Flat Screen TV's

Flylady · 03-04-2012, 01:33 PM

Hi,
I want to purchase (upgrade) with a new flat screen tv this spring. My question is, does anyone have experience with them that closes their camp for the season for the winter? Anything special you do to prevent damage from the cold temps in the winter?
Thanks!

upthesaukee · 03-04-2012, 02:44 PM

I would give serious consideration to removing it over the winter. Keep the packaging for the TV and ship it back to CA via UPS, FedEx, or Greyhound.

Just a thought.

BroadHopper · 03-04-2012, 03:06 PM

i would unplug them to prevent power surge.

I would also keep them out of sight to help prevent burglary.

MAXUM · 03-04-2012, 03:10 PM

I just looked in the manual for my LCD TV and it says it should not be stored in temps below -4 degrees.

ishoot308 · 03-04-2012, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flylady

Hi,
I want to purchase (upgrade) with a new flat screen tv this spring. My question is, does anyone have experience with them that closes their camp for the season for the winter? Anything special you do to prevent damage from the cold temps in the winter?
Thanks!

Hi Flylady;

Yes I have experience with keeping and using my flatscreens in my camp during the winter. I have two 55" LCD flat screens that we use on weekends in the winter and obviously all summer.

A couple important things to remember... First off, forget about a plasma TV as it cannot handle the cold temperatures. Stay with an LCD and you will be fine. An LCD has no problem handling the cold temps. LCD's are what is used in motorhomes, conversion vans and other RV's across the country and can easily handle temperature changes without issue. Also before turning your TV on make sure you have brought it up to room temperature first. When I arrive at my camp in the dead of winter and it's zero outside, I turn the heat on and do not attempt to turn the TV on until room temp is 65 - 70 degrees. I have a small portable electric heater that I place a couple feet beneath the TV to help bring up to temperature.

I also have a flatscreen LCD in my conversion van and have never done anything. That TV has been turned on and off when it's been well below zero and has functioned flawlessly. I guess I am just a little more careful with the TV's at my camp.

We do cover ours with a blanket when we are not there in the winter (not sure why though

). We also unplug it in the winter. In the summer we keep it plugged into a quality surge protector.

If your going LCD, look at the Samsung brand. They make a great LCD TV!!

Good Luck!

Dan

P.S. My title should say No Problem with LCD not LED. Couldn't edit it...

Kamper · 03-04-2012, 03:48 PM

We have a flat-screen but it's a projection model. I heard the LCD's are best not stored too cold but have no idea abut 'plasma screen.' The projection model should be safe to be left in the very cold.

We were told the bulb would only last about a year. Slightly more than a year after we got it, it began to shut it self down. I figurred time for a new bulb and openned the cage so I could take the old in in to be matched. The cage has a protective screen to keep dust off the VERY HOT bulb. I vacuumed the dust off the cage and also cleaned the mounting area. This needs to be done periodicaly.

They are much wider that an LCD but less hot than a plasma.

Hope that helps with your selection process.

MDoug · 03-04-2012, 04:03 PM

We have plasma and lcd flat screens at our camp. We cover them with blankets during winter, leaving the plasma tv set plugged in. So far, so good.

TheProfessor · 03-04-2012, 07:32 PM

I leave a Garmin GPS in my car at all times. I also leave a cell phone in my car at all times. Never any issues. Here locally.

As far as TV's go as stated above stick with the LCD and skip the plasma. Plasma TV's reflect light and LCD's do not. Yes, those with plasma TV's love them.

If you do not have any soundbar or home theater speakers do look for a TV that has speakers on the front. Few available now with any speaker or speakers on front as most folks do use a soundbar or home theater speakers.

If you do purchase and LCD with no speakers on front - then the speaker is in the rear and the sound will bounce off back wall. Some find this OK while others hate it.

Flylady · 03-04-2012, 09:22 PM

Lot's of good tips and advice. My son has two Samsung's and he loves them. So, I think I will look for a Samsung with front speakers when I get back to NH. I always have unplugged all of the electrical devices when I close the place up. So adding a blanket to the closing process over the TV should not be too bad.
Already in countdown mode back to the lake!

Island Girl · 03-04-2012, 09:56 PM

I have a cheap Vizio and it survives just fine. I do not cover it. I think i unplugged it. We make sure the room is warm in the spring before turning on the TV. I also have an lcd computer screen, a cheapo, and it works as well.

IG

Merrymeeting · 03-05-2012, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

Keep the packaging for the TV and ship it back to CA via UPS, FedEx, or Greyhound.

My son is temporarily employed in CA for 6 months. He was going to take his TV with him until he saw the shipping costs. You would be better off buying a low cost tv and replacing it every year!

Winnisquamguy · 03-05-2012, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Island Girl

I have a cheap Vizio and it survives just fine.IG

I agree with you about the older Vizio's but they are now making a decent quality Tv, and they are not cheap anymore.To the original poster before we moved up full time we just unplugged ours and we always left the heat at 45 degrees never had a problem with ours. Good Luck!

SteveA · 03-05-2012, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Hi Flylady;

Yes I have experience with keeping and using my flatscreens in my camp during the winter. I have two 55" LCD flat screens that we use on weekends in the winter and obviously all summer....

Thanks for Nothin Dan, I was about to offer to "babysit" (if it's a real BIG ONE) it all winter for her, here in Gilford!

I would even do it for free!

jrc · 03-05-2012, 06:56 PM

Remember every Christmas thousands (millions?) of LCD and Plasma TVs show up at Sears, Best Buy, and Walmart. They get there in a truck, an unheated semi trailer.

No modern, household TV is damaged by cold storage. Just unplug it because power spikes during winter storms can cause issues.

RLW · 03-05-2012, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveA

Thanks for Nothin Dan, I was about to offer to "babysit" (if it's a real BIG ONE) it all winter for her, here in Gilford!

I would even do it for free!

Do you have the room? If you do not for the 2 of them, I can always put one in my family room for the winter and keep it nice and warm.

03-04-2012, 01:33 PM	#1
Flylady Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: So. California & Lakes Region Posts: 256 Thanks: 225 Thanked 106 Times in 61 Posts	Flat Screen TV's Hi, I want to purchase (upgrade) with a new flat screen tv this spring. My question is, does anyone have experience with them that closes their camp for the season for the winter? Anything special you do to prevent damage from the cold temps in the winter? Thanks!

03-04-2012, 02:44 PM	#2
upthesaukee Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 5,600 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 2,462 Thanked 1,983 Times in 1,083 Posts	LCD's do notl like cold I would give serious consideration to removing it over the winter. Keep the packaging for the TV and ship it back to CA via UPS, FedEx, or Greyhound. Just a thought. __________________ I Live Here... I am always UPTHESAUKEE !!!!

03-04-2012, 03:06 PM	#3
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,583 Thanks: 3,226 Thanked 1,106 Times in 796 Posts	Any elecronics i would unplug them to prevent power surge. I would also keep them out of sight to help prevent burglary. __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

03-04-2012, 04:03 PM	#7
MDoug Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 342 Thanks: 116 Thanked 42 Times in 39 Posts	Flat Screen TV We have plasma and lcd flat screens at our camp. We cover them with blankets during winter, leaving the plasma tv set plugged in. So far, so good.

03-04-2012, 09:22 PM	#9
Flylady Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: So. California & Lakes Region Posts: 256 Thanks: 225 Thanked 106 Times in 61 Posts	Thanks everyone Lot's of good tips and advice. My son has two Samsung's and he loves them. So, I think I will look for a Samsung with front speakers when I get back to NH. I always have unplugged all of the electrical devices when I close the place up. So adding a blanket to the closing process over the TV should not be too bad. Already in countdown mode back to the lake!

The Following User Says Thank You to BroadHopper For This Useful Post:
Flylady (03-04-2012)

03-04-2012, 03:10 PM	#4
MAXUM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kuna ID Posts: 2,755 Thanks: 246 Thanked 1,942 Times in 802 Posts	I just looked in the manual for my LCD TV and it says it should not be stored in temps below -4 degrees.

03-04-2012, 03:48 PM	#6
Kamper Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Thornton's Ferry Posts: 1,307 Thanks: 67 Thanked 172 Times in 128 Posts	We have a flat-screen but it's a projection model. I heard the LCD's are best not stored too cold but have no idea abut 'plasma screen.' The projection model should be safe to be left in the very cold. We were told the bulb would only last about a year. Slightly more than a year after we got it, it began to shut it self down. I figurred time for a new bulb and openned the cage so I could take the old in in to be matched. The cage has a protective screen to keep dust off the VERY HOT bulb. I vacuumed the dust off the cage and also cleaned the mounting area. This needs to be done periodicaly. They are much wider that an LCD but less hot than a plasma. Hope that helps with your selection process.

03-04-2012, 07:32 PM	#8
TheProfessor Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,130 Thanks: 17 Thanked 347 Times in 209 Posts	I leave a Garmin GPS in my car at all times. I also leave a cell phone in my car at all times. Never any issues. Here locally. As far as TV's go as stated above stick with the LCD and skip the plasma. Plasma TV's reflect light and LCD's do not. Yes, those with plasma TV's love them. If you do not have any soundbar or home theater speakers do look for a TV that has speakers on the front. Few available now with any speaker or speakers on front as most folks do use a soundbar or home theater speakers. If you do purchase and LCD with no speakers on front - then the speaker is in the rear and the sound will bounce off back wall. Some find this OK while others hate it.

03-04-2012, 09:56 PM	#10
Island Girl Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Central MA Posts: 2,352 Thanks: 18 Thanked 535 Times in 179 Posts	Lcd screen survive winter I have a cheap Vizio and it survives just fine. I do not cover it. I think i unplugged it. We make sure the room is warm in the spring before turning on the TV. I also have an lcd computer screen, a cheapo, and it works as well. IG __________________ Island Girl ....... Make Lemonade

The Following User Says Thank You to SteveA For This Useful Post:
ishoot308 (03-05-2012)

03-05-2012, 06:56 PM	#14
jrc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NH Posts: 2,689 Thanks: 33 Thanked 439 Times in 249 Posts	Remember every Christmas thousands (millions?) of LCD and Plasma TVs show up at Sears, Best Buy, and Walmart. They get there in a truck, an unheated semi trailer. No modern, household TV is damaged by cold storage. Just unplug it because power spikes during winter storms can cause issues.