LCD TV over a fireplace?

[bertie]

I know that it's not recommended to put a Plasma over an active fireplace but does the same apply to LCD tvs?

With my room layout the only reasonable place to site the TV is on the chimney breast over the fire.
It's a Verine hole in the wall gas fire.

I know you can now get outdoor plasma / LCDs so can you get them which are OK over a fire?

I can't be alone and the knowledge must be out there in the collective PH IQ!!

Thanks.

[Agoogy]

My 37" LCD is hung on a bracket above a working gas fire. The underneath does get 'warm' but no problems with it so far.
I spose the bottom of the TV is 19" from the top of the fireplace.

The gas fire is not in use much, perhaps a 7-10 days as year

[SLacKer]

If you want to do this get a thermometer and tape it to the wall in the posiition of the bottom of the TV. Put the fire on and leave it to get to full temp. If the temperature is above 90F then it is a no go. Also remember cable runs as well as these need to be out of the way of direct heat. Fitting a mantel can have a serious impact on the heat rising so this may be an option.

IMO it is the last place to consider as getting it wrong can prove expensive

[bertie]

SLacKer said:

IMO it is the last place to consider as getting it wrong can prove expensive

Yeah I know, but in the room I have so many windows it really is the only bit of wall big enough to fit a TV on.

I't a big enough room, approx 7m x 5m but the windows and doors make it really difficult to layout the room.

[nemeton]

I had a plasma installed over the fireplace at my last house. I had the chimmney lined & a wide stone shelf installed above the fireplace to protect the screen from the heat.

It worked in so much as the plasma didnt melt or breakdown but when the fire was on for any length of time, the plasma would heat up & the fans would be going hell for leather to keep it cool. Also, the plasma was far to high & this was in a 5 meter square room with the viewing position 4.5 meters from eye-ball to screen. The ideal postion is to have the center of the TV, level with your eyes in the viewing position, this is quite low but you start to get eye strain if your looking up all the time.

Before you make a final decision, try the LCD in different positions within the room, even if it blocks off windows/doors etc. try before you commit to above the fireplace. Also check to see how the LCD is cooled, if its fanless etc, check the LCD manual for its temperture tolerances & place a thormometer above the fireplace & see how hot it gets up there.

Good Luck, I was determined to have my plasma above the fireplace, redocorated the room, sunk £700 component & DVI cables in the wall & then was never happy with it. Id never do it again, the fan noise & having it to high ruined it.

[bertie]

Thanks for the info guys....trouble is you're not making it any easier!!!

My trouble is I'm just having the room re-done, new bi-fold doors, some nast plaster alcoves removed, new fire, new furniture etc so there is nothing there to play with.

[nemeton]

ok have you thought about a projector or projector/smaller LCD combo?

You could have an electric screen dropping from the ceiling & maybe have more options in the room as to the screens position.

Pickup a copy of a home cinema magazine & get some ideas from that, call into your local specialist home cinema/hi-fi specialist retailer & get some ideas from them. They will even come round to your house & survey it & should provide some more ideas.

[bertie]

I think I'mm succesfully put off the over fire position by the height thing now. It's a very good point I hadn't considered.

I'm now thinking about scrapping the fireplace and spinning the whole room setup round and putting the sofa where fire was and low TV in the window.

Who needs a fire place, we're not in the 19th century now.

Just going through it with the wife to try and convince her we can get enough heat without the fire!!.