110 volt TV, vs 12 volt TV?
Looking to replace the bulky old TV that came with our unit, and have been wondering what route would be better in the long run for us. Couple questions.. I suspect that 80% of our camping would...
Forum Discussion
TVs, and most all electronics for that matter, do not directly use regular 120VAC power. That 120VAC is run through a power supply that converts it to whatever voltage the device uses.
Think of how a laptop works when plugged in. You plug the cord into the wall for 120VAC, and that goes into a power supply (often we refer to them as a brick) which changes the 120VAC to something the laptop can use - 19VDC is common
TVs are similar, they do not use 120VAC directly and need a power supply to convert it. In order to keep the TV "slim and light" many smaller TVs in the 19-22" range have their power supply outside, like a laptop, rather than inside the case like bigger TVs.
Convieniently, what many of these smaller TVs with power bricks outside use as input power is ...... 12VDC!!! In normal home usage, you plug the cord into 120VAC, the power brick converts to 12VDC and you plug that into the TV. It is not marketed as a 12VDC TV, and if you ask the manufacture about it, they will say they are just for home use and to be plugged into the wall. They do not come with a adapter to use in the car / RV (see below).
HOWEVER, what many of us have done is make use of the fact that the power brick outputs 12VDC as input to the TV. Instead of using a inverter wired to the battery to convert 12VDC to 120VAC, then plugging the TVs power brick into the inverter which converts that 120VAC back to 12VDC, we go to radio shack and buy a power plug that plugs into a 12VDC power port (cigarette lighter) and a universal end. Then find the correct tip that matches the TV, and voila! You plug one end into the 12VDC power port, and the other end into the TV directly powering the TV with 12VCD
Both the inverter and power brick have inefficencies. Even if you have a great inverter and are getting 90%, and the power brick is 90%, (both are very optomistic) the total system efficency is 81%. So you are losing 19% just inverting and converting. So if the TV uses 20W / .81 = 25W For those of us that dry camp a lot, every bit of energy savings counts!
Some people prefer to use the inverter / power brick because the power brick is regulated, or you can use a 12VDC - 12VDC regulator which will do the same thing with minimal loss. Actual voltage from the batteries can vary from 14.4VDC while batteries are charging to 10.5V when completely discharged. The worry is the unregulated power can damage the TV. Each to their own, I do not have mine regulated and have had not problems in 4 years.
These TVs that many RVrs "turn into 12VDC TVs", are more robust, use less power, and are less expensive than dedicated marketed 12V TVs. There is NO REASON to purchase a "12V TV"
There are a few DVD and Blu-ray players out there that are similar with the power brick outside and using 12VDC. Usually these are the very small form factor ones.
Hope this helps :)
Think of how a laptop works when plugged in. You plug the cord into the wall for 120VAC, and that goes into a power supply (often we refer to them as a brick) which changes the 120VAC to something the laptop can use - 19VDC is common
TVs are similar, they do not use 120VAC directly and need a power supply to convert it. In order to keep the TV "slim and light" many smaller TVs in the 19-22" range have their power supply outside, like a laptop, rather than inside the case like bigger TVs.
Convieniently, what many of these smaller TVs with power bricks outside use as input power is ...... 12VDC!!! In normal home usage, you plug the cord into 120VAC, the power brick converts to 12VDC and you plug that into the TV. It is not marketed as a 12VDC TV, and if you ask the manufacture about it, they will say they are just for home use and to be plugged into the wall. They do not come with a adapter to use in the car / RV (see below).
HOWEVER, what many of us have done is make use of the fact that the power brick outputs 12VDC as input to the TV. Instead of using a inverter wired to the battery to convert 12VDC to 120VAC, then plugging the TVs power brick into the inverter which converts that 120VAC back to 12VDC, we go to radio shack and buy a power plug that plugs into a 12VDC power port (cigarette lighter) and a universal end. Then find the correct tip that matches the TV, and voila! You plug one end into the 12VDC power port, and the other end into the TV directly powering the TV with 12VCD
Both the inverter and power brick have inefficencies. Even if you have a great inverter and are getting 90%, and the power brick is 90%, (both are very optomistic) the total system efficency is 81%. So you are losing 19% just inverting and converting. So if the TV uses 20W / .81 = 25W For those of us that dry camp a lot, every bit of energy savings counts!
Some people prefer to use the inverter / power brick because the power brick is regulated, or you can use a 12VDC - 12VDC regulator which will do the same thing with minimal loss. Actual voltage from the batteries can vary from 14.4VDC while batteries are charging to 10.5V when completely discharged. The worry is the unregulated power can damage the TV. Each to their own, I do not have mine regulated and have had not problems in 4 years.
These TVs that many RVrs "turn into 12VDC TVs", are more robust, use less power, and are less expensive than dedicated marketed 12V TVs. There is NO REASON to purchase a "12V TV"
There are a few DVD and Blu-ray players out there that are similar with the power brick outside and using 12VDC. Usually these are the very small form factor ones.
Hope this helps :)
