DIY plasma surround...

[Driller]

I will soon be equipping at long last our home cinema area with a flatscreen and associated gubbins.

My goal is too have a flush, built in look as shown here:



The surround will be made out of MDF and the LCR speakers (in wall style)will be flush mounted in the front of it.

Another similar idea but this time done with studding and plasterboard. I think the larger space around the screen spoils the effect though:



There are various ways of doing this but the one thing I haven't decided yet is whether to fix the screen to wall and fit the surround into place around it or fix the surround in place and hang the screen afterwards (not easy as the screen will weigh about 80kg).

Has anyone done this and do you have any advice ideas? Don't worry, I've done a ton of DIY so I know what I'm doing...I think.

Edited by Driller on Sunday 1st March 21:22

[hilly10]

When you build any thing in electrical, cooling must be a first thought. Nice idea though

Edited by hilly10 on Sunday 1st March 21:42

[Driller]

hilly10 said:

When you build any thing in electrical, cooling must be a first thought. Nice idea though

Edited by hilly10 on Sunday 1st March 21:42

By "nice idea though" you seem to be suggesting it won't work, which clearly isn't the case.

Care to elaborate?

[tuffer]

I have posted this many times before. It's easy and no heating issues. MDF is better than plaster board as it is more stable and you get a neater finish.

[Driller]

tuffer said:

I have posted this many times before. It's easy and no heating issues. MDF is better than plaster board as it is more stable and you get a neater finish.

Thanks, that's exactly what I was looking for.

It yours MDF or plasterboard and if so how did you fix it in place?

It looks to me like the screen was fitted afterwards. Any difficulty getting it into position in the little space available?

[E31Shrew]

Its a damn sight easier to put the screen on a swivel mount. We've installed literally hundreds of these. Built the wall from MDF, recessed the screen on the swivel also to enable any extra cables to be retrofitted. it also means you dont have to be 100% accurate with the depth of the recess as you canjust bring the screen out upon completion to the correct depth.

If you put it on a flat mount you will also need to allow at least 50mm around the screen to enable it to be placed and dropped onto the wall part of the mount.

[tuffer]

The surround is in MDF, the Chippy made it in about 5 box sections and then screwed the lot in place. TV can be taken off easily enough but I would DEFINETLY invest in a swivel mount if I was to do it again.

[hilly10]

Driller said:

hilly10 said:

When you build any thing in electrical, cooling must be a first thought. Nice idea though

Edited by hilly10 on Sunday 1st March 21:42

By "nice idea though" you seem to be suggesting it won't work, which clearly isn't the case.

Care to elaborate?

Not saying it wont work because from the pics it does, and it looks good. But there must be an issue with heat from the back of the TV in an enclosed space

[E31Shrew]

hilly10 said:

Driller said:

hilly10 said:

When you build any thing in electrical, cooling must be a first thought. Nice idea though

Edited by hilly10 on Sunday 1st March 21:42

By "nice idea though" you seem to be suggesting it won't work, which clearly isn't the case.

Care to elaborate?

Not saying it wont work because from the pics it does, and it looks good. But there must be an issue with heat from the back of the TV in an enclosed space

There will be absolutely no 'cooling; issues whatsoever. The structure you are intending to build will be hollow to allow all heat to escape.

[Mr2Mike]

E31Shrew said:

There will be absolutely no 'cooling; issues whatsoever. The structure you are intending to build will be hollow to allow all heat to escape.

Where does the heat escape to? Is the structure vented to the room?

[Driller]

Mr2Mike said:

E31Shrew said:

There will be absolutely no 'cooling; issues whatsoever. The structure you are intending to build will be hollow to allow all heat to escape.

Where does the heat escape to? Is the structure vented to the room?

There is enough space between the surround and the television to let any heat out.

Further, I intend to put some nice air grilles in the top so any rising heat will escape here.

About the SWIVEL MOUNT: by swivel muont do you mean swivel "arm" so that the TV can be pushed backed into the niche created by it?

If it was just a swivel axis I don't see how this could work...

[Plotloss]

We've just done one, well, two, which are completely flushed into a plasterboard false chimney breast, no gap around the outside of the television at all.

Pain in the arse to get right but the effect is very nice.

For venting the internal area of the chimney is quite large and goes right up to the joists so ample room for heat dissappation.

[talkssense]

If you are recessing into a wall, just bear in mind the amout of dust behind there that can get sucked into the fans. I've seen enclosures built that are only quite small and left full of MDF dust, sawdust, plaster dust etc.

I'd definately go for a swivel/arm mount. It's so much easier to just pull it in and out to add cables etc.

Also, bear in mind how long the screen will be in production for. It might not sound important but I saw one job where the screen failed under warranty about 9 months in. The manufacturer replaced with the latest version of the model, but the guys cut out was to small for it.

[E31Shrew]

Mr2Mike said:

E31Shrew said:

There will be absolutely no 'cooling; issues whatsoever. The structure you are intending to build will be hollow to allow all heat to escape.

Where does the heat escape to? Is the structure vented to the room?

Most of the heat will just vent behind the screen into the alcove built. Also dont forget some of the heat is dissipated via the glass. Really not a big issue!

[E31Shrew]

Driller said:

Mr2Mike said:

E31Shrew said:

There will be absolutely no 'cooling; issues whatsoever. The structure you are intending to build will be hollow to allow all heat to escape.

Where does the heat escape to? Is the structure vented to the room?

There is enough space between the surround and the television to let any heat out.

Further, I intend to put some nice air grilles in the top so any rising heat will escape here.

About the SWIVEL MOUNT: by swivel muont do you mean swivel "arm" so that the TV can be pushed backed into the niche created by it?

If it was just a swivel axis I don't see how this could work...

Not just a swivel arm mechanism. The one we use basically comes out horizontally then can be swivelled when fully out. Difficult to explain but if you PM me I can email you a spec sheet

[Driller]

E31Shrew said:

Driller said:

Mr2Mike said:

E31Shrew said:

There will be absolutely no 'cooling; issues whatsoever. The structure you are intending to build will be hollow to allow all heat to escape.

Where does the heat escape to? Is the structure vented to the room?

There is enough space between the surround and the television to let any heat out.

Further, I intend to put some nice air grilles in the top so any rising heat will escape here.

About the SWIVEL MOUNT: by swivel muont do you mean swivel "arm" so that the TV can be pushed backed into the niche created by it?

If it was just a swivel axis I don't see how this could work...

Not just a swivel arm mechanism. The one we use basically comes out horizontally then can be swivelled when fully out. Difficult to explain but if you PM me I can email you a spec sheet

Thanks, YHM. I also found the following which looks quite handy:



ETA From Omnimount.

Edited by Driller on Tuesday 3rd March 13:33

[E31Shrew]

As those arent counterbalanced they can be a bit difficult to pull out and push back in..

[Driller]

tuffer said:

The surround is in MDF, the Chippy made it in about 5 box sections and then screwed the lot in place. TV can be taken off easily enough but I would DEFINETLY invest in a swivel mount if I was to do it again.

Tuffer I hadn't seen your reply, thanks for the info/advice