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LCD (liquid crystal display) screens are a type of electronic flat panel display that uses liquid crystal glass and transparent electrodes to block or pass light through RGB pixels to display media.
In the digital signage world, we typically use LCDs in LFD (large format displays), tiled monitors/multi-screen tv/spliced display video walls, a type of video wall made of multiple tv’s combined to make one viewing screen.
LCD/TV display screens are cheaper, have slower refresh rates, and are thicker than other digital display types. However, you can still get a decent quality resolution from them.
Observe the location where you will install your LCD video wall display. Get the measurements of the width, height, and depth of your opening space. Also, note how you will install the mounting frame. Will you install it against concrete? In a steel frame? Hanging from the ceiling? Floor standing? or will it be mobile?
While you are at it, think about where you could have power points and how to run your data points to where you want to be controlling the LCD Display video wall. If you’re going to have all your control devices in another room, you might have to put in HDMI to ethernet extenders too.
The next thing you will need to do is plan the configuration of your multiple LCD screen displays. You can either have equal or unequal rows and columns.
The simplest and cheapest way to this is with an equal number configuration. I would suggest using 2x2 or 3x3 for beginners. This way you can source out cheaper video controllers, easier installation and easier serviceability. It will require you less effort to configure screen resolutions.
Equal rows and columns configurations:
Unequal rows and columns configurations:
Once you know the display configuration you want, you need to find out what size LCD screen will fit your opening when installed in that configuration. Source out a range of potentially available LCD screen monitors or TVs and get their overall sizes. While you’re looking at the specs, get the mounting screw positions (you will need to know this later, typically using the VESA standard).
Be sure that the complete LCD video wall’s overall dimensions that you calculate allow for space gaps all around the perimeter. Many TV brackets are mounted onto the frame by lifting it over a hook, so the video wall gap should allow for this movement. You can still find mounting kits with the press and eject, flip-up, and pull out capabilities.
So as a case study:
Let us say you are mounting your LCD video wall against a concrete wall with an opening of 2.3m x 2.3m. You want to install a configuration of a 2x2 matrix LCD multi-screen horizontal display video wall with 16:9 resolution. You minus 100mm all around the opening size to leave you some room for installation, which then leaves you a dimension of 2.1m x 2.1m.
You divide 2.1m by 2 screens to give you the estimated dimension of a single LCD Screen (2100mm/2 = 1050mm). For a max width of 1050mm, you can source out a 46" LCD screen with a bevel (the frame of your display screen) of 3.9mm. Which has a dimension of about W1024mm x H578.6mm (that includes the total of the viewing dimension plus the bevel size on either side of the viewing display).
Therefore, your overall multi-screen LCD video wall dimension is W2048mm x H1157.2mm (2.04m x 1.1572m) for a 2x2 matrix configuration of 46" LCD screens.
Now you know the hard way of planning your dimensions and LCD screen sizes. An easier way to do this is to source out a complete package for a 2x2 matrix LCD video wall from one supplier and just give them your opening size 100mm gap all around. They will recommend you the screen size and also include any mounting equipment required.
Source out your LCD video wall controller, and check that it has the correct amount of outputs for the number of displays you intend to use. Make sure that it’s capable of controlling the resolution you want to display. It is also worth mentioning that some LCD screens have inbuilt video wall capabilities and do not require you to purchase an extra controller.
When designing your LCD video wall frame, you need to consider how you will mount/dismount the TV’s and how you will mount the frame to the wall/floor/ceiling. You will also consider the setup’s total weight, bowing of the frame from the weight, cable runs, space behind the tv to allow for cabling and fit your hand if you need to get in there.
Leave some space around the frame’s perimeter if it’s sitting inside a recess on the wall. If you want to go tight for aesthetic reasons, you will need to find a mounting solution that allows for that, like the pop-out or pull-out mounting brackets.
Commercial frames are typically steel RHS (hollow rectangle section), or C profiled Studs and channels, for the strength and sometimes the aesthetics. Still, for smaller scaled budget projects, you could use timber framing.
Power points should be installed after your planning stage and before the frame installation. You will need to consider powerpoints to power each TV/LCD screen and plan to install the controller/s in the area. The next important thing is the cabling for your media inputs into the screens. Suppose you plan to have the controller in another room. In that case, you will need to run HDMI to Cat5/6 extenders and convert them back to HDMI connections to connect to your devices (comes in the pack when you purchase it).
Each LCD monitor will need an HDMI to cat5/6 converter, which would also need a PowerPoint source of its own. You run HDMI to CAT extenders because cat5/6 cables are a lot cheaper than HDMI cables. For long extensions, cat cables are much more effective and flexible for installation.
After the planning stage, you’re ready to order your equipment. I’ve gathered a few products for you and listed them below that you can purchase directly from the link. These recommended products will give you the best value for your money.
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The major components you will need for your Multi LCD screen video wall display are;
2. LCD monitor screens / LCD TV
3. LCD video wall matrix controller
Get your power and data installed by the electrician first, then install the frame into the opening space. For structures with separate pieces, use a spirit level to keep the face flush and level before you mount the TV’s on.
Mount the TVs one at a time and plug in the HDMI cables and power as you go, keeping them flush to the neighbouring TVs. When extending the HDMI to another room, plug in the HDMI to Cat extenders and arrange them in a position where they will be adequately secure with no chances of the cables falling out.
Once all the TVs are up, you can plug the other end of the cables into your LCD matrix controller output and then put your media inputs in as well.
Once everything is plugged in, test all your equipment and pat yourself on the back. If it doesn’t work, take everything apart and start again. Just joking, you just need to think logically from the symptoms and use the Facebook groups and forums to ask questions. Or you can also get in touch with me on my socials to ask any questions.
Multi LCD video walls can be an inexpensive way to Wow! An audience by uniting multiple TV displays to create one large viewing screen. By following the 8 detailed steps written in this article, you can see how simple it is to make your own. Whether it be for commercial purposes or just to impress your house guest.
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