How to Choose the Correct Flat Panel HDTV Wall Mount Bracket

With today’s High Tech world changing how TV are made is mind boggling. Flat panel HDTVs are getting thinner and thinner and the manufacturers are going more with LED and 3D sets. The TV wall mount industry is finding itself making wall mounts that are more stylish and made of lighter yet stronger materials.

There are several styles to choose from such as fixed, tilt and full motion. There are even some starting to appear supporting the TV by cable, hanging it just like you would a picture.

As the fixed mounts have evolved they are becoming more and more less bulky. There wall plate is of a more open design which is great for cable routing through the wall. Before there was sometimes only small hole cutouts in the back plate which would make cable routing a pain. Fixed styles are great in room where glare and TV height for viewing is not a problem. Some customers today want there TV to look like it is made onto the wall, for this a few mount manufacturers have came up with brackets that are as close to the wall as 0.31 inches.

Full motion also sometimes called articulating, cantilever and swivel styles are used where viewing angles could change drastically especially in larger rooms. Any of these styles are engineered either with a single arm or a dual arm. The dual arm by design is stronger than the single arm. Manufacturers keep in mind the size and weight of a flat panel when sizing it up. The amount of extension these arms extend can range from 3 inches and extend outward to as much as 37 inches. When mounting a full motion mount it is a must to attach to wood studs. Metal studs may not hold the amount of force being applied allowing the screws to pull through the metal. Stay away from metal studs. It is highly recommended to use a stud finder in locating the stud center. Hitting the stud center is the lifeline for achieving the mounts weight capacity limits in preventing pullout from poorly aligned lag bolts.

Tilt mounts themselves are getting closer to the wall as well. In the past tilt mounts would have the back of your TV from 4 to 5 inches from the wall. Now, you can find a tilt model that has a profile from the wall of just 1.65 inches. Another new feature becoming more popular is the fingertip adjustable tilt. In the past to adjust the tilt the vertical arms had knobs or screws to set to hold the screen at the desired angle. Now they have tension set screws that once adjusted you simply can push or pull on the top of the TV and it will stay in position.

To sum it up no matter which mount you choose read your owners manual prior to purchase or use a mount finder to help determine what is the correct VESA hole mounting pattern for your TV.