Ideas wanted for LCD as Faux fireplace

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D1023319

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Topic # 148528 22-Jun-2014 08:14

Hi

The project: - I salvaged the attached heater from the tip years ago and converted it to flame effect bulbs (rather than spinning disks over std bulbs).
But time moves on and I thought I'd source a old LCD TV and insert it where the reflector sits.

What I'd like is your ideas on generating the image preferably with low power and low noise?

cheers

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Vocus

Reply # 1071959 22-Jun-2014 08:20

Does it get hot above the heater there? I'm not sure if an LCD TV will like that an awful lot.

Why not get a heat pump and replace the entire heater with an LCD TV, then use an rPi or similar to produce the flame effect?

timmmay

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Reply # 1071961 22-Jun-2014 08:31

I'd remove the heater, remove the chimney, rejib, put in a heat pump and put a big LCD on the wall.

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D1023319

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Reply # 1071984 22-Jun-2014 09:25

timmmay: I'd remove the heater, remove the chimney, rejib, put in a heat pump and put a big LCD on the wall.

I had not thought of Raspberry Pi. Will look into that.
In regards to heat impacting a LCD screen - I am not worried if the screen gets stuffed or doesnt last as this is only for fun with cheap s/hand equip.
Out of interest, there is many feet of space behind the current fireplace for bulky equipment.

Re other comments.

I removed the chimney bricks after the Christchurch quakes but I would never consider removing the chimney surround as this would impact the ornate plaster ceiling and its architraves apart from aesthetics.
( apart from limiting the options of alternative fireplace inserts in the future)

Regarding a heat pumps - that are only ok for boring background heat.
The purpose of this heater is to provide a single radiated heat source as part of ambiance, i.e. a hearth to gather around.

timmmay

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Reply # 1071987 22-Jun-2014 09:52

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Boring background heat? Strange term. They're effective, good value heating. What you're doing is decorative, I think an LCD would look fake and may go against your aims.

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ubergeeknz

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Reply # 1071990 22-Jun-2014 10:14

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Could always use a Plasma, then you won't need a heater as well...

D1023319

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Reply # 1071992 22-Jun-2014 10:18

ubergeeknz: Could always use a Plasma, then you won't need a heater as well...

good one :-)

D1023319

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Reply # 1071995 22-Jun-2014 10:36

timmmay: Boring background heat? Strange term. They're effective, good value heating. What you're doing is decorative, I think an LCD would look fake and may go against your aims.

Yes - it is decorative plus the attraction of current heater that I salvaged from the tip is that it is fake. I like the falseness of the coals and reflection.

I am not saying heatpumps are not effective. They are good and my preference for installing a heat pump would be to install a underfloor distribution version.
Although I do wonder what peoples total expenditure on heat pumps is ( compared to std heater) if they run them for longer because they are cheap?
FYI - up to now my efforts for heating development has been to install insulation and a water barrier over all the ground under my house plus I have retained pelmets and thick curtains and nets.

Fred99

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Reply # 1071997 22-Jun-2014 10:48

There are plenty of videos on youtube of fireplace / wood burning etc. Some have links where you can buy a DVD etc. Download, copy to USB stick (may need conversion to correct format), plug in to TV, and away you go. You can probably download video of snow falling to make you feel better on hot summer days.

gzt

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Reply # 1072001 22-Jun-2014 11:09

Mounted directly in the front of the heater could have problems with panel and electronics failure. Cutting a hole in the back of the heater for mounting is a better option keeping everything cool. Media player or rasberry pi for the driver. You need to rig it so it plays/starts the visuals by default. Easier with the pi imo but maybe some media players have a default screensaver option. Keep the whole thing switched independently of the heater just for flexibility. Good luck!

D1023319

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Reply # 1072029 22-Jun-2014 13:13

gzt: Mounted directly in the front of the heater could have problems with panel and electronics failure. Cutting a hole in the back of the heater for mounting is a better option keeping everything cool. Media player or rasberry pi for the driver. You need to rig it so it plays/starts the visuals by default. Easier with the pi imo but maybe some media players have a default screensaver option. Keep the whole thing switched independently of the heater just for flexibility. Good luck!

Yes I agree.
I thought I'd cut out the back of the heater to fit whatever size of LCD TV I get ( leaving the plastic coals in front with the existing candle effect bulbs).

I also thought I'd mount the LCD TV 50-100mm behind the current back of the heater.
To keep it airtight between the TV and outer heater shell (to ensure all heat is directed back into the room), I am thinking I'll form a mounting box out of scrap Zincalume sprayed black.

The bit I am unsure about was the TV picture source although from reading this morning - there does seem to be a bit about raspberry Pi displaying a tv signal.
Hopefully there will be stuff on RPi linked to USB avi which i'll investigate when time permits.

Noting the heater current has separate switching for the light - I'll connect the rPi transformer through that.

timmmay

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Reply # 1072032 22-Jun-2014 13:19

D1023319: I am not saying heatpumps are not effective. They are good and my preference for installing a heat pump would be to install a underfloor distribution version.
Although I do wonder what peoples total expenditure on heat pumps is ( compared to std heater) if they run them for longer because they are cheap?
FYI - up to now my efforts for heating development has been to install insulation and a water barrier over all the ground under my house plus I have retained pelmets and thick curtains and nets.

Good first steps, water barrier and insulation helped my place heaps.

My heat bill after insulating and installing two heat pumps is lower, and the house is much much more comfortable. I used to pay up to $450 per month and it still wasn't very warm, now in winter we're $250 or max $300 in winter and it's 22 degrees when we're up, 18 degrees when we're sleeping (exactly how I like it).

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D1023319

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Reply # 1072203 22-Jun-2014 20:02

timmmay:
D1023319: I am not saying heatpumps are not effective. They are good and my preference for installing a heat pump would be to install a underfloor distribution version.
Although I do wonder what peoples total expenditure on heat pumps is ( compared to std heater) if they run them for longer because they are cheap?
FYI - up to now my efforts for heating development has been to install insulation and a water barrier over all the ground under my house plus I have retained pelmets and thick curtains and nets.

Good first steps, water barrier and insulation helped my place heaps.

My heat bill after insulating and installing two heat pumps is lower, and the house is much much more comfortable. I used to pay up to $450 per month and it still wasn't very warm, now in winter we're $250 or max $300 in winter and it's 22 degrees when we're up, 18 degrees when we're sleeping (exactly how I like it).

Thx for info
Ouch - FYI mine with 2 adults and 2 teenagers for May was $282. - I wonder why yours was so high? - Sorry forgot to note no of units used for comparision.
Only heating is 2 column oil heaters and i radiant pictured but our temperatures are less than yours.

timmmay

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Reply # 1072216 22-Jun-2014 20:18

That $450 was the middle of winter with absolutely no insulation, three people when I had flatmates. It was still cold.

If you spend $280 now basically a heat pump will let you spend the same but have a more comfortable house. My place is around 140 square meters, just my wife and I. We have the heat on 21-23 from 4pm to 9pm, middle of winter we have it on 18 overnight, then it heats up for an hour in the morning. The house is a strange old design, so we have one heat pump in the kitchen/dining and one in the TV room/bedroom area. We usually only run one, but in the morning we have to run both for a little while.

We're off your topic sorry. Basically, heat pumps good, economical heating. If I had a new house I'd have a central heat pump heating, not high wall units.

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Glassboy

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Reply # 1072224 22-Jun-2014 20:29

There seem to be a lot of fireplace apps out, even my Sony Bluray has one. Personally if I had that fireplace I'd have someone paint me a view back into a spaceship of clockwork repair robots.

floydie

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Reply # 1072283 22-Jun-2014 23:52

you could mount the TV behind a sheet of high temp glass similar to that used in freestanding wood burner doors??
could you get a rasp Pi to start up and the video file straight from power up without having to navigate anything?

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