Guide to TV Mounting Brackets - Fully Articulating Wall Mounts

There are a number of different TV mounting brackets to consider when you are looking to hang your HDTV on the wall.

A fully articulating flat screen TV mount may be exactly what you need for your room, because they offer many advantages over other types.

However, they are not the only option and it would be wise to take a few minutes to understand the different types of wall mounts that are available - and why some may suit your needs better than others.

Here we will look at the strengths and weaknesses of fully articulating wall mounts - you can find an overview of the other types in our guide to the flat screen TV wall mount.

Fully Articulating Wall Mount

The fully articulating wall mount is the top dog in the world of wall brackets.

Cheetah Mounts Articulating
Full Motion Bracket

This type of bracket is the most expensive type that you can buy, but you will be getting the most versatile type of wall mount that there is.

An example, pictured here, is the Cheetah Mounts articulating full motion bracket.

This type of wall mount will allow the TV to be stored flat against the wall when not in use, but the TV can then be pulled away from the wall and placed in almost any viewing position you could wish for.

Once away from the wall, it will allow the TV to be turned completely to the left or right, tilted up or down, and in some cases even turned upside down. There will usually be several pivot points to allow multiple viewing positions.

The ability to vary the viewing angle can be extremely helpful in some circumstances - especially if the TV is installed in a large room. In this case, it is more likely that there will be a number of possible viewing positions and therefore it is much better to have a mount which can be turned towards any part of the room.

In smaller rooms, it is much less likely that there will be a need to vary the viewing angle or position very much.

You can find smaller versions for smaller screen sizes, but you can even buy large fully articulating models for big screens of 50 inches and above. These large models are pretty heavy and will often require two or three people to install it.

Installation

These TV mounting brackets are probably the most the most difficult to install compared to the other types.

Sanus Systems Universal
Articulating Mount

You should always think about employing the services of a professional unless you are extremely confident in your DIY abilities. As you can see from the Sanus Systems articulating wall mount pictured here, these brackets can be quite large and heavy.

The installation of cables is much easier with this sort of wall mount due to the ease with which it can be pulled away from the wall. However, this can also create its own problems.

If you are going to be moving the TV in a variety of positions, then you must make sure you have enough cable length to cope with this movement - and it is also more difficult to keep the cabling neat and tidy compared to a flat wall mount.

Unless installed correctly, you are much more likely to damage cables with this type of mount due to the constant movement which can pull on the connectors and twist the cable. Therefore, secure the cables firmly to the bracket and try not allow the cables to move very much.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Fully Articulating Wall Mounts

Advantages:

• accommodates widest possible range of angles and positions
• can be pushed flat against the wall
• easy access to install and replace cables

Disadvantages:

• most expensive type of TV wall mount
• most complicated to install
• increases wear and tear on cabling unless properly installed

Find Articulating Mounts

Find Articulating Mounts

Fully Articulating TV
Mounting Brackets Summary

Of all the TV mounting brackets that there are available to you, the fully articulating wall mount offers you the greatest range of screen positions.

If your room requires you to move the TV screen to fit a variety of viewing positions, then you won't go far wrong with a fully articulating wall mount.

However, a simpler tilt and swivel or pivot wall mount may suffice if you only need basic changes to the position of the screen. It really comes down to the type of applications you will need in your room.

If you still haven't decided on the right type of mount for you, then follow the link below and check out our guide for a summary of the other alternatives.

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