AVS › AVS Forum › A/V Control & Automation › Tweaks and Do-It-Yourself › Backup to wall mount failure - not killing kids for fun and profit
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Backup to wall mount failure - not killing kids for fun and profit

post #1 of 16
1/17/12 at 2:10pm
Thread Starter 
I'm a couple days from mounting a large, heavy object via Monoprice mount above my fireplace. I've already secured the mounting plate, just waiting for the electrician to wire in the service (it's family, free, and I hate working on my 200A service).

The Monoprice mount seems very sturdy. I got some good long lag screws from Lowes to firm up the install and I'm very confident the TV will hold.

But what if...

My very young daughters love to sit around and play in that area and I'm not sure I'm 100% comfortable with essentially putting their lives in the China-sourced metal mount. Has anyone installed any kind of backup system in case of mount failure? I'm thinking something that drills into a stud and attaches to the TV in a secondary manor with something with a little give to it so a sudden detachment doesn't snap it - a high rated, short bungee cord of sorts.

If the TV ever did break loose I wouldn't care about damage to the TV; I'd almost welcome an excuse to upgrade. I would rather avoid any kind of major head trauma however.
Reply
Reply

AVS Top Picks

post #2 of 16
1/17/12 at 2:38pm
Zip ties!?
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 16
1/17/12 at 4:03pm
You could ask Martin-Baker to design a zero-zero ejection system for the set. That would prevent head trauma (from the TV at least). Overkill? Maybe. You'd be the only one on the block, though!
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 16
1/17/12 at 4:49pm
My 46" Sammy has a 5th screw to attach a cable to it, for this purpose.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 16
1/19/12 at 1:43pm
If it's hidden, I don't see the harm. But what if that cable breaks too? Maybe a 2nd, or 3rd cable?

I think it's much more likely that failure will occur with the wall/stud attachment, than with the mount.

Did you notice that the studs are only secured with a couple nails?

Maybe you should look into a projector. On a low pedestal. And Goo Systems screen paint.
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 16
1/19/12 at 3:37pm
Thread Starter 
I guess that's the point of a reserve system - to provide a little more protection in the worst case scenario. If the mount fails, and the backup system fails, maybe God just really has it in for my kids.

Studs are solid, lag bolts are solid. I'm putting in a thick eyelet deep into another part of the stud w/a thick bungee wrapped through a piece of the TV's frame in back. If the worst happens it will at least substantially slow the fall to something non-lethal.
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 16
1/21/12 at 1:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Arcanlaw View Post

I guess that's the point of a reserve system - to provide a little more protection in the worst case scenario. If the mount fails, and the backup system fails, maybe God just really has it in for my kids.

LOL... Just be sure that your insurance covers "act of God" incidents...
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 16
1/21/12 at 8:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Speed Daemon View Post

LOL... Just be sure that your insurance covers "act of God" incidents...

I don't think insurance pay for the kids.


Hey man, you acted responsibly, that's all you can do, society won't blame ya.


Now leaving a toddler in a hot car, or backing up the drive way wo knowing where the kids are... perhaps think about those.
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 16
1/31/12 at 10:12am
Good thread...
I'm actually thinking of a back up plan for my setup...

I'm going to shelf mount my projector in the back of the room, which will be directly above my head as I sit on the couch. The shelf will be definitely drilled into the studs... Still makes you paranoid though, right?
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 16
2/1/12 at 9:50am
I'm sure you also secured the tall furniture in all the rooms, right?

Not being too sarcastic here...I did secure the tall chests in their room's which could be climbed. As for the TVs, just make sure to secure the lock mechanism so it can't come off the mount. Also, yes, some TVs do have a security hole for attaching a cable anchor.
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 16
2/1/12 at 12:56pm
Make kids wear those pet buzzers, when they cross the invisible perimeter set up by u, they get a shock! KIDDING!

A big coffee table in front of the TV should do the trick and stop the obsession.
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 16
2/1/12 at 2:10pm
Thread Starter 
As I said I'm mounting the TV above the fireplace. Not sure what kind of feng shui you subscribe to, but a large coffee table in front of the fireplace isn't going to win me any room design awards.

TV is up. I'm pretty happy with the setup. Stainless steel eyelet is very secure, with a long bungee wrapped around everything behind the TV. If the brackets or bolts holding them to the TV give, the bungee should keep the TV from crashing straight down. TV will probably get destroyed as it's not a controlled descent by any means, but who gives a crap if it saves a kid.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 16
2/23/12 at 11:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrBobb View Post

Make kids wear those pet buzzers, when they cross the invisible perimeter set up by u, they get a shock! KIDDING!

A big coffee table in front of the TV should do the trick and stop the obsession.

HAHAHA I agree 100% or just move her play toys away from that area. Good luck!
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 16
6/12/12 at 8:04pm
I always hang on my Monoprice mounts before I put the TV up (200+ lbs) even my living room one with it's tilting pull out swiveling mount was strong enough. But your "safety mechanism seems plenty good enough. If your trying to kill the kids, I'm sure there are easier ways then making the TV fall on them, You should be fine.
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 16
6/14/12 at 11:59am
Why use a bungie chord...it will probably just stretch to it's extreme and snap. Use some high tensive strength wire - they sell it at home depot and can hold several hundred pounds. Make it tight so if something does come loose it can't get momentum. The wire should hold the tv exactly where it is now. I have the exact same set up as you with a 9 month old and a 50" plasma mounted above the fireplace. The plasma has been there for 6 years so I doubt it's going anywhere. Now I did hang some large surround sound speakers from my ceiling and I did run a safety wire from the back of the speaker to the mount screw in the ceiling joist. That way if the mounting bracket ever breaks free the speaker will just swing a little in it's current position. If the screw comes out of the joist, then something went very wrong.
Reply
Reply
post #16 of 16
7/20/12 at 7:17pm
Use the screw on back of tv for cable. Make cable long, so it will fall a bit first. If braided aircraft cable breaks it will still slow tv down, and it would be like it falling from a few feet lower.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Tweaks and Do-It-Yourself

AVS Top Picks

AVS › AVS Forum › A/V Control & Automation › Tweaks and Do-It-Yourself › Backup to wall mount failure - not killing kids for fun and profit