Powering Just TV and Cable

sdwisguy wrote:

How in the world does everyone else do this without wires running everywhere?

I got a 12 V TV.....by accident actually.....but it works good and has a fairly low draw. I think you will find that the antenna amp already IS 12 V.

Oops....I see you use satellite. WHOLE different ball game.
So a couple of other thoughts:
First, make sure the gen is operating correctly. Even if brand new, the exhaust pipe/muffler could be loose or the mounts might not be done right. My 4K is louder inside than it is outside.

Then....after you consider all the alternatives.....maybe it would be better in the long run to just "trade" your present gen for one that is quieter. It would be MUCH easier and might not be all that expensive either IF you can find a buyer for the "old" one.

sdwisguy wrote:
. it alone won't allow you to hook up the RV electric cord without buying a second EU2000i compatible unit and running both.

No.. just use a 15a male -> 30a female on the genny and plug in your rig.

No extention cords, no mess.

sdwisguy wrote:
My new class C unit has a very loud generator (Onan 4000) and I don't want to run it every evening to watch Dish TV when I'm dry camping. But, short of replacing the Onan with a new unit, I figure I have two options:

First, buy an 1000W or 2000W inverter system which would drain my two batteries in nothing flat. (Class Cs don't have space for more than two batteries)

Second, use an external generator like the Honda EU2000i. But, from what I see, it alone won't allow you to hook up the RV electric cord without buying a second EU2000i compatible unit and running both. The compatible unit has the 30A connector. The single EU2000i only has the standard 15A connector. Running the single unit alone would provide enough power, but would require running an extension cord through a window, use a power strip, unplug the Dish controller, the Cable Box, and the TV and run extension cords from each to the power strip.

How in the world does everyone else do this without wires running everywhere?

# 1.. How many watts is the reciever? Read the label and tell us the amps
#2. What TV do you have? How many watts or amps on the label?

You should at a minimum have a killowatt meter to tell the actual watts of things that get plugged in...

http://www.amazon.com/P3-P4400-Electricity-Usage-Monitor/dp/B00009MDBU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1440712097&sr=8-1&keywords=kilowatt+meter

My LED flat screen usues 25 watts.
My 20" box fan on low usues 25 watts.

I read the dish TV recievers are 25 watts

Now what I use when boon docking is use this invertor that plug near the TV. My cigerette lighter outlet in the camper states 8 amps max.

Thats 100 watts..

With that said I chose this unit that dont have a noisy fan, and has a 120 watt surge and 100 watt run. This way I dont excede my wire size of 8 amps in the wall. ( Funny this line has a 10 amp fuse...LOL)

This is what I use to power my tv and box fan on the table to keep me cool in heat of summer.

This is a modified sine wave and work well. Some units from other manufacturers are square wave. The squares dont run some sensitive electronics..


http://www.amazon.com/P3-P4400-Electricity-Usage-Monitor/dp/B00009MDBU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1440712097&sr=8-1&keywords=kilowatt+meter


I use a 3 way with it..

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Commercial-Electric-15-Amp-Triplex-Outlet-Swivel-Tap-White-LA-05/204836952

I also wired another cigareete light outlet near my panal in the living room/ kitchen area. This I wired with 20amp wire and installed a 20 amp fuse. This will net me 250 watts . I run a bigger invertor there if needs but just run another 120 watter for charging stuff.

Charges laptop, phones, etc.

There are other things you can do too if you need more power..

Also note a singe honda you just use an adapter to plug in your coach. This will run the low load items you want to run...

We have used a 150w inverter the TV and satellite receiver so that they are on all the time and don't lose the programming.

I use a 350 watt psw inverter to power our 40" HDTV, HD satellite, sound bar or Bose, Blu-ray and game players. A 1K or 2K watt inverter is overkill for these entertainment items.

Adapters can be used for any size portable generator to provide power to a 30amp or 50amp rig, available at Walmarts, Camping World and most any RV dealer. The also come in handy for deteriorated shore power pedestals.

We have two 6 volt GC2 batteries from Samsclub and they will run our entertainment center for several hours daily, changing interior lights to LED allows for increased 12 volt usage before reaching 50% SOC.

Weather permitting our solar will usually charge them back up, roughly an hour of generator time quickly replenishes consumed amphours utilizing our rig's Iota IQ4 converter.

Running any generator for the sole purpose of tv watching is, as you stated, noisy and simply inefficient. We use our genny for high current draw items such as microwave, AC, heated hair appliances and so forth.

One suggestion, you can install an inverter sized to run the TV and sat receiver and permanently wire it to the outlet for those only. It will run them all the time, even when plugged in. It will not run any other systems. These smaller units will not be as hard on your batteries as installing an inverter in the whole coach and if the power goes out, you won't miss part of your program. I have done this on may occasions in larger boats, including our own boat over the years. Chuck

There is no reason why you can't run off of a single Honda Portable generator. The unit with the 30 amp twist plug runs just fine on it's own, the same as the other model with the 20 amp outlet. Neither Honda puts out 30 amps. You probably can't run air conditioning, but it will run the rest of your coach with no problem. Our Class A has a three prong plug so it would need an adapter, no matter which on was used. We used the 2000 to run our boats systems for a few years before we installed a permanent generator.

It depends somewhat on your television. I have a Samsung 22" (give or take an inch) that draws watts in the low 20s. The Dish receiver draws another 20-some watts. They can be powered by a small inverter, obviously. We had a 150w Samlex which was big enough but it ran from a plug in 12v lighter style outlet. The voltage drop on the 12v side was a continual problem. I switched to a hard wired 300W inverter now.

I bought a power strip that has a switch on each individual outlet. It is plugged into an outlet that is dedicated from the inverter. So no messing around with moving cords and such. When we are on shore power, it works the same as when we are dry camped.

For extra battery savings, you can find TVs that have a 12v brick in the power line, then eliminate that and run it direct off 12v.
Actually our Samsung is that way, so I only have to run the Dish receiver off the inverter. But that is not essential; you can invert and run your TV.

With two batteries (I have the same) you won't want to run the TV for hours and hours. But you can certainly watch it for a couple of hours or so. I am assuming you have LED lights in your MH. If not, do that too, it will give you more watts to play with. Get cheap warm white LEDs on ebay if you need LEDs.

I have seen guys have Class C's converted to hold four 6v batteries. They take space from one of the storage bins underneath.

I camp all the time on just 110v. It will run my fridge (residential), water heater, and all my lights and TVs. If I turn off the water heater, I can run a small heater so I don't have to use propane.

I have a dog bone to take me from 50A to 30A, then I have one of these to step down to 15A 110V.

30A to 15A adapter

Another option is solar panels on the roof.