Outdoor HDTV for porch

[Tskware]

We are just about to finish adding a screen porch and want to add a TV. Just discovered over the weekend that HDTVs made specially for outdoor spaces are about five times as expensive. Has anyone tried these out? If not, got any better suggestions? As much as I would like to have a TV on the porch, going to have to swallow hard before I fork out $1600 for a 32 inch model.

What little research I did over the weekend says "Do Not use a conventional HDTV, they won't last a full season due to climate, heat, water, etc." Anybody tried one, or have suggestions, I will welcome.

 

[LordEgg_rivals16573]

i just have a 35 inch in my garage and put it on my covered deck when i want to watch tv. Its only 10 lbs. nothing to move at all. and for what its worth its been in my garage a year and gets hot and cold and the concrete sweats, etc and I have had no problems. its a little ol samsung.

 

[LordEgg_rivals16573]

and i should say is plugged in and gets watched in the heat, the cold, the damp, etc. I can't imagine my deck would be considerably worse save the UV.

 

[UK_ Alum_02]

A buddy of mine just bought a cheap brand and said he could replace it 5 times cheaper than an outdoor tv. That was three years ago and it is still chugging along.

 

[Tskware]

A buddy of mine just bought a cheap brand and said he could replace it 5 times cheaper than an outdoor tv. That was three years ago and it is still chugging along.

Thanks, that is kind of what I thought

 

[AthensCatFan]

My parents have a regular Samsung at the lake on the screened porch and haven't had any issues. Theirs is in a cabinet with easily removable doors so it does stay protected where they aren't there. It's been going strong for 5+ years now.

 

[roguemocha]

I had a vizio outside in an uninsulated garage for over a year and watched it during the summer and winter. No problems.

 

[Ineverplayedthegame]

We have 40" Samsung. We take it in when it gets too cool in the fall to sit outside and bring it back out as soon as it warms up in the spring. This is the 3rd season. Had to replace remote twice so we now take that in every night. Bought covers for the cable box and the TV but never use them as it doesn't ever seem to get wet on the wall its on.

 

[KyCatFan1]

As long as it isn't in direct contact with sunlight all the time or rain at all it probably is fine. There is a lot of humidity in people's houses and electronics are fine in there. I believe I read it is good to keep your house between 30-50% humidity levels. It sounds like they just want to charge you more to have a special type of TV when it would likely be fine to use a normal one. I could see having an outdoor TV if it is actually mounted in an area that is not covered, but a screened in porch away from the sides where it doesn't get direct contact with water should be fine. Just buy the cheapest brand TV you can find at Walmart or Best Buy so if it does go out it won't be a huge loss and cheap to replace.

 

[Rex Kwon Do]

Have a 40" LED outside on my covered deck, not screened in. Bought the cheap Best Buy brand Insignia on Black Friday, just wanted to see if it would last a year. Damn thing is tough as an ox. Bought a pretty nice outdoor tv cover that I keep on in the winter, hell during enough rain it's gotten wet on more than one occasion that I forgot to put the cover on.

Now that the three year experiment has worked may move one of my other tvs a 60" Sammy out there.

 

[UKGrad93]

Get a cheap tv with a good warranty. You can do this several times for the cost of a special outdoor set.