How to Mount a 32-Inch Flat-Panel TV
Flat-screen televisions have dropped in price, and it has become easier to justify upgrading to a larger TV. That, however, can cause problems for people that don't have enough room to accommodate the larger TV. Fortunately, flat screen TVs are produced with the idea that their owners may want to mount them on a wall. They come with mounting holes predrilled on the back of the TVs. Mounting a flat-screen to the wall takes some time and attention to detail, but with some basic tools it's a task that can be completed without the help of a professional.
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Things You'll Need
- Phillips screwdriver
- Electric drill
- Stud sensor
- 3/16-inch drill bit
- 1/2-inch socket wrench
- Pencil
Instructions
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Connect the Wall Plate
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1
Use the pencil to make a mark on your wall at the approximate height that you want your TV mounted.
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2
Use a stud sensor to find two adjacent studs that are at least 12 inches apart.
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3
Use a drill and the 3/16-inch bit to drill a 2.5-inch deep hole in each stud, making sure the holes are level with each other.
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4
Place the flat side of the wall plate against your wall, lining up the predrilled holes on the plate with the holes you just drilled.
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5
Use the pencil to mark where the bottom holes will be. Make these marks in the holes along the bottom of the wall plate that line up with the holes you already drilled.
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6
Drill 2.5-inch-deep holes on the marks you just made.
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7
Put the flat side of the wall plate up to the wall. Secure the wall plate to the wall where you drilled, using the 2.5-inch lag bolts and lag bolt washers that were supplied with the mounting materials.
Connecting the TV to the Wall Plate
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8
Select the bolts for connecting your TV to the wall plate. Wall mounts are generally universal, so they include a variety of hardware. To determine which bolts will work for your TV, thread the bolts into the mounting holes on the back of your TV--only the correct bolts will thread properly.
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9
Lean your TV against a wall or another flat surface and line up the monitor brackets--the long metal pieces--with the mounting holes on the back of your TV. The end of the bracket with all of the small holes drilled into it is the bottom of the mounting bracket.
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10
Put a lock washer and a standard washer on the bolt for your TV. Run the bolt through the holes on the monitor bracket and into the mounting holes on the back of the TV. Tighten the bolts with the Phillips screwdriver. This will secure the monitor brackets to your TV.
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11
Secure the TV to the wall plate by placing the monitor brackets over the top of the wall plate. Near the top of the monitor bracket are precut notches to fit over the plate. Slowly lower the TV so that the bottom of the monitor brackets rotates into place under the bottom of the wall plate.
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12
Slide the safety bar, which will help support the weight of the TV, into the bottom of the wall plate, below the monitor brackets. There are notches at the bottom of the brackets that allow the bar to slide into place.
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Tips & Warnings
When purchasing your wall mount, make sure it accommodates a 32-inch TV.
