Television

[fitch]

Built a bar in my pole barn an need to know what type of TV (LCD, LED, Plasma, or Tube) would work best out there in harsh Michigan winters. The barn will not be heated all the time and I do plan to put foam insulation around the perimeter. The ceiling has about 12-15" of blown in insulation. When I'm in there, I run a 75K Big Maxx propane Mr Heater.

 

[pattenp]

My Samsung LED says operating temp of 50F to 104F. Storage -4F to 113F.

Some info from the web....

If you've been forced to store your LED TV in a cold environment below its minimum operating temperature, exercise caution before powering it back up and wait to acclimate your TV slowly to warmer temperatures. Give your TV up to 24 hours to gradually adjust. Exposing your LED TV to drastic temperature fluctuations can cause dew to form on its sensitive electrical components, affecting its performance.

Read more: Do LED Flat Screen TVs Freeze in Cold Weather? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_12196996_led-flat-screen-tvs-freeze-cold-weather.html#ixzz29wHsrvWF

 

[KCarGuy]

I have 2 Old Tube Style TV's out in my Garage, and they have been out there for at least 12 years. (one down and one up in the loft/Bar area).

I usually dont have any heat on unless I am working in there, or Family gatherings.
They both have held up fine, and...People are just about giving them away.
for $25 you can pick up a 35" all day long.
(if it craps out...Big Deal, get another)

 

[Fastback]

I'm in the same boat, I need an hdmi input on my tv so I can connect with my phone. I like to stream the mecum auctions with my phone but want a bigger display so I can see it from across the shop.

 

[trainer]

Used tube tv's are the best bargain right now.
Kinda heavy, but you can generally get them for free. No real worries about being in the cold.

 

[number3]

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.209232862423293.56990.209162935763619&type=3

I sell these outdoor TV. They are expensive and maybe somewhat over kill for your needs but you did ask what the best thing to use would be.

 

[Baada]

Whatever you do DON'T pay extra for the outdoor rated TV's at four times the cost of comparable normal TV. My brother in law has had 2 regular LCD's he got for about $400 outside under his covered deck and they are still going strong through two cold damp Missouri fall/winters. If they burn out after a few years he can just buy another one. Even if you do that four times in 10 years you'll still have spent the same amount of money and you will have had more updated TV's along the way.

As for which type of TV to get I would focus on getting the size you want at the best cost. It doesn't seem like the situation you are describing is going to require the highest picture quality available and the farther away you are viewing it from the less important picture quality is. Go shopping the week after Christmas or the week after the Superbowl and get something that's in the medium quality range that's on sale.

 

[Kevin54]

Used tube tv's are the best bargain right now.
Kinda heavy, but you can generally get them for free. No real worries about being in the cold.

Are you talking about actual "tube" TV' or just the older style TV's with a picture tube instead of a flat screen? To me the old "Tube" TV were the ones that you'd go with your dad to the local store and check out the vacuum tubes to see if they worked.

For the OP.....are you going to insulate your walls? If you do, then when you run your heater it will take less to heat it, plus with insulation it will retain the heat. In the summer it will help to keep it cool. I keep my thermostat set to 50 when I'm not in the garage in the deadass of winter and it may kick on once or twice a day, but doesn't take long to warm the whole garage. As far as TV's I have two of the older style, but WallyWorld has some decent prices on the 42" and a 50" flat panel. I think I may have a new TV for Christmas

 

[Cougar]

I read somewhere, I think on an AV forum, about an electronics sealer used in the marine industry.
You could take the back off the TV and spray the boards to protect them from possible moisture.

 

[6768rogues]

Western NY climate, barn heated to 45 unoccupied 55-60 occupied. Samsung LED TV takes a bit longer to warm up when cold, but works great and is 5 years old.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I had a older tube TV out in the garage, it died recently. It cooled down to 48-50 degrees during the winter. It's going to get replaced with an older TV I believe.

 

[tcianci]

My Samsung LED says operating temp of 50F to 104F. Storage -4F to 113F.

Some info from the web....

If you've been forced to store your LED TV in a cold environment below its minimum operating temperature, exercise caution before powering it back up and wait to acclimate your TV slowly to warmer temperatures. Give your TV up to 24 hours to gradually adjust. Exposing your LED TV to drastic temperature fluctuations can cause dew to form on its sensitive electrical components, affecting its performance.

Read more: Do LED Flat Screen TVs Freeze in Cold Weather? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_12196996_led-flat-screen-tvs-freeze-cold-weather.html#ixzz29wHsrvWF

I'm calling BS on the info from the web. Dew will form on electronic components or anything else when the temperature of the item drops below the dew point. Dew is not an issue when the TV is going from cold to warm. Cold winter air typically is low in humidity so even when the set is cooling down and the device drops below the dew point, humidity and dew are probably not going to be an issue. The first part of the reply quoted above is spot on: you need to go by the storage and operating temperature specs for the specific TV you want to get.