Articles and whitepapers

AV for Wet Areas (1/8/2005)

By Bob Wheeler, Marata Vision

At one time, AV equipment such as TV and Hi-Fi took pride of place in the living room, and the whole family would join together to watch the latest programs or listen to music. AV systems quickly spread to other rooms in the house, giving individuals the choice of what to watch and listen to, wherever they want.

TV and music systems are now commonplace not only in bedrooms and kitchens, but in many different rooms in the house, and even in the garden. These may be stand alone systems or, as is the current trend, distributed audio and video from a central location that serves AV media throughout a property.

The demand for AV media is now spreading into some of the more unusual areas in the home - bathrooms being one. As kitchens are no longer just places to prepare food, so bathrooms are no longer simply to wash in, but are areas in which to relax and unwind. Getting music into a bathroom is relatively easy, with speakers being mounted in the ceiling away from direct sources of water. TV on the other hand, provides the installer with a difficult set of problems.

Aquavision TV in the bathroom

Suitable TVs for wet areas

Music can be heard from anywhere in the room, but a TV needs to be in direct line of sight, which means being close to the bath, sink or shower. Traditional TVs are not safe to be used in close proximity to wet areas without protection, due to the high operating voltages. Recessing a TV in wall and providing a waterproof front is possible, but takes space and a lot of work for the installer, and can be costly for the client.

The development of LCD TVs has provided a partial solution to this problem. LCD TVs operate on low voltage - typically 12-24V DC - and are much more compact. This makes them easier to recess in a wall, but they still generate a very high initial voltage at start up, and are prone to damage if they get wet. Hence additional work for protection is still required when installing.

Sharp flat screen LCD TV

Purpose-built TVs are now available which overcome all of the problems associated with installing in bathrooms and other wet areas. Using LCD screen technology, these units have a toughened glass front and are supplied with mounting hardware which, when installed correctly, makes them completely waterproof.

Aquavision TV when off

Aquavision TV when on

Fitting the TV

These TVs can be mounted in solid walls or stud walls, although the former requires the wall to be chased out to an appropriate size and depth of approximately 65-85mm. The final stage of installation usually involves sealing the unit with a silicone compound, so make sure that it is operating correctly before sealing! When handling and fitting or removing the glass front, it is advisable to use a suction cup as 'levering out' using a blade or screwdriver is very likely to crack the glass!

Powering the TV

Fitting the TV screen is only part of the installation story - getting power and signal to the screen is also necessary! As the screens generally operate from a low-voltage power supply, which in turn requires mains voltage, it is essential to provide a switched, fused spur for the power supply away from any wet area, and just run the low voltage side to the screen location. Power supplies can often be located in the ceiling void above the bathroom or in a bedroom cupboard if the bathroom is adjacent to the bedroom, as is often the case with an 'en-suite'.

Installing electrical equipment in bath or shower rooms will always need care to ensure safety. For reference, the IEE Wiring Regulations (16th Edition) have identified particular zones within the bathroom to indicate what type of electrical equipment can be installed and where. Always refer to the latest IEE Wiring Regulations or a qualified electrician to ensure that you are installing to the latest regulations/code of practice. (If you are installing in a property outside the UK make sure that you understand and conform to the regulations of that country).

Routing the AV signals

In addition to power, video and audio signals need to be routed to the TV. The simplest connection is a straightforward aerial lead from an RF distribution unit. Assuming that the TV has a tuner built in, a picture can be displayed very easily.

But what about the audio? If the TV has built-in speakers, it is unlikely to be completely waterproof since the sound has to get out. It is therefore necessary to run cables into the ceiling for speakers which, if not supplied, should be moisture-protected and suitable for installing in a damp environment. If the bathroom has speakers installed as a zone for multiroom audio, it may be possible to use the same speakers with the addition of a suitable switch to change from the local waterproof TV to the audio. Alternatively, line-level audio from the TV could be routed back to the multiroom system and selected as a source for that zone.

The SpeakerCraft DT series speaker is 100% weather resistant and incorporates two tweeters and a dual voice-coil woofer. This design allows the speaker to deliver both high and low frequencies for the left and right channels from one speaker.

If connecting via the RF cable to a remote satellite receiver, then use an IR repeater to allow local control of the receiver for changing channel. It should also possible to play DVDs or view the content of a media server on the TV in the bathroom. In this case, run cables for video, S-video or component as appropriate, and do not forget to include cables for the audio too!

Operating the TV

As with any installation, ease of operation for the user is the key to success. Make sure that the TV includes a waterproof remote control or can be operated from a local in-wall control plate. If you are planning to install a waterproof TV as part of an integrated system, check how easily it can be switched and controlled remotely. Recent developments from Aquavision for example, allow hard-wired connection to integration systems such as Crestron or even to lighting control systems such as iLight, so that when you turn on the lights the TV switches on automatically.

Aquavision waterproof control plate

Aesthetics

Aesthetic considerations are also very important and probably more important to the client than solving the technical issues outlined above. After all, that is what the custom installer gets paid for! Offering the client a choice of screen sizes, screen glass colours and finishes to best compliment the decor of the bathroom will certainly help to win new business. Aquavision for example, offers interchangeable glass fronts in different colours, including a mirror surface which can be used as a mirror when the TV is off and allows the picture to be seen through the mirror when switched on.

Aquavision mirror surface with TV off

Aquavision mirror surface with TV on

Installing a TV in the bathroom or around other wet areas such as swimming pools, jacuzzis, and spa baths, is no longer a problem. However as cables still need to be run and the TV should ideally be recessed in the wall, it does mean that there will be some disruption and re-decoration required if retro-fitting the TV. Such traumas can be avoided through clever design. For example, Aquavision now offers a TV built into a heated towel rail which can be surface mounted safely.

Aquavision Towelrail TV

Conclusion

The market for waterproof TVs is certainly expanding, especially in new-build 'smart' house and apartment developments. This can only mean good news for the custom installer.

Manufacturers have made the installation of 'waterproof TVs' much easier, but the more TVs there are in a property, the more complex the connectivity, distribution and control issues become. And it is here that the custom installer's skills in designing and integrating AV in the property and making it easy for the client to use, will always be in demand.

Bob Wheeler is the Managing Director of Marata Vision, a trade-only distributor for a range of home theatre, intelligent lighting control and automation products.

www.marata.co.uk