Possibility of TV above fireplace

maynooth_rules · 02-04-2020 3:44pm #1

Hi,
I am obviously clueless about electrics. We recently moved into a house, and above the fireplace there is wiring from the picture below. Does this mean its set up to hang a tv about the fireplace. There isnt a socket close by so im hoping so

Bruthal · 02-04-2020 3:47pm

Looks more like a wall light position, but hard to tell from that photo.

02-04-2020 3:51pm

It's super trashy to hang a TV over a fireplace.
But thats for another day .
How would you get your other cables to the TV?

Those cables are for a light anyway.
There are singles

listermint · 02-04-2020 3:53pm

First no that's most likely a lighting fixture for maybe above a picture.
Secondly we've our TV above the fireplace. If that makes me super trashy then sign me up. Our room is symmetrical laid out if it was placed anywhere else it would offset the room and look stupid.
Rather trashy than stupid.

Oh yeah it's my house... No one else is in it.

Bruthal · 02-04-2020 3:54pm

BrownFinger wrote: »

It's super trashy to hang a TV over a fireplace.

Yea I dont know what the appeal is with that.

Bruthal · 02-04-2020 3:55pm

listermint wrote: »

First no that's most likely a lighting fixture for maybe above a picture.
Secondly we've our TV above the fireplace. If that makes me super trashy then sign me up. Our room is symmetrical laid out if it was placed anywhere else it would offset the room and look stupid.
Rather trashy than stupid.

Oh yeah it's my house... No one else is in it.

Take it down at once:pac::D

listermint · 02-04-2020 3:55pm

Bruthal wrote: »

Yea I dont know what the appeal is with that.

The appeal is probably that not everyone lives in a two up two down where the fireplace is 2 meters from the couch... Perhaps.

Truckermal · 02-04-2020 3:55pm

listermint wrote: »

First no that's most likely a lighting fixture for maybe above a picture.
Secondly we've our TV above the fireplace. If that makes me super trashy then sign me up. Our room is symmetrical laid out if it was placed anywhere else it would offset the room and look stupid.
Rather trashy than stupid.

Oh yeah it's my house... No one else is in it.

Me too it saves loads of space and the TV can be seen from every angle...

listermint · 02-04-2020 3:56pm

Bruthal wrote: »

Take it down at once:pac::D

I would but the missus is watching a movie

Bruthal · 02-04-2020 3:58pm

listermint wrote: »

I would but the missus is watching a movie

Is it any good?

listermint · 02-04-2020 3:58pm

Bruthal wrote: »

Is it any good?

No idea. I'm on here

02-04-2020 4:03pm

Truckermal wrote: »

Me too it saves loads of space and the TV can be seen from every angle...

You must like sitting in the front row of the cinema

02-04-2020 4:15pm

maynooth_rules wrote: »

Hi,
I am obviously clueless about electrics. We recently moved into a house, and above the fireplace there is wiring from the picture below. Does this mean its set up to hang a tv about the fireplace. There isnt a socket close by so im hoping so

A TV will require a minimum of the following:
- Power supply cable
- HDMI cable

In my opinion a TV looks terrible over a fire place, it is simply too high.

Sit on your favorite TV chair, measure the vertical distance from the floor to your eye. This is the ideal height for the center of the TV screen from finished floor level. Any higher and you have to look up any lower and you have to look down. Too much of either can result in neck strain. The ideal height may look low but very quickly you will realize that it is best.

There is an obsession with mounting flat screens high that people need to get over. I think that this is because pubs were the first place that people saw flat screens and they had to be high so that everyone in the pub could see them. Back in the old days our box TVs were low and it worked. We should have stuck with that IMHO.

In summary don't mount your TV over the fireplace

:D

SteM · 02-04-2020 4:19pm

Ours lasted about 2 weeks above fireplace before it was taken down. I hated the height it was at, just couldn't get used to it.

Sleeper12 · 02-04-2020 7:44pm

2011 wrote:

In my opinion a TV looks terrible over a fire place, it is simply too high.

This is it for me. Forget trashy. It would just be hung too high for optimum viewing imo

maynooth_rules · 02-04-2020 11:21pm

Thanks for advice everyone. It's sort of a playroom so the fireplace wouldn't be used and it's to keep out of reach of young hands.

Stoner · 04-04-2020 12:35am

I think for a playroom it's a good idea.

I'd mine above the fireplace. I moved it, it was a pain in the neck watching it.

It's the right spot, just the wrong height. Works out well for sound too.

Podge201 · 04-04-2020 1:39am

2011 wrote: »

A TV will require a minimum of the following:
- Power supply cable
- HDMI cable

In my opinion a TV looks terrible over a fire place, it is simply too high.

Sit on your favorite TV chair, measure the vertical distance from the floor to your eye. This is the ideal height for the center of the TV screen from finished floor level. Any higher and you have to look up any lower and you have to look down. Too much of either can result in neck strain. The ideal height may look low but very quickly you will realize that it is best.

There is an obsession with mounting flat screens high that people need to get over. I think that this is because pubs were the first place that people saw flat screens and they had to be high so that everyone in the pub could see them. Back in the old days our box TVs were low and it worked. We should have stuck with that IMHO.

In summary don't mount your TV over the fireplace :D

Hdmi cable, that's horse and cart generation

Varik · 04-04-2020 1:51am

People mostly think of it for horizontal viewing angles with TV and seat placement, but if the TV is too high the picture will look very washed out. Then you'd need to angle the TV and if it protrudes too much to ruins some of the astetics of wall mounting it.

adrian92 · 04-04-2020 2:13am

I think the OP simply asked about a power supply (not advise about where the tv should be located)

It does indeed look that there is an available power supply via a (as others said) disused lighting fixture.

Perhaps first try to find if that power supply works -?

If so, for all practical purposes I do not see any issue for using that supply for a tv as opposed to a light.

(Yes, hdmi cable also required , inter alia possibly, but those are different questions.

To the OP I would try to find out if there is power there - others could possibly suggest how you could determine that

Guy:Incognito · 04-04-2020 2:20am

listermint wrote: »

The appeal is probably that not everyone lives in a two up two down where the fireplace is 2 meters from the couch... Perhaps.

Yeah but the top on the tv being 2m off the ground is the issue. How the hell do people sit watching television looking up near the ceiling.

CRT TVs used to be on stands roughly the height of the seat cushion you sit on. That way you're looking more or less at it straight on. The television in my sitting room is on the wall a little bit higher than that so it's at eye level when I sit down not up high at eye level when you are standing like pictures.

Edit , beaten to it by 2011

Blahfool · 04-04-2020 2:24am

Pretty sure that just powered a sacred heart lamp.

Guy:Incognito · 04-04-2020 2:24am

Stoner wrote: »

I think for a playroom it's a good idea.

I'd mine above the fireplace. I moved it, it was a pain in the neck watching it.

It's the right spot, just the wrong height. Works out well for sound too.

Tbh, I'd say itd probably be worse in a playroom. Kids are probably going to be sitting on the ground playing, meaning their heads will be constantly up in the air at a worse angle than adults on a sofa.

adrian92 · 04-04-2020 2:30am

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Yeah but the top on the tv being 2m off the ground is the issue. How the hell do people sit watching television looking up near the ceiling.

CRT TVs used to be on stands roughly the height of the seat cushion you sit on. That way you're looking more or less at it straight on. The television in my sitting room is on the wall a little bit higher than that so it's at eye level when I sit down not up high at eye level when you are standing like pictures.

Edit , beaten to it by 2011

Perhaps a wall bracket to adjust the angle?
(the OP may have considered this aspect - the question was regarding the power supply)

But good suggestions, overall

04-04-2020 3:19pm

Podge201 wrote: »

Hdmi cable, that's horse and cart generation

I did state that it was a minimum. That means that it could be replaced with a superior alternative.

04-04-2020 3:35pm

adrian92 wrote: »

Perhaps a wall bracket to adjust the angle?

This will deal with the angle that the screen is observed at but the viewer will still have to look up. Also in my opinion a flat screen TV always looks best when mounted flat to the wall with no cabling visible. This gives it a cool minimalist look.

Mr Magnolia · 04-04-2020 4:30pm

The most minimalistic tv set-up I've ever seen was a picture of the corner of a room where the tv used to be. I wonder would ya still have to pay the tv licence fee...

Padre_Pio · 04-04-2020 5:13pm

2011 wrote: »

A TV will require a minimum of the following:
- Power supply cable
- HDMI cable

In my opinion a TV looks terrible over a fire place, it is simply too high.

Sit on your favorite TV chair, measure the vertical distance from the floor to your eye. This is the ideal height for the center of the TV screen from finished floor level. Any higher and you have to look up any lower and you have to look down.

To be pedantic, it's your eye level to near the top of the screen, not the centre.
That accommodates children and when you're slouching in your chair.

For a lot of people it's easier to move your eyeballs down that up, same with tilting your head. Monitors are the same

Bruthal · 04-04-2020 5:15pm

Padre_Pio wrote: »

To be pedantic, it's your eye level to near the top of the screen, not the centre.
That accommodates children and when you're slouching in your chair.

For a lot of people it's easier to move your eyeballs down that up, same with tilting your head. Monitors are the same

So when sitting on a couch, you want the top of the tv at eye level?

adrian92 · 04-04-2020 11:07pm

The OP was asking about the power supply.
None of us have addressed the question, me too.

Anyone know how to answer the OP question?

Mr Magnolia · 04-04-2020 11:25pm

adrian92 wrote: »

The OP was asking about the power supply.
None of us have addressed the question, me too.

Anyone know how to answer the OP question?

It was answered in replies #1, 2 & 3 among others. The cabling pictured appears to be from a wall/picture light and not suitable for the supply of a t.v.

Rows Grower · 04-04-2020 11:31pm

Bruthal wrote: »

So when sitting on a couch, you want the top of the tv at eye level?

That's gonna be one tiny fireplace, but hey if that's what the experts say must be done.

Padre_Pio · 05-04-2020 12:27pm

Bruthal wrote: »

So when sitting on a couch, you want the top of the tv at eye level?

Depends on the size of the screen, but the top quarter.
That's why TV stands are quite low.

Bruthal · 05-04-2020 12:41pm

Padre_Pio wrote: »

Depends on the size of the screen, but the top quarter.
That's why TV stands are quite low.

So that the top of the screen is at eye level when sitting on a couch?

Eye level is roughly 900mm at a guess.

55 inch tv is around 700mm screen height.

So bottom of tv is 200mm above the floor? tv stand/legs about 100mm
That would be some tv stand alright.

adrian92 · 05-04-2020 7:47pm

Mr Magnolia wrote: »

It was answered in replies #1, 2 & 3 among others. The cabling pictured appears to be from a wall/picture light and not suitable for the supply of a t.v.

Why is cabling not suitable for a tv (if it is ok for a light?)

I dont understand

05-04-2020 8:22pm

adrian92 wrote: »

Why is cabling not suitable for a tv (if it is ok for a light?)

I dont understand

You really shouldn't be giving advice about something that you clearly don't have a clue about.

First up that supply is not rcd protected.
And it's switched .

Will it work? Yes
Should it be done? No

Padre_Pio · 05-04-2020 8:41pm

Bruthal wrote: »

So that the top of the screen is at eye level when sitting on a couch?

Eye level is roughly 900mm at a guess.

55 inch tv is around 700mm screen height.

So bottom of tv is 200mm above the floor? tv stand/legs about 100mm
That would be some tv stand alright.

And here come the pedants.

Seated eye level is abou 1100mm average (see link: https://www.academia.edu/37289439/Architectural-Graphic-Standards.pdf?auto=download)

A 55 inch TV is about 700mm. That would put you 300mm off the ground given a 100mm stand (which is a taller stand that average)

I said eye level at the top or maybe 1/4 way down for larger screens, so 575mm, or 425 off the ground with a 100mm stand.

A quick look on Argos shows TV stands for larger screens are about 450-500mm high, so ya know, go figure.

It's semantics at this stage, but sure if you buy a larger than average TV with a larger than average stand then you may not be at the optimal viewing angle.
I was just giving my 2 cents, not looking to get into the weeds with detail.

Mr Magnolia · 05-04-2020 8:51pm

BrownFinger wrote: »

First up that supply is not rcd protected.
And it's switched .

Will it work? Yes
Should it be done? No

Cabling cross-sectional area wouldn't be large enough either.

05-04-2020 9:13pm

Mr Magnolia wrote: »

Cabling cross-sectional area wouldn't be large enough either.

1.5sq would be more than enough for a TV.
I'd say your TVs flex is 1.5sq .

Mr Magnolia · 05-04-2020 9:20pm

But you would have to fit a socket or spur which would require 2.5mmSq would it not...?

Bruthal · 05-04-2020 9:24pm

Padre_Pio wrote: »

And here come the pedants.

Seated eye level is abou 1100mm average (see link: https://www.academia.edu/37289439/Architectural-Graphic-Standards.pdf?auto=download)

A 55 inch TV is about 700mm. That would put you 300mm off the ground given a 100mm stand (which is a taller stand that average)

I said eye level at the top or maybe 1/4 way down for larger screens, so 575mm, or 425 off the ground with a 100mm stand.

A quick look on Argos shows TV stands for larger screens are about 450-500mm high, so ya know, go figure.

It's semantics at this stage, but sure if you buy a larger than average TV with a larger than average stand then you may not be at the optimal viewing angle.
I was just giving my 2 cents, not looking to get into the weeds with detail.

Ahh, its yourself

05-04-2020 9:29pm

Mr Magnolia wrote: »

But you would have to fit a socket or spur which would require 2.5mmSq would it not...?

I was just saying that on paper there is no problem supplying a TV with 1.5sq cable.
They are only a few 100 watts if even.

05-04-2020 9:47pm

BrownFinger wrote: »

I was just saying that on paper there is no problem supplying a TV with 1.5sq cable.
They are only a few 100 watts if even.

I agree. In the “old days” we would supply a 500 watt halogen floodlight from a 1.5 mm sq. cable and a modern TV is a smaller load than that.

adrian92 · 05-04-2020 9:49pm

BrownFinger wrote: »

You really shouldn't be giving advice about something that you clearly don't have a clue about.

First up that supply is not rcd protected.
And it's switched .

Will it work? Yes
Should it be done? No

I would ask the Moderator to ask this poster not to use such language , or sentiments to me or others.

We are all doing our best to help to the best of our abilities.

I do not know if it is helpful to say "you dont have a clue" or "dont give advice"

Once again I would ask the Moderator to consider my comments

05-04-2020 9:55pm

Ok let’s keep it friendly. Everyone is free to give their opinion.

However I don’t see why a fixed appliance such as a double insulated TV needs to be RCD protected. I also think it may be possible to link out the switch.

Bruthal · 05-04-2020 9:58pm

2011 wrote: »

Ok let’s keep it friendly. Everyone is free to give their opinion.

However I don’t see why a fixed appliance such as a double insulated TV needs to be RCD protected. I also think it may be possible to link out the switch.

It doesnt need to be, if its not a 13 amp socket probably.

But still, its getting messy connecting tvs to lighting circuits.

But, it will work.

Possibility of TV above fireplace

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