What tv to buy?

[lamoz]

My older 1985 Pace arrow did not come with a TV. I want to install one
but not sure what to get. Look for a least a 32" flat screen. Are there
things I should look for?
How would I power it ? 12volt, Inverter? Generator?
any suggestions would be appreciated

[deleted-2]

Our fifth wheel came with a Sansui 32 inch.
Great picture low wattage use.

We just added a Samsung 22 inch in the bedroom.
Both are 1080p televisions.

Both work on the cheap-o crappy Wagan 200 watt inverter we have.

I do recommend a better pure sine inverter however (Samlex brand comes to mind)

Anything will be suitable, yet I do recommend a cheap extended warranty because of RV use.

Just cruise Amazon, Fry's or Walmart for choices.
Amazon or Newegg are really good for reviews on televisions.

Flat screens are really low in price these days.
Good luck there.

[RoyB]

A 32-inch VIZIO HDTV will draw around 85WATTS of power from 120VAC. This would be provided when you plug into camp ground shore power connections.

When camping off the power grid you could easily power this with a 300W PSW Inverter directly connected to your deep cycle battery. To insure you won't run down your battery most folks will always have two batteries installed for when camping off the power grid.

Like most of us you probably will want to add more 120VAC items to your Inverter when camping off the power grid. I ended up with consuming around 250WATTS of 120VAC Items we wanted to run each night when camping off the power grid. This is about a 20AMP power drain especially between 8PM and 11PM plus some of the other parasitic keep alive power drains which would drain our 255AH battery capacity system down to 12.0VDC by 8AM the next morning. We would have to re-charge our batteries back up to their 90% charge state in a three generator run time using smart-mode charging technology.

Alot of camp grounds have generator run time restrictions so if this is the way you want to go you have to be able to re-charge in as quick of time as you can which is a three hour generator run time.

We love camping off the power grid and do it alot. We had to do some planing to get to this point and we are very successful doing it now with the game plan being running all the 120VAC item we want to run from an Inverter and 12VDC items directly from the battery and be able to recharge the next day at 8AM so we can do it all over again for the next day/night run off the battery... For us this including using smart mode charging converter/charger unit, adding more batteries, changing out all of the automotive incandescent bulbs for LED low current lights, and doing things to conserve energy.

There is not many way you accomplish this and still be successful about it.

If you just show up it will most likely get dark on you around 10PM at night...
Roy Ken

[lamoz]

Looking at some nice 24" 12volt LED tvs. but don't now how much I can watch without running my house battery down.

[handye9]

Difficult to answer this one. Too many unknowns.

There are very few, if any, 32 inch flatscreens, that run strictly off 12 volt. I have seen several 24's and below, that will.

Powering it, depends on where and how you camp, and, what kind of power storage (multiple batteries), or, recharging capability, you have in your camper. Also depends on power consumption of individual TV and amount of daily time, you plan on using it.

Most TV's with a 120 volt plug, will run from an inverter, but, the inverter gets its power from your battery bank. Two or more batteries, will give you more amp hours than one.

All will run on power from generator, but, most campgrounds have restrictions on hours of generator use.

There are a lot of different options (for 120 volt TV):

1. Campground with shore power.
2. Single battery with inverter.
3. Multiple battery with inverter.
4. Single battery with inverter and generator.
5. Multiple battery with inverter and generator.
6. Single battery with inverter and solar panel.
7. Multiple battery with inverter and solar panel.
8. Single battery with inverter, solar panel, and generator
9. Multiple battery with inverter, solar panel, and generator

Multiple options for 12 volt TV:

Same as 120 volt, except, you don't need and inverter

[the_bear_II]

For a 32 inch you'll need a battery and inverter and some way to charge the battery.

So buy the TV
Get a deep cycle marine or RV battery (or two)
An inverter with enough power for the TV
A small portable generator- 1500 watt should do.

Or something like this will work for power
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/category_alternative-renewable-energy+portable-power-solutions

[2oldman]

Don't buy cheap. Inverter.