I have my plasma monitor set up on a TV cabinet on the end wall of my lounge room. The room is L-shaped.

We are about to install a reverse cycle heat pump/air conditioner, and most of the installers recommend mounting it above the plasma (about 1 metre higher), and aiming the outlet so it blows air above, not onto, the plasma. They believe this will be the most efficient placement for best airflow in the room. They say that the heat/cooling will not affect the plasma, and the filters in the aircon would not pose a problem to the screen.

However, what is forum members advise? Am I better to choose a less efficient position in the room, which will diminish the effectiveness of the aircon, or is it not an issue if it is mounted above the plasma?

I'd be inclined to make sure any part of the plasma is directly beneath any part of the air conditioner. I say this because we have an LG reverse cycle, and ever since new it very occasionally drips water. I think especially after heavy rain, but occasionally it just happens.

Have you considered a floor standing A/C (LG make a good one), Slugdogs right, one drip could be a disaster.

Hmmm, probably not the best place to put it

I know of an airconditioner situatation. Ants crawled up into the headunit from the drainpipe and nested there. The drainpipe eventually cloged up with the ants crap that the water overflowed everywhere underneath the headunit. Fortunately, the headunit was simply vaccummed out, and there wasn't any damage.

To stop the ants, felt mesh was installed so the ants couldn't get into the pipe in the firstplace

Mmm, these thoughts are a bit concerning. The plasma panel sits 300mm out from the wall, so should avoid any drips, but still .....

Oops...of course I meant to say "I'd be inclined to make sure any part of the plasma is NOT directly beneath any part of the air conditioner."

Yep they do leak water occasionally and not just strait down it can get in the air stream as well. Ants frogs gekos bugs can all get in. Get the biggest split you can afford and place it in the next best possie.I was told 24000 btu in 1 possie but went for 30000 in next possie . Best thing I could have done, 10 yrs later less electicity used and works great cause it just idles along. Good luck.

Did something similar myself.....

They recommended a 2 HP system but went for a 2.5, much better!

It doesn't have to work nearly as hard and as a result saves energy, plus coming home to a really hot unit which I can cool down quickly is a BIG bonus!

Never had a water leak from mine tho... maybe the ants/geckos can't get up to the fourth floor

Seriously though, if it was me I wouldn't put it above the plasma. Not only is there the potential for water damage, there is also the chance that the fan motor could generate electrical interferance with your picture quality.

Thanks for the comments. These are really helpful, and I am determined to look for an alternate spot for the unit.

The other thing I have been told by the re-seller, but am going to check directly with Fujitsu and Daikin, is that apparently they can cause interference with plasma panels themselves if they are too close. This gives rise to even more concern, so I will check this out and get back to the forum with the results.

One thing to consider though, the shorter the distance between the two components of the split system, the more efficient and effective it is.....

I have a Fujitsu reverse cycle unit directly above my Panasonic Viera plasma.......not a problem. I have never had a single drop of water.....certainly no ants getting in the drain pipe (if the air con is installed properly there should be no way ants can get in...the drain pipe should be fed straight into the down pipe and the hole sealed with silicon in the brick wall).

A good unit shouldn't drip any water...so maybe consider a Fujitsu!

I also have a Fujitsu 3.5hp inverter A/C mounted 500-600mm above the top of my Pioneer PDP-505hd. I don't expect any problems and I will be surprised if any occur. If it was a 50/50 choice, I'd probably have separated them, but I wouldn't compromise the room layout to do so.

Well I contacted Daikin today and they advised that the electromagnetic radiation COULD pose a problem to a plasma by creating interference with the picture. They advised it should be at least 1000mm away, and better if it was not on the same wall. Of course the problem gets worse the larger capacity A/C you have. That's straight from the horse's mouth!

Problem is, it may not be a problem, or it may. Am I willing to risk it, as you won't know till it's installed, and then it's too late. Methinks I won't take the risk.

Told Fujitsu are the same

Ihave my a/c above the cabinet my plasma sits in,the start of summer i flicked air con from heating to cooling,after it was on for awhile i could hear a funny noise,it turned out that the drain pipe hole in the unit had become blocked so all the water was leaking out the front of the unit and down on the floor where all my power points,adapters and leads were.luckily i caught it before any damage was done,the bloke that fixed it said it was fairly common for the hole to get bloked after a few years.(its happened twice now)
So just be careful,i guess on a cabinet or table alittle out from thewall wouldnt be to bad but i would think twice about wall mounting under an aircon.

cheers

My a/c is also a Fujitsu late model when they installed it they said all a/c's will blow water droplets in heavy humidity until they have cooled the room.

Yah, nasty! My plasma wouldn't like that!

Considering tha the plasma panel is so thin compared to a bulky air con....I don't think water droplets in the air would be of concern.

I have no picture disturbance from the air con when it is running....hot or cold.

I can only state what I have experienced.....if you're so concerned then I would suggest don't do it.

SPDF, don't know if you have gekos in your area (yet) but they just love aircon units.
I know of one incident just as datvman posted except it was geko droppings that clogged the pipe.