View Full Version : Putting a plasma on top of a center channel
I have a 50" Panasonic plasma 720P, just bought a Definitive CLR 2000. I really don't want to wall mount the TV because whoever built the townhouse I live in thought it would be a great idea to put the thermostat right smack dab in the middle of the wall, which is the only wall the TV can go on. I also thought about building a shelf above the TV for the center but thats one heck of a shelf. So it just crossed my mind to put the TV on top of the center with maybe a piece of glass in between the two, or felt, because the center is bigger than the TV stand.
what do u think?
Pyrrho
01-07-2009, 07:35 PM
I hate to be the one to tell you this, but since plasma sets tend to give off considerable heat, putting one too near a thermostat is probably not a good idea.
Rickster71
01-07-2009, 07:36 PM
Maybe something like this for the center channel?
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_121BT15B/B-Tech-BT15-Black.html?tp=586
I hate to be the one to tell you this, but since plasma sets tend to give off considerable heat, putting one too near a thermostat is probably not a good idea.
Yeah tell me about it, but they really didn't think about it when they made the house. It is really crappy the way the living room is layed out.
Maybe something like this for the center channel?
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_121BT15B/B-Tech-BT15-Black.html?tp=586
Yeah but the center weighs 44 lbs I think. I had that I dea, they have some brackets at lowes that look similar that may work. It will just look goofy if I mount it above the TV by my awesome thermostat.
Shock
01-07-2009, 08:48 PM
Yeah but the center weighs 44 lbs I think. I had that I dea, they have some brackets at lowes that look similar that may work. It will just look goofy if I mount it above the TV by my awesome thermostat.
That centre channel mount will be fine if screwed into a stud.
Rickster71
01-07-2009, 10:12 PM
If your handy, here's a possibility.
Take the thermostat off the wall, and see if the wire is going up into the attic.
I'd go up there and see if you can find the wire. Pull it up and drill a new hole in the upper plate, and move it to a better location.
Pyrrho
01-07-2009, 10:28 PM
If your handy, here's a possibility.
Take the thermostat off the wall, and see if the wire is going up into the attic.
I'd go up there and see if you can find the wire. Pull it up and drill a new hole in the upper plate, and move it to a better location.
That is a good idea only if one is up for dealing with electrical wiring. If not, a licensed electrician could move it. Either way, I would not put a plasma TV near a thermostat. Otherwise, whenever the TV is on, in the winter, the heater will not keep the place as warm as it is set, and in the summer, the air conditioner will come on when it shouldn't because it will be warmer at the thermostat than elsewhere in the home.
Pyrrho
01-07-2009, 10:30 PM
I have a 50" Panasonic plasma 720P, just bought a Definitive CLR 2000. I really don't want to wall mount the TV because whoever built the townhouse I live in thought it would be a great idea to put the thermostat right smack dab in the middle of the wall, which is the only wall the TV can go on. I also thought about building a shelf above the TV for the center but thats one heck of a shelf. So it just crossed my mind to put the TV on top of the center with maybe a piece of glass in between the two, or felt, because the center is bigger than the TV stand.
what do u think?
You can get a larger stand, and have the center speaker on a shelf below the TV. That is probably your best bet, if you are not going to mount the TV on the wall. But I would move the thermostat if I were going to put the TV in front of where the thermostat is currently located.
Yeah I wish I could move it but we rent and I don't think they would like it very well. I may just mount the center, either way I am going to find some way to listen to it lol.
Chitown2477
01-08-2009, 12:43 AM
You can extend the thermostat wire from its current location by splicing a wire to it and extending it 10 feet or so to the left or right of the plasma. Then when you move out you can simply remove the wire and place the thermostat in the orginal location. Generally speaking, thermostats are very easy to move and the wiring is very simple. There is no high electical current to be worried about. The whole process can take 20 minutes or less.
Rickster71
01-08-2009, 08:21 AM
That is a good idea only if one is up for dealing with electrical wiring. If not, a licensed electrician could move it.
A thermostat wire is considered low voltage, you don't need an electrician to move it.
Rickster71
01-08-2009, 08:32 AM
Yeah I wish I could move it but we rent and I don't think they would like it very well.
I guess it depends on who is paying for the heating and cooling. Is it included in your rent?
Pyrrho is correct about the heating & cooling problems.
I'd explain that situation to the landlord or building manager. I'll bet they'll move it.
Do you know anyone that does HVAC work?
Midcow2
01-08-2009, 08:43 AM
That is a good idea only if one is up for dealing with electrical wiring. If not, a licensed electrician could move it. Either way, I would not put a plasma TV near a thermostat. Otherwise, whenever the TV is on, in the winter, the heater will not keep the place as warm as it is set, and in the summer, the air conditioner will come on when it shouldn't because it will be warmer at the thermostat than elsewhere in the home.
Thermostat wire is very low voltage and typically uses only 24 gauge solid bell wire. It is very easy to relocate and does not require a licensed electrician. I agree with Rickster71's recommendation, not yours!
Plasma TVs do put out a good amount of heat the 60" Pioneer Kuro PRO-151 KD puts out 524 watts.
Here is a great Salamander TV stand that will easily accomodate the cchannel. It is high quality furniture but I am not sure you want to spen this much money. http://www.thesimpletvstandstore.com/p-6830-salamander-designs-cbl221we-berlin-221-two-part-cabinet-for-tvs-up-to-42-wenge.aspx
Pyrrho
01-08-2009, 09:07 AM
A thermostat wire is considered low voltage, you don't need an electrician to move it.
Yes, it is low voltage. However, not everyone is "handy", and it is good if it actually works after it is moved. For someone who is "handy", they can move it themselves, unless they are renting, in which case the landlord may have a problem with that, which could involve getting evicted for unauthorized rewiring of the home.
Rickster71
01-08-2009, 10:11 AM
Yes, it is low voltage. However, not everyone is "handy", and it is good if it actually works after it is moved. For someone who is "handy", they can move it themselves, unless they are renting, in which case the landlord may have a problem with that, which could involve getting evicted for unauthorized rewiring of the home.
That is why I later posted this:
I guess it depends on who is paying for the heating and cooling. Is it included in your rent?
Pyrrho is correct about the heating & cooling problems.
I'd explain that situation to the landlord or building manager. I'll bet they'll move it.
Do you know anyone that does HVAC work?
Yeah I am capable of moving it, but I can't due to the lease agreement. That and the landlord won't move it because they are cheap and I am breaking a rule by mounting something on the wall. That is in the lease too. I wouldnt minding screwing 4 holes in the wall to mount it if the thermostat wasn't in the way but if I move the thermostat and they catch it I would at the very least not get my deposit back. I could fix the screw holes but I think they would notice the thermostat being moved. I wish I owned a home :( I guess I'm just screwed, or I will have to buy a stand to accomodate the center.
BMXTRIX
01-08-2009, 11:19 PM
Yeah I am capable of moving it, but I can't due to the lease agreement. That and the landlord won't move it because they are cheap and I am breaking a rule by mounting something on the wall. That is in the lease too. I wouldnt minding screwing 4 holes in the wall to mount it if the thermostat wasn't in the way but if I move the thermostat and they catch it I would at the very least not get my deposit back. I could fix the screw holes but I think they would notice the thermostat being moved. I wish I owned a home :( I guess I'm just screwed, or I will have to buy a stand to accomodate the center.
Instead of actually moving the thermostat, I was thinking you could just pull it off the wall and run wire straight down the wall and put the thermostat 'hung' on the wall or in a corner with a wire running up to it as a temporary move. You wouldn't 'need' to drill holes or fish wire - just tuck a piece of wire near the floor for the short term, then when you move out, the thermostat goes exactly back in the old location without a hole or anything to show at all for it.
Just a thought - and entirely up to you.
I know when I was renting I mounted my plasma, projector, and screen and the apartment company didn't say a word. It is very normal to paint between tennants, or at least touch up, and it only takes a couple of hours with spackle to take care of holes... It's probably what I would do.
On the other hand, you can look at A/V furniture for the center channel/plasma to sit on. I have the CLR and it was so non-plasma friendly I ended up buying the Mythos 8 speaker to use instead.
What do you mean it was "non plasma friendly"?
BMXTRIX
01-09-2009, 09:44 AM
What do you mean it was "non plasma friendly"?
Nothing bad - it's just that plasmas always seem like something which should be wall mounted, and the CLR2K is a big speaker with lots of physical depth to it. 18" or so...
So, when I went into my new home, where absolutely zero equipment was to be under the plasma, I didn't actually have a spot to put the CLR2K, and I needed something plasma friendly that would not stick out further than the plasma display from the wall - and could be wall mounted - and was designed as such.
I originally went with the Sonance 50 on-wall speaker, which was decent, but not great - but the price was right. I then got the Mythos 8 which is definitely comparible to the CLR. Perhaps not as full sounding.
I'm hanging onto the CLR until I can get a basement HT setup... Which may not happen in this lifetime, but I'll be darn sure to use it in my next one.
highfigh
01-09-2009, 10:09 AM
I have a 50" Panasonic plasma 720P, just bought a Definitive CLR 2000. I really don't want to wall mount the TV because whoever built the townhouse I live in thought it would be a great idea to put the thermostat right smack dab in the middle of the wall, which is the only wall the TV can go on. I also thought about building a shelf above the TV for the center but thats one heck of a shelf. So it just crossed my mind to put the TV on top of the center with maybe a piece of glass in between the two, or felt, because the center is bigger than the TV stand.
what do u think?
If you have a basement and access to the underside of the floor, moving the thermostat is an easy thing to do. Then, you'll know what the temperature is and it'll be much more comfortable.
darien87
01-09-2009, 04:26 PM
I'm not sure how deep your center is, but mine is about 12" deep and I just made a stand for my TV to raise it up and put the center in front of it. I just nailed a few pieces of MDF together and then covered them with black cloth.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/darien87/Front-1.jpg
Edit: I just re-read your original post. If your center channel is indeed bigger than your TV stand, my suggestion won't work. Disregard my last transmission.
the stand is bigger than the center so it would work.
Nemo128
01-14-2009, 01:56 PM
Think about this option if you can spare the space:
http://www.amazon.com/Hardwood-Center-Channel-Speaker-Stands/dp/B0007WC9M8/ref=pd_bbs_sr_8?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1231959237&sr=8-8
Wood Technology FGH-12 if you want to search elsewhere for it.
shenaniganz
01-14-2009, 02:21 PM
I'm having some what the same problem. No thermostat. But I'm in a dorm room.not many options for layout. No one has really said it was bad to put the tv on the center speaker. My tv is 46'. The stand would def fit on the speaker. Would it be ok as a temp set up or a def no go?
-thanks
Nemo128
01-14-2009, 02:25 PM
I'm having some what the same problem. No thermostat. But I'm in a dorm room.not many options for layout. No one has really said it was bad to put the tv on the center speaker. My tv is 46'. The stand would def fit on the speaker. Would it be ok as a temp set up or a def no go?
-thanks
Please, do not put a TV on top of your speaker.
Would you build your house on top of particle board just because it would fit?
shenaniganz
01-14-2009, 02:28 PM
Yea I know it sounds dumb and I would never have thought of it but after seeing this thread and a pic of a members setup I thought it would be a backup plan.
THnaks though.
So I had a piece of glass made to go over top of the center and the TV will go over it. If it doesn't look too bad that is the plan because it's pretty much my only option other than buying a new stand which I don't have the money for, putting the center in the corner, or doing without. I'll try and post a pic when I get done.
lsiberian
01-15-2009, 01:00 PM
At the very least I suggest you get some fans and try to reroute the air away from the thermostat. This could probably be done by placing some fans along the sides of the tv and maybe the top. This could actually help your heating bills in the winter. LOL since your plasma is a radiator.
We don't even use our heat in the winter, I know we are cheap. We live in a townhouse with people on each side of us, we only have two walls and a roof exposed to the cold. Both neighbors love to be hot, like 85+ degrees, I can't even stand to be in there. If we run no heat at all our apartment stays around 60. The only problem is the summer, they keep it around 85-90 because they leave their air off pretty much so we end up cooling their apartment. We only use two small ceramic heaters if we are a bit cool.
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