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85Sovereign · 02-15-2007, 07:12 PM

Is it possible to buy a new LCD TV that is already designed to run on 12v DC? A unit that I can just plug into the 12v socket with no inverters needed. Are the LCD's more energy effecient than a regular tube type tv? I'm concerned about battery life while boondocking. I was thinking of a 15" or up to a 20". We were wanting to install it on the wall next to the fridge.

Any suggetions?

Greg

bibbs · 02-15-2007, 07:52 PM

Greg

You make a good point,after all,the tv needs D.C.to work.Seems a silly to convert the electric twice.I am shure it would draw less power that way.Do any of the tv's have a remote power supply? like one of thoes plug-in transformer boxes? if you are lucky and the out put volts are right,and D.C. you could just cut the cord and wire in a 12 volt plug.

hope you find one

Doug

kneal · 02-15-2007, 08:05 PM

I have been eyeing this one for a while now. It comes with both 110 Power and 12V Power connections.

Welcome to Audiovox

uwe · 02-15-2007, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 85Sovereign

Is it possible to buy a new LCD TV that is already designed to run on 12v DC? A unit that I can just plug into the 12v socket with no inverters needed. Are the LCD's more energy effecient than a regular tube type tv? I'm concerned about battery life while boondocking. I was thinking of a 15" or up to a 20". We were wanting to install it on the wall next to the fridge.

Any suggetions?

Greg

Greg,

Look at the back of the TV, and read which input voltage it requires. We have several of the LCD TV's, but none of them run on 12VDC. We have one that plugs directly into 120V, and a smaller one that requires 19V DC.
Sharp TV's often have external 12VDC power supplies, and can be run directly from a 12V coach battery system.
The TV's that Airstream sells do have 12V DC capability.
The power consumptio of a 20" LCD is about 60W to 100W, depending on the make and model. More during startup.
Smaller TV's do use less power. A 70W load on a battery while boondocking will draw the battery down in a few hours. It's almost like leaving the headlights on in a car, to put it in perspective.
A 14 or 15 inch LCD might be fine in close quarters such as in the Airstream. It will draw less power, in our case about 4A. Roughly, this means that it would draw an 80Ah battery down to nothing in 20h. In reality, it would probably be quicker than that. Give and take a few.
There are exact and scientific calculations in this matter, but they're way over my head right now...

2airishuman · 02-15-2007, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 85Sovereign

Is it possible to buy a new LCD TV that is already designed to run on 12v DC? A unit that I can just plug into the 12v socket with no inverters needed.

hi greg

short answer YES.

jensen (along with audiovox) make marine/rv televisions

that are direct 12v.

they also manufacture ac/dc sets with both plug options...

energy requirements will vary with model size and sound/dvd add-ons...

speakers for example will draw more juice than headphones or mute....

so visit the jensen website or camping world.

RV Travel, Trailer Travel, RV Satellite, RV TV, - Camping World

apparently the newer jensen tvs are 'engineered' for vibration, heat and dampness....

the rv environment.

here is the owners manual for a 20 inch but jensen makes smaller and larger models in 12v.

http://www.asaelectronics.com/techpdf/JE2043OM.pdf

i use a small inverter (pocket size) and plug in a standard sony lcd tv...

19 inch is about 80-90 watts rating so only a few amps...

i don't think using a pure 12v tele draws less energy....

amps=watts/volts is ohms law...

regardless the 19 plugged into a 150watt inverter only pulls a few amps from the batteries in an evening of useage.

and i like sony picture quality.

cheers
2air'

and on edit i agree with uve most of the lcd tv have built in inverters to take them from 110 to 19 or 18 or some lesser voltage. BUT you cannot bypass this inverter and make a 'home brew' 12v...

Bob M · 02-15-2007, 10:23 PM

I am looking for a 15" flat panel TV with a built in digital tuner (ATSC). Lawmakers gave broadcasters until April 7, 2009, to end their traditional analog transmissions. The so-called "hard date" was included in a budget bill. After that date only digital signals will be available. Then we will need to add a converter box to tune in all over the air tv signals if the set does not have a digital tuner. I do not want to find a location and add exposed wiring for a converter box in the limited amount of space in the AS. 26" is the smallest sets I have seen with digital tuners, so far.

Bob

Moonstruck · 02-16-2007, 02:06 AM

Hi Bob,
I have recently purchased a 10.4" LCD TV with Digital tuner and built-in DVD player. Yes, I am in the UK, but, all these types of products come from the far east anyway and I expect you'll find them in the US. Put "PORTABLE LCD DVD" into the ebay search engine. The 12v market, because it's "portable" seems to go up to about 12". Good luck in your search!
Marc

Phil Gobie · 02-16-2007, 04:34 AM

I am using an audiovox 19" W/DVD player built in. It is 12 volt. It came with a 120 volt cord with a 12 volt Step down converter on the cord. I made up a 12 volt cord. Works great. It was about 400.00 at BJ's wholesale club.

GlenCoombe · 02-16-2007, 06:24 AM

I have my 20" Spectre LCD on the wall of the AS and this is it's second coach. Figure about 60,000 miles of daily driving. The inverter/power pack went bad after about a year and was replaced. This has been the only issue. It is a 12v unit but is run on the 120v side all the time as the generator runs all day every day due to other power demands.
The panel is mounted on the side wall via a heavy duty mount that does not articulate so there is only a bit of sideways movement.
I use the panel most as a computer monitor but am able to run T.V. or DVD from the computer for entertainment. This is rare as most of my evening entertainment is via books.

ALANSD · 02-17-2007, 06:04 AM

Glen- you can actually drive 60,000 miles in a day..unbelievable!!

sorry) had to say it

GlenCoombe · 02-17-2007, 07:39 AM

Alan, so far it's taken 2 coaches and about four years to amass the total. But the bottom line is the LCD had stood the test of time and vibration well.
It's still on the valance where you saw it last.... and will again in April.

ALANSD · 02-17-2007, 01:45 PM

looking forward to it!

Poprivet · 02-17-2007, 04:41 PM

Do a google search for "AC/DC LCD TV. Several listed

Normin storm · 03-18-2008, 09:02 AM

Hi I bought a goodmans TV from a large store it has a transformer to convert down to 12volts a lot of T.vs transform down just check the back for inputs it should not be a problem avoid R.V shops as they appear to be a lot dearer when thyey put R.V in front

henw · 03-18-2008, 10:44 AM

http://www.millionbuy.com/viohdw07v.html

I use this. Converts laptop to digital or analog TV. DVR function. Can use it's own antenna, or, connect to coaxial and cable input. Electrical draw is no more than the laptop.
Tom