Flat Screen Lcd Tv - 12v Or Inverter?

[Phantom]

Hi... I'm planning to add a flat scrren TV to my 19' Bambi some day. It might be 15" or 19"... What size inverter would I need just to run the TV and where would it mount/wire? I also heard from the dealer that there are some 12v/110v TV's on the market that would run on 12v without an inverter. Anyone heard of these? What brands? cost?
Pete

[2airishuman]

hi phantom

welcome to the forums....

lots of info on this topic in the 'audio, video, tv' sub forums...

this will get ya started.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/342110-post5.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f450...ion-31763.html

cheers
2air'

[jzelle]

If you can find one that runs at 12V, that's the way to go. It is more efficient this way- an important consideration when boondocking.

Many inverters will consume 25W or more just idling without a load.

[campadk]

I agree with John. We camp primarily at state parks, so with our 120V LCD tv, we have to use an inverter. I have a 400W unit which is barely workable for our 17" (or so) wide screen LCD. Best to get a good quality 750W unit if you can.

But ideally one than can work off 12V makes more sense, and elimates having to use an inverter, turning it on/off etc. The TV is certainly one of the biggest power users. If you boondock like us a lot, you might also want to purchase a smaller unit rather than a larger unit as well to save power.

[henw]

400 watt inverter runs our 19 inch flat screen with no trouble at all. Plus, the inverter required no special wiring.

[Bob Thompson]

We have a 175 watt inverter running our 40 watt JVC 110v LCD. The inverter provides enough power to run the TV plus a Sanyo DVD player, with a little power to spare. Our two house batteries can run the TV by itself about 8 hours before the voltage drops to the point we need to run the generator. When boondocking, we run the generator about 2 hours a day, about 1 hour in the morning to make coffee, and breakfast in the microwave, plus hair dryer. Then another hour or so in the evening when making dinner and topping off the house batteries.

[campadk]

I have to put our LCD TV in economy mode (screen is a bit dimmer) other wise the 400W inverter squeels and trips off. I'll be replacing it with a more powerful one for next year.

By the way the TV is rated at 95W, so you would figure the 400W inverter would be sufficient... obviously those things are pretty inefficient!

You would think that by now Airstream would think of such things, and would have installed a dual 120V/12V model TV in our 2007... ugh.. Airstream airstream...

[Antique Pedaler]

We run a 12 volt Jensen 15 inch TV designed for mobile use. Google Jensen 12 TV to find one. We purchased ours from a marine mail order company. Prices vary, so shop around. It's also available in a 17 inch model. It's bullet proof, gets a fine picture and uses very little juice. Obviously we can use it while boondocking.

[GetOutDoors]

Jensen model JE1907DC

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by campadk

I have to put our LCD TV in economy mode (screen is a bit dimmer) other wise the 400W inverter squeels and trips off.

By the way the TV is rated at 95W, so you would figure the 400W inverter would be sufficient... obviously those things are pretty inefficient!

as noted in the other threads linked here and with the same 95w/75w sony tele....

i'm using a 125 watt or 175 watt inverter with zero problems...

i've used in for 6-8 hours continuous, in regular mode on power saver mod...

LARGE capacity units are less efficient but these small inverters are simple and easy to use...

and waste less juice in the process...

with a single appliance or 2 (tele, mac, dvd)

in this situation bigger isn't always better...

cheers
2air'

[tpi]

Whatever type of power for the TV, at this point I'd recommend the set has a digital tuner. I recently bought a Vizio 20 inch HDTV at Costco which works very well with the built-in Winegard batwing antenna.

[jzelle]

Originally Posted by Bob Thompson

.... we run the generator about 2 hours a day, about 1 hour in the morning to make coffee, and breakfast in the microwave, plus hair dryer. Then another hour or so in the evening when making dinner and topping off the house batteries.

2 hours every day?. Last september we boondocked and lived on Solar for 16 days before the generator was required. If you had a 3-stage smart charger/ converter you wouldn't need to run a generator anywhere near that.

[Bob Thompson]

It's easier to leave the generator running when we make coffee, then later when we're 'nukin breakfast, and again later when my wifie is using the hair dryer than it is to run outside and stop and start the generator just to save generator time. With the EU2000i you hardly know it's running from the sound and it sips gas in economy mode.

[Airstream25]

I have both Samsung and Polaroid 12v LCD TVs. Cost depends on size. If you boondock, this is the way to go.

Originally Posted by Phantom

Hi... I'm planning to add a flat scrren TV to my 19' Bambi some day. It might be 15" or 19"... What size inverter would I need just to run the TV and where would it mount/wire? I also heard from the dealer that there are some 12v/110v TV's on the market that would run on 12v without an inverter. Anyone heard of these? What brands? cost?
Pete