TV power while driving

[njs42]

Here it is in Tennesee:



Law: No television viewer, screen or other means of visually receiving a television broadcast can be located in the field of view of the operator of the vehicle.
Statute: Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-105
Penalties: Class C misdemeanor.

[bounder1969]

Well put Ottawa! We replaced our TV's with dual voltage tvs which are also a lot better on power(12volt-travel tvs here). We normally use them on 110v but we've also installed 12v receptacles at each location so we can plug in the 12 volt cord and run the TV while underway. We run the generator a bit less now and have a nicer picture too. This won't help much with the video games but, it get's you half way there!

[LindaH]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm The short answer is NO, it is against the law.

No, it's not...as long as the TV can't be seen by the driver. Since the OP said the TV sits "above and behind the driver's position," it would seem to fit this requirement.

As someone else pointed out, there are a lot of cars now days that come with a TV or video screen in the back seat for kids to watch or play games while they travel. Why would this be any different?

[Winnebeater]

Quote:

Originally Posted by njs42 Here is the Washington State Law---they vary state to state Television viewers — Earphones. (1) No person shall drive any motor vehicle equipped with any television viewer, screen, or other means of visually receiving a television broadcast when the moving images are visible to the driver while operating the motor vehicle on a public road, except for live video of the motor vehicle backing up. This subsection does not apply to law enforcement vehicles communicating with mobile computer networks. (2) No person shall operate any motor vehicle on a public highway while wearing any headset or earphones connected to any electronic device capable of receiving a radio broadcast or playing a sound recording for the purpose of transmitting a sound to the human auditory senses and which headset or earphones muffle or exclude other sounds. This subsection does not apply to students and instructors participating in a Washington state motorcycle safety program. (3) This section does not apply to authorized emergency vehicles, motorcyclists wearing a helmet with built-in headsets or earphones as approved by the Washington state patrol, or motorists using hands-free, wireless communications systems, as approved by the equipment section of the Washington state patrol.

I believe that you may have miss read the original quote or a portion of it. In the first post he stated, "We have a class b+ with an entertainment center above and behind the driver's position." If it is behind the drivers position then it is NOT visible by the driver which would make it completely legal in Washington or any other state for that matter. As for hooking up your tv and PS3, the dash's power outlet is fine as long as you as the factory installed fuse can handle the current needed to power the inverter. As many of the other guys have stated and in my professional opinion (for many years I professionally installed mobile electronics equipment) I would opt for running the inverter directly to the battery. You can purchase amplifier wiring kits at any Best Buy or even Walmart. They will come with the power wire, fuse, fuse holder, ground wire and appropriate connectors. This will insure that your inverter operates EFFICIENTLY. The smaller the wire that you install the more resistance you circuit will have. The more resistance that you have in the circuit and the inverter will start producing a unwanted energy.....HEAT! So, if you have a 750 watt inverter then you may end up with a 300 watt power source and a 450 watt heater. Also as a rule of thumb keep the inverters power wires (DC voltage) as short as possible. The output side of the inverter has more margin for error, longer cords or wiring will not product as drastic of a voltage drop as on the DC side of the circuit. I used to install a couple 400- 800 watt power inverters a week so my customers could use Xbox, PS3, etc., etc. for there in vehicle entertainment systems and I would generally use either a 10 gauge or 8 gauge power wire kit for the installation. I never had an issue in the eight years that I was an installer.

[rogell2424]

I appreciate all the info and ideas....I hadn't thought about the problem of heat and proper fusing for the dash mounted 12v receptacle. I think i will buy a much larger inverter and have the dealership install it with the house batteries so that that it will work with all my 110v outlets. The alternator should keep the batteries charging while driving...Is this correct?

[Triker56]

Quote:

The alternator should keep the batteries charging while driving...Is this correct?

It should if it has enough output if to small it may burn out faster.
Most MH have at least a 140-160 AMP one.

What is the output of yours?
Do you have 2 6V house batteries plus a start battery or just a start battery to run every thing?

If only the start battery and you stop at a rest area for a break. Kids keep everything going and you shut engine off or even at a idle may be a problem if there long.

[Winnebeater]

Installing the inverter to power all the receptacles in the MH is a great idea. You will not regret it. Last month I installed a 1800 watt true sine inverter and it is great! Kids watch movies on the way to and from our destination (no more are we there yet?). We can also use our central vac or microwave if needed without having to start the generator. Now the only time we use the generator is to run the house AC or if we need to charge the batteries.

[njs42]

Winnebeater: This is moot; actually I posted the laws because it made it clear that the OP was within the laws. I have not taken a position whether or not the OP might be breaking the law.

My previous post suggested that it was in the best interest to determine what the laws actually stated; to not ignore the legalities in essence because you will not get caught, but rather know them for sure then proceed. I stand by that.

So I checked them myself taking my own advice (a rarity)---in my state and took the time to look up the OP's state---thought it might just clarify things.

I suspect the OP knows the law and is not concerned--and he now knows a lot about getting his TV running which is the point.

Sounds like a wrap to me.

[Lincolnboy2]

[QUOTE=SSteve;1068915

Don't smoke dope, snort coke or text while you're driving. A cop might pull you over because someone in your RV is playing a video game.

Steve[/QUOTE]

[wa8yxm]

Re reading the original post... TV is BEHIND the driver and thus not visible to driver. So it's ok to power it while driving.

As I said before though, a plug in inverter is not likely to have the "Oomph" needed, those are not much good once you pass 100 watts.. (Though I've plugged in 200 watt and larger,, I never drew more than 100 off them)