Plasma TV Brackets
Once you’ve chosen the right plasma TV for your living room, home theater, bedroom, or kitchen, the next step is to make sure you have the right plasma TV brackets for your setting. While some plasma TV brackets are universal, you will do well to check to see if the plasma TV brackets you purchase are specifically rated for your unit. The manual for your flat screen TV may provide the model numbers for plasma TV brackets that will work, or may simply say that a universal type will do the job. Installing the wrong plasma TV brackets either won’t fit the unit or may create an unstable support for that high-dollar investment. Frustration at best, and an expensive accident at worse, may result.
Once you know you’ve got the right plasma TV brackets make one more check before you begin installing them – fit them to the plasma TV and make sure they have the correct range of motion if they are designed to tilt or swivel. If that checks out, plan to mount them on the wall.
The first step is to take the base off the plasma TV if it’s on. If the unit is right out of the box, put the base somewhere you won’t lose it in case you want to employ it later or sell the flat screen unit. Secondly, lay the TV on its face and look for the holes where you will attach the parts of the plasma TV brackets that go on the back of the flat screen. Fasten them snug without over-tightening, which in extreme cases may crack the fastener or the hole.
The third step to properly installing your plasma TV brackets is to find the studs in the wall using a stud finder. These are inexpensive and available online or at local home improvement stores. It is essential that your plasma TV brackets be installed into studs. Plastic anchors in drywall alone will not be sufficient. Hold the bracket mount to the wall so that the holes line up with the studs. Use a level to insure they are straight. Then mark the holes with a pencil.
Once this is done, use a small drill bit to drill pilot holes into the studs. Pilot holes allow for easier installation of the fasteners and also help prevent the studs from cracking, which weakens their ability to hold weight and keep the fasteners in place. The final step in mounting the plasma TV brackets is to fasten them to the wall using fasteners that are at least 3 inches long, ensuring good stability and strength. Hang your plasma TV on the bracket and move on to the wiring hook ups. You’re one big step closer to enjoying the amazing technology these advanced units offer!