How to Run TV from 12 Volt Receptacle in Trailer???

hedge wrote:
Instead of looking for a 12v TV, check if it has an external power supply. I bought an Insignia brand from bestbuy, it has an external power supply that supplies 12v to the TV. I made up a new cable with parts from radio shack and I now have a 19" 12v tv for about $120 CDN.

In the U.S. the same thing only less expensive.
Walmart has a Sceptre 19 inch for 97 dollars right now. It has an EXTERNAL 12 transformer. I bought a 12 volt power cord for less than $10.00 U.S. and the tv works fine draws 3.0amps at 12 volt dc.

I have the same set up as you, I got a 200 watt inverter (modified sine) and it runs the LED TV and Direct Tv box without any problems.

Instead of looking for a 12v TV, check if it has an external power supply. I bought an Insignia brand from bestbuy, it has an external power supply that supplies 12v to the TV. I made up a new cable with parts from radio shack and I now have a 19" 12v tv for about $120 CDN.

bowler1 wrote:
My camper has a 12 volt plug in receptacle right near where the TV mounts. I assume that it is there so that I can use a converter to run my TV when dry camping; however, I have read posts online saying that you can only run minimal power (88 volts) from these outlets and a TV is something like 130.

Can a small power inverter--like a 200 watt inverter that is designed to plug into a cigarette lighter in your car--work to power my TV off this 12 volt receptacle?

The 200 watt inverter should be enough for a 130 watt TV, but can the outlet provide the juice? I assume that it can or it wouldn't be there by the TV mount...right....????
thanks
matt

This is my scenario:

I have a 200 watt inverter (modified sine). I run my 19" LCD TV & Blu-Ray player from it. In conjunction with this set-up, I have a dedicated 35amp AGM sealed deep cycle battery, used only for the TV & Blu-Ray. I didn't want to use power from my coach battery for this purpose. The combined total number of amps that both units draw is about 3-5 amps per hour. Based on this, my battery will last for approx. 6-8 hours, before the inverter shuts down due to low voltage output. I re-charge the battery with my schumacher battery charger & Generator, takes about an hour.


Here's an article written by a professional that may help in your decision.


http://www.powerinverters.org/pages/Inverter-FAQs.html

If you decide to go the 12v television route, consider shopping in truck stops (Loves, Flying J/Pilot, Petro...) Four years ago, I found a 12vdc/110vac Skyworth. Has built in DVD player. Great for times when 110 is not available. Also worked well to keep 8yo GS entertained in the truck on long-mileage days.

Jrs, I think what dahkota meant by "flat screen" was LED or LCD....NOT a CRT....

dahkota - We have a Sony Flat Screen CRT in our spare bedroom (no more than a 32 inch or maybe smaller - not sure). A wild guess is it weighs about 150 pounds. Not something you would take camping.

I don't even look forward to lugging that thing out of the house and into front yard for our upcoming subdivision garage sale.

We also have a Phillips 32 inch tube style that is not a flat screen. That one is much, much lighter. I have carried that one from room to room by myself.

The difference must have something to do with the flat screen.

Also, I cast one vote for a 12 volt television. Keep it simple. Plus inverters cost money and they usually have those annoyingly loud little fans.

BurbMan wrote:

FrankShore wrote:
Manufacturers don't put in underpowered 12v.

Says who? .

I was sort of wondering that myself. sort of a broad/sweeping statement.
bumpy

FrankShore wrote:
Manufacturers don't put in underpowered 12v.

Says who?

Try it and see if it works. I have a 24" flat screen that draws about 65W and I powered it with a 150W inverter plugged into the cig outlet at the antenna booster. The TV would run OK if the batteries were at 100% (2-6v deep cycle), but if the batteries were less than 85% the low voltage alarm on the inverter would go off.

Reason was that the TT mfr ran 16 ga wire to the cig outlet..which is OK on a 10a fuse...but it was a good 20' from the TV to the converter distro panel. The wire size was creating voltage drop in the circuit so the inverter wouldn't work even when the batteries were still OK.

Solution was to move the inverter back by the converter, install a 15a transfer switch for the 120v circuit by the TV, and plug the TV into the 120v outlet.

If it's a modern LED TV you are good to go. I do exactly what you are asking. But, as stated if you run it for too long you will drain your battery. I put 2-deep cycle golf cart batteries on my TT. I converted all the lights to LED. This saves a lot of electricity right there. You can put a switch into the constant hot line for your radio to save some power. (I didn't need to because I have a old analog radio with no memory circuit.) Then by only running the TV about a hour or so a day I can go a easy 4 days without plugging in. Maybe longer I've never been out longer then that so I don't know. You refrigerator will always use some power even on the gas setting that can't be helped. And, most importantly of all you really can't run the furnace at all. The furnace fan will drain your battery/s quite quick.