Dielectric Bedroom / Living Room Mirror FAQ
What is a dielectric mirror?
Thin layers of material are permanently deposited on a glass substrate. Each layer filters light at
an atomic level, allowing specific wavelengths to pass through, while the rest are reflected. The
TV mirrors we sell are engineered to allow most of the light from your TV to pass through
unimpeded, and just enough is reflected to create a mirror effect.
How do I evaluate the mirror sample?
Hold the mirror close to your TV screen, while being careful not to scratch the screen with the
corners. Notice that with the TV on, the mirror disappears and you are easily able to see through
it. With the screen off, the mirror reappears against the black background and is highly reflective.
It's best to evaluate the reflection from a distance--it does not appear as reflective when you are
standing within a couple feet of it. Because they are very transparent, the dielectric mirrors are
usually framed to cover only the screen part of the television.
Why does this mirror look like an ordinary pane of glass?
The reason it looks like a regular pane of glass when you hold it away from the TV and look
through it is because the visible light is overwhelming the light reflected by the mirror, making it
difficult to see any reflection. Like a normal pane of transparent glass, your eyes automatically
focus on the objects behind it, which are brighter than the reflection. If the dielectric mirror is too
transparent for your application, we offer several other types of mirrors which may work better
for your project.
Which side is coated?
Both sides are equally coated. You can mount either side against the TV.
How much light passes through the mirror and how much is reflected?
About
70% of light passes through and 30% is reflected. A small percent
is absorbed by the glass
itself (less than 6%)
What can be used to clean it?
Any standard glass cleaner such as Windex works great on our mirrors,
and you can wipe it clean
with normal paper towels.
How do you recommend that we care for the mirror over time?
The coating is durable, but it's best to keep sharp metal objects away
from the material so it's not
scratched. Be careful not to shatter or chip it, especially when
handling it before and during
installation.
What makes this mirror superior to your other mirrors?
The dielectric mirror is specifically designed to give you maximum
brightness and full HD quality. Our other mirrors are designed for use
in the bathroom, so they are much more reflective and less transparent.
What thicknesses are available?
We sell 4mm (5/32") and 6mm (1/4") thicknesses. 4mm is better for
picture quality and 6mm is
sturdier. We generally recommend 4mm
unless you have a specific reason to use 6mm.
Any other tips?
If the mirror is installed so that part of it is hanging over the edge
of the screen, the frame of the
TV may show through. We recommend covering this area with black
felt matting
on the back side of
the mirror to make it blend in.
What size should I buy?
For a typical installation, the size you'll need will be at least 0.5"
longer on each side than your TV
screen. You should discuss the measurements with a framer or the person
doing the installation.
The mirrors can be cut the same way as regular glass.
Dielectric TV Mirror
Installation Tips
Selecting a television
We recommend that you use a LCD TV rather than a plasma, because plasma
TVs can be a fire hazard if you block the heat from escaping. We
recommend that you buy a Sharp Aquos, because it is light, thin, and has
convenient positioning of the remote sensor and connectors in the back.
Some tips to consider if you are buying a different model:
The remote sensor should be close to the screen. You do not want the remote sensor separated from the screen by the speakers
Heat dissipation
After installation, it's a good idea to put a digital thermometer in back of the TV and leave it running for a while. Compare the maximum heat reading to the specifications for the TV, and make sure you are not exceeding them. If it's getting too hot, you can move it further from the wall, or install
some tiny fans in back to blow the heat upwards. When constructing the frame or cabinet, make sure that the heat vents aren't obstructed and that there is sufficient air flow.
Mirror size
For standard installations, the mirror should not be bigger than the size of the TV. If the visible part of the mirror is the exact same size as the screen, you don't have to worry about the TV frame blending in with the screen when it's turned off.
Make the TV blend in
The back of the mirror should be covered with a thin black material except for the part which will be in front of the TV. The black material will help the screen blend in when the TV is off. If you are using felt with a sticky backing, do not apply the sticky side to the glass. The cloth side should be flat against the mirror and sticky side should be attached to a firm backing to make the felt stay flat against the glass.
It also helps to play with the lighting and make sure there's enough light bouncing off the mirror to create the effect. Low glare makes the mirror much more transparent. In other words, high glare is helpful when the TV is off, and low glare is best when the TV is on.
Remote control
The remote control sensor can be either covered by the mirror, speaker cloth, or an infrared repeater. Speaker cloth will decrease the range of the remote slightly, but you should still be able to operate it from at least 18ft away without a problem. Infrared repeaters are an excellent option if the
sensor is going to be blocked by a picture frame or cabinet.
Mounting the Glass
The glass should be as close to the TV is possible, no more than 1/4" away. This is critical to make sure you get the mirror effect without seeing the TV through the mirror when it's off.
Mounting the TV
Make sure your mounting kit is strong enough to hold the weight of the TV, the glass, and the frame. For heat dissipation, you will want a mount that has a little bit of space from the wall.
Types of installations
The most popular types of installations are mounting it on the wall, recessing it into the wall, and building it into a cabinet. The easiest installation is to have a frame made that is the width of the TV frame, which holds the mirror in place over the screen. The frame is attached to the TV with double
sided tape or L hooks.
Speakers
Finding a contractor
Most of our customers work with an experienced professional to make sure the installation goes smoothly. We recommend you consult one of the following: cabinet makers, interior designers, carpenters, home builders, general contractors, architects, framers, glass companies, and other
contractors working in similar areas.
We have a dealer search available to aid you in your search.
Building a DIY Frame
A front frame
is routed out to fit the bezel
of the TV and holds the glass in place. A back build frame is
built separately to the depth of the television to hide the sides of the
TV.
The two frames are screwed together with L-brackets.
The infrared repeater
fits in a channel
(shown on the left hand side of the picture) in front of the sensor on the TV.
Front view of the completed TV mirror frame
IR Repeater on back of a different project
What size mirror do you recommend?
The mirror size is typically slightly larger than the viewable area,
to fit under the frame without hiding any of the screen.
| TV Size | Viewable Area | Suggested Mirror Size |
| 7" | 6.1" x 3.4" | 7.1" x 4.4" |
| 8" | 7.0" x 3.9" | 8.0" x 4.9" |
| 9" | 7.8" x 4.4" | 8.8" x 5.4" |
| 10" | 8.7" x 4.9" | 9.7" x 5.9" |
| 15" | 13.1" x 7.4" | 14.1" x 8.4" |
| 17" | 14.8" x 8.3" | 15.8" x 9.3" |
| 19" | 16.6" x 9.3" | 17.6" x 10.3" |
| 22" | 19.2" x 10.8" | 20.2" x 11.8" |
| 26" | 22.7" x 12.7" | 23.7" x 13.7" |
| 32" | 27.9" x 15.7" | 28.9" x 16.7" |
| 36" | 31.4" x 17.6" | 32.4" x 18.6" |
| 37" | 32.2" x 18.1" | 33.2" x 19.1" |
| 40" | 35" x 19.5" | 36" x 20.5" |
| 42" | 36.6" x 20.6" | 37.6" x 21.6" |
| 46" | 40" x 22.5" | 41" x 23.5" |
| 47" | 41.0" x 23.0" | 42.0" x 24.0" |
| 52" | 45.3" x 25.5" | 46.3" x 26.5" |
| 55" | 48" x 27" | 49" x 28" |
| 58" | 50.6" x 28.4" | 51.6" x 29.4" |
| 60" | 52.3" x 29.4" | 53.3" x 30.4" |
| 65" | 56.7" x 30.6" | 57.7" x 31.6" |
| 85" | 74.1" x 41.7" | 75.1" x 42.7" |
Questions? Call us! (419) 842-4554
