Lighting the wall behind plasma

[deman77]

I've read somewhere that lighting the wall behind plasma improves contrast and/or makes watching easier on the eyes. I think philips even made a screeen with cabinet lighting to achieve this effect


mine is wall mounted and i assume the light source has to be hidden from the eyes.

found these:
http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stor...11158&langId=-20&parentCats=10111*10267*10268

They are a 4pack.

Should I go for this? Do they get hot? Also, should I go for white or blue. I recall someone mentioning light temperature should be on the blueish side. My wall is orchid white (read yellow).

Any clever ideas about setting it up so that it comes on with plasma. I have a harmony so an Ir switch could be an option, but I'd prefer to go cheap if I can just wire it in cleverly.

 

[MR.COATES]

Yeah Philips have the Ambilight feature but I believe this is an intelligent system which actually adjusts with the picture (i.e it's not just a light which is on).

Those lights from Ikea look like a fab idea though!

Slim, not too big and very well priced.

Mine is not wall-mounted however.

 

[crank]

Nice one mate go to say ive been thinking of doing this for a while now for my 42pv500 and those lights look like a great buy.Would be great if anyone whos done this already could give us some input on what colour's the best to get etc and is this worthwhile does it really improve the viewing experience.Even better anyone got any photos they could kindly send in

 

[crank]

MMmmm guess we were on our own in thinking this was a good idea.Anyone for snakes and ladders

 

[deman77]

I'll try it. I just hoped that someone who already has done will give good tips. I'm sure Gordon from Convergent AV was playing with one a year or so back.

My only worry at the moment is that it will be too bright. I will cover it with paper if it is and if it's safe.

I'm going for white, can always filter it with paper if I need different shade.

In terms of coming on together with plasma I'll consider one of those multi socket adaptors for PC (I think I've seen them in homebase) where if one draws power the other ones are automatically switched on and use plasma as a master. If it's cheaper then wiring in an IR switcher, I'll go for that.

Will let you know how it goes.

 

[Miron]

Just assure it is not getting too hot (I assume it shouldn't). You never know it with that IKEA stuff.

 

[crank]

I'll try it. I just hoped that someone who already has done will give good tips. I'm sure Gordon from Convergent AV was playing with one a year or so back.

My only worry at the moment is that it will be too bright. I will cover it with paper if it is and if it's safe.

I'm going for white, can always filter it with paper if I need different shade.

In terms of coming on together with plasma I'll consider one of those multi socket adaptors for PC (I think I've seen them in homebase) where if one draws power the other ones are automatically switched on and use plasma as a master. If it's cheaper then wiring in an IR switcher, I'll go for that.

Will let you know how it goes.

Yeh do that and let me know how it goes mate,a few pictures would be appreciated.I might crack on with it this weekend but im thinking more on the blue side.Just don't want to take the misses to Ikea....The old we need that we need that sindrome will kick in....Just be carefull with the paper mate or you could end up with some real lighting round the old plasma

 

[-Hitman-]

I bought a few micro strip lights from B&Q, the ones used under kitchen wall cabinets (low heat).

Tried coloured paper but the result was too dark!

Bought some blue coloured glossy film from a hobby store and covered the light strip part, using 2-3 layers until the correct lighting was acheived.

V-cheap, worked a treat!

Hope this helps.

 

[crank]

HORrraaay!! At last,nice one DR would you say this improves the veiwing experience

 

[-Hitman-]

Yeah, i would say so.

Helps with low light veiwing.

Looks very pleasing to the eye, and shows off the screen.

You'll see what i mean when you've done it!

Dr.

 

[crank]

In terms of coming on together with plasma I'll consider one of those multi socket adaptors for PC (I think I've seen them in homebase) where if one draws power the other ones are automatically switched on and use plasma as a master. If it's cheaper then wiring in an IR switcher, I'll go for that.

let me know where from and how much if you get one of these adaptors 77 they sound just the trick

 

[Guy10]

Hi All

These look good

I can't find any spec on the Ikea site....anyone know if they're 240v...and dimmable?

Thanks

Guy

 

[Checkov]

I bought a few micro strip lights from B&Q, the ones used under kitchen wall cabinets (low heat).

Tried coloured paper but the result was too dark!

Bought some blue coloured glossy film from a hobby store and covered the light strip part, using 2-3 layers until the correct lighting was acheived.

V-cheap, worked a treat!

Hope this helps.

Any chance of a photo? This sounds great.

 

[MAW]

You can get some very trick looking LED lights that will do the biz here. I don't know that it actually does anything for the viewing experience, but at least it will not distract, like the Philips ambilight, it's awful. As Dr says, it looks very nice, if you like that kind of thing. Bit like putting lights under your car and painting it red down there to me. Pimp my ride anyone?

 

[crank]

Yeh DR come on spoil us

 

[crank]

You can get some very trick looking LED lights that will do the biz here. I don't know that it actually does anything for the viewing experience, but at least it will not distract, like the Philips ambilight, it's awful. As Dr says, it looks very nice, if you like that kind of thing. Bit like putting lights under your car and painting it red down there to me. Pimp my ride anyone?

Yes we could start a whole new thread "PIMP MY PLASMA!" This could get out of control

 

[Zebadee69]

My worry would be that any lighting may interfere with the screen, anybody any views on this? I thought a gentle blue effect would look great situated behind my wall mounted plasma but will PQ suffer in any way?

 

[Karlmac]

I heard that for the best effect you need to match the color temperature of the bulbs that you use tao backlight the screen that of the screen. 6500K 98CRI.

I have looked for these bulbs in the UK but so far all I have found are these kits specifically designed for the purpose.>

http://cinemaquestincn.goemerchant7...16458&Merchant=cinemaquestincn&ExpandedDepts=

Karlmac

 

[Zebadee69]

I was looking at these Blue L.E.D's . Any views on these mounted centre behind my wall mounted plasma to surround the plasma with a faint blue ambient lighting? Do you think they may be too bright and distract from the viewing?

 

[timdawe]

If these are the same as the ones I saw in my local Ikea last week, and I'm pretty sure they are, they are LED based.

I have some of the round ones (same idea, just a different shape) fitted to a wall unit. They don't get hot, and the light of the white ones is on the bluish side of white. I think the blue ones might be a bit too blue.

There is a transformer that plugs into the mains, then that feeds a splitter that the four lights plug into. I've got a feeling that you can't dim LEDs, but these are not all that bright anyway.

My local Ikea had them out on display in the lighting section, so might be worth popping in to have a look if you live near a store?

 

[deman77]

bought mine yesterday. timdawe's description is spot on. my ikea didn't have them on display and the I spent about 10min before I found them (the box is really small, remember the name and you'll do fine). They are very thin strips of metal about a foot long with led's on them, plus into the mains with a table lamp style switch on the mains wire. They will be easy to bluetac to the back of the plasma. Haven't tried putting them on yet, so don't know how bright they are, but if they are not bright enough there is enough room on the perimeter of the screen to mount the second set (42'' screen is about 2foot high and 3.5 foot long). Note, there is no dimmer on them, but I like the idea, so could probably adapt one of the cheapo lightswitch jobbies if they are too bright. Does anyone know if LEDs are dimmable.

i agree that blue might turn out a bit too blue. it'll probably be an option to filter the white if the colour temperature is too warm. if i remember my science classes white contains all the colours so you can filter it to be blueish whilst you can't filter blue to be warmer.

In terms of wiring, B&Q does this PC socket adaptor I mentioned earlier for 13.99 which I will get when I get a buy in to keep the lights and hint how nice it would be to get them to come on with the screen. I will also plug the DVD player, xbox and sync extractor into that so it will save a few pennies on not running stuff in standby.

 

[demostenes]

The Leds can be dimmed but they work with currents around 20mA and 2/4V (each) and a light/voltage curve of exponential type, so u have to place a variable resistor in series with the led stripe (need to make a few calculations to chose which resistor range). But as timdawe said they are not that bright.

As for the color, my opinion is if u match the panel color 6900ºK with the light youll get a very cold white color (almost daylight) that can be a bit unpleasent. A fluorescent light tube color 840 (philips) as 6500ºK (halogen as 3000ºK which is a warm light) but youll get lots of light coming out of the rear. Blue is pleasent

A fluorescent light can only be dimmable if it as a electronic dimmable balast (expensive ).

 

[demostenes]

There are LOTS of led strips for PC in lots of colors and variable sizes but they run with 12V and ... cheaper .

 

[tujax]

A note regarding philips ambilight. There are several ambilight modes, only the so called "Dynamic" is actually dynamic, in the sense that it changes the color and intensity of lights with respect to what is on screen. All remaining modes just produce a solid constant color: red, blue, cold white, warm white, and perhaps a few others (only remember these ones). My favourite is actually the blue mode.

The philips AL doesn't interfere in any sense with the picture. At night that's a very pleasance experience in fact. The only two cacthes are: 1. too power waste, it almost doubles the plasma energy consumption; 2. too noisy, those lights bulbs make an annoying sound while on.

 

[crank]

Well 77 read that you got yours yesterday and could wait no longer So jumped in the car straight to ikea found them straight away and decided on the blue.Got home and have fitted them straight away and it looks GGGrrrrrreat .The blue's nice and subtle looks great around the tv.Will try and get a photo on at some point tonight if i can work it out