a lot better at it.

 

[cykins]

There seems to be a fair amount of opposition to mounting a TV over a fireplace (especially one e/w an isert). The two concerns are viewing angle and operating temp when the insert is fired up. Given that I started this post, I think it's only right I let everyone know what I plan to do. Given that I have not yet had my insert installed, I plan to wait until I have that done. Not much sense to go through the trouble of mounting the TV, hiding those cables (which may be a bit of a tear up) and spending big bucks for those longer cables only to find out it's way too hot when the insert is going. I don't have a problem with the viewing angle issue as we have a family portrait (which is virtually the same dimensions of the 52" LCD TV that we purchased) mounted in the exact place where the TV will " maybe " go. We are comfortable with that viewing position from anywhere in the family room.Once I have the insert up and running, I'll measure the temp and let everyone know...............I'll try and do that on a few " cool " days. Could be a little hot in the house when I do that. Although living here in Atlantic Canada, we never really see the " dog days " of August

Tks for all the posts on this subject.

 

[allhandsworking]

I have the set up you are talking about! Love the Montpelier and have a samsung 47" I sit about 12' away and have no problem what so ever with the angle. The mantel hangs out about 12" from the insert so little radiant heat hitting the tv. I have never had temp above 95 at the tv level due to the fan pushing the heat out! Insert heats 1800 SF Tudor with good insulation and 100 year old windows and storms,central chimney. living room is average 75 upstairs 68. The fan does a nice job of circulating the heat! I would install insert first like people are recommending though because every set up has variables. Good luck

 

[burntime]

The 52 inch flat screen 1.9 inch samsung has been hanging over the fireplace now for about 2 months. Angle is great, very happy with it there!

 

[FPX Dude]

I have FPX and it's blower is above the stove, then mantel extends 8" above it. I'm planning on doing the same thing so was watching the temps above the mantel last season and it was essentially room temp. I think the blower and mantel help direct the heat into the room and not as much UP as without...and yea, I'm gonna put it there because that's where I want it. Also, tv's are kinda like toasters anymore, you don't fix'em, you just throw 'em out and go get another one.

 

[myzamboni]

I am going to put a 52 inch lcd over mine, here is my setup. Excuse the mess, cartoons on of course. I think this just screams for a big tv over the mantle! For the record I built the mantle from scratch and covered the brick with the ledgestone.

I think you should wall mount the LCD where you currently have the TV. I personally do not like the looks of electronics mounted on brick/stonework. In addition, I would not like to look at a non-operating stove in the summer.

 

[JimmyMood]

I think you should wall mount the LCD where you currently have the TV. I personally do not like the looks of electronics mounted on brick/stonework. In addition, I would not like to look at a non-operating stove in the summer.

Trouble is that my 42" plasma won't fit in the location of my old 27" tube tv.

 

[mellow]

I keep forgetting to post to this topic, I have had my 37" lcd over my fireplace for over 3 years with no issues, of course it feels cool-cold to the touch past the brick.

This is an older picture with my Sierra insert in, taken this past summer.