Wire a Plasma TV

Most people would give up when it comes to wiring a plasma TV. Although it may seem like a very difficult thing to do, it’s not. These clearly defined steps will save you time and money. You will also learn a lot by doing it yourself. Make sure you have all the necessary components and accessories needed before you start wiring.

Steps

  1. Place all the components, TV, speakers, etc. where you want them. Don't worry yet about how to wire them.
  2. You may want to turn all equipment sideways on the shelves so you can get to the connections in the back.
  3. Plug in all the power cords into a power strip, but don't turn on the strip until you are all done.
  4. Learn to differentiate audio and video. Video connections are often yellow, audio connections are often Red and White, but newer systems can have more varieties. You'll need to make sure the color you are plugging in is the same for both ends of the cable.
  5. Start wiring all the cables. You can see that all the cables and connections are clearly labeled and color-coded.
  6. Use the concept of 'signal path' to connect the necessary OUT's to IN's. Cables are needed to give the signal a path to travel from one piece of equipment to another. OUT of the antenna, IN to the VCR. OUT of the DVD player, IN to the TV. OUT of the receiver, IN to the speakers etc.
  7. Follow this guideline when hooking up equipment:
    1. The wall (cable/antennae/satellite)
    2. Things that send out signals (TiVo/cable box/set-top box)
    3. Things that record (VCR/DVD Recorder/Computer)
    4. Things that play only (VCR/DVD/Receiver)
    5. Things that display (TV/Monitor)
  8. Turn everything on. If necessary, switch channels and settings to match the labels on the connections you've just made. Enjoy!

Tips

  • Make sure all connections are nice and secure.
  • Upgrade your audio & video cables; remember your picture is only as good as your cables can transmit. (Note, this is only true for analog signals. Digital signals either get there or don't. This can be visualized if you remember snow in TV pictures. Snow was a weak signal. With digital cable there is no snow but rather freezes when the signal gets weak)
  • To fully appreciate the high definition picture that your plasma television displays. Component cables (RGB) will give you a good picture. HDMI and DVI cables will provide much better picture quality. The HDMI cable will also transmit the audio signal.
  • Make use of all the links and diagrams included.

Warnings

  • Make sure you never place plasma TV facing flat on the ground.
  • Don't waste money buying super cheap cables, or super expensive cables. Moderately priced cables should be perfectly fine for most residential installations.
  • Do not install plasma TV near any heat source.
  • Don't leave any still images on a plasma screen for extended periods of time. This will cause the image to burn in.
  • Never clean your screen with abrasive cleansers. Go to an electronics store and purchase a screen cleaning kit.
  • Running the TV power cord inside the wall as shown in these pictures does not comply with building and fire codes. It isn't safe.

Things You'll Need

  • Monster Component Video Cables
  • BNC Cable
  • HDTV Tuner/Receiver (if not already built in)
  • Digital Cable Receiver
  • DVI/HDMI cables
  • Antenna (to watch local channels)
  • Receiver (for hooking up surround sound)
  • Power source (for clean and pure connection)
  • HD DVD player (for high definition movies)
  • 5.1 surround speakers
  • Monster speaker wires (better quality sound)
  • Wall mounts

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