Articles and whitepapers

Installing Large TV Screens in the Residential Market (2/10/2007)

By Ed Martin, PSCo

It is no longer uncommon to see a 50" screen sitting prominently in the lounge of the average household, nor is it uncommon to see HD-ready and Full-HD resolutions being used in conjunction with new digitised television broadcasts.

The general public is now much more technically savvy, and we are witnessing increasing interest from consumers in technical features such as screen resolution, contrast and response times. The high profile of HD in the UK market has led to heightened customer demand for specific screen types, especially compatibility with their SkyHD, HD DVD players and Blu-ray technologies.

Larger screens are no longer simply installed in dedicated screening rooms and home cinemas - they are just as likely to be found in sitting rooms or the master bedroom of even moderately-priced homes.

While specialists specifying large screens have the skill sets for cable management and termination, whole-house video, audio distribution and control, when working with exceptional products such as the 103" Panasonic plasma, it is best to employ a specialist with experience in handling equipment of such great size and stature. In these cases, using the right handling equipment and techniques is essential to guaranteeing a safe and secure installation.

Panasonic 103" plasma on show at CEDIA UK Expo 2007.

Considerations when installing large TV screens

Installing large TV screens can be a challenging process, especially for situations where the customer's vision needs to take into account the size and construction of their house. The largest screens are obviously much heavier than traditional TV sets, and if they are to be wall-mounted, they require a sturdy and substantial support structure and fixings. The 103" plasma for example, weighs in at a colossal 220kgs (excluding wall brackets or floor stand) and requires an air gap of 200mm behind the unit for ventilation. It's not the type of screen that would hang comfortably on a plasterboard partition wall!

With larger screens come greater challenges, and it is important that certain considerations are taken into account when deciding where and how to position these titans within the home. The key issues to consider are:

* The size, space and height on the wall.
* The optimal viewing distance.
* Viewing angles, both horizontally and vertically.
* On-screen reflections from windows and lighting.
* Ventilation and heat dissipation.
* Site accessibility - can the screen physically get from the pavement to the installation point, and what obstacles need to be overcome along the way?

It is essential to establish the route into the building before committing to a delivery, as in some cases this may involve specialist equipment such as ramps, cranes, hoists, rigging, etc. With the heaviest screens, floor surfaces will also need to be protected and the entire route for delivery should be checked thoroughly to confirm that the unit will fit, and the house can safely take the weight.

Specialist knowledge

At PSCo, we conduct onsite surveys to evaluate capabilities and limitations of the environment to house a large screen; frequently you have to take stairs or lift dimensions, turning spaces and door widths into consideration, and with a 220kg screen you don't want to be making any mistakes. We transfer our screens into a special flight case for protection and to aid transportation and installation, and we frequently work with specialist contractors when various types of cranes and structural support are required.

Installation of the wall brackets required for a large-screen TV.

A typical large-screen installation would usually use a custom flight case with integral support, a lifting frame, cranes, ramps, lifting equipment such as block and tackle or truss, and if working at height, then appropriately-qualified and trained staff too.

Large TV screens in the home are typically integrated with surround sound processors, amplifiers and speakers, as well as HDTV, HD-DVD and Blu-ray players. In a home cinema, there may also be digitally-controlled lighting and window treatments, which can all be brought together on a single handset or touchscreen controller, for the ultimate in home cinema viewing.

Post installation

Post installation, the key considerations concern upgrade and maintenance issues. You need to be sure that your screen will be able to cope with not only the content of today's TV, but also the HD content of tomorrow. With technologies advancing at such a rapid pace it is crucial to think about the next step, and new technologies, such as Blu-ray, which may soon become the norm.

You also have to think about future access. If a window was removed to get the screen into the house, inevitably it will have to be removed again should the equipment need to be repaired or replaced. This is especially relevant if the repair involves the panel itself, as this represents the largest and heaviest component and will undoubtedly be even more fragile as a component part than as a part of a complete product.

We also provide training for every client on how to get the best out of their product.

Panasonic 103" plasma installed in living room and correctly calibrated.

Conclusion

Having experts install your large screen will save you time, cost and unforeseen problems. By offering a very competitive price and installation expertise, we make it simple for the custom installer to integrate the screen into their design. We have invested in costly installation equipment so that our clients don't have to, including a specially-designed lorry, lifting equipment and cranes. We also provide demo units for our clients to test the screen, use for training or deliver to site for clients to see, helping their sales process.

Ed Martin is the Technical Manager for PSCo, trade-only specialist in the distribution of visually-innovative technologies. Its portfolio includes the 103" Panasonic plasma, for which it provides a trade-only delivery and installation support service, to make the screens more accessible to integrators.

www.psco.co.uk