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ostbob · 09-28-2018, 04:07 PM

I have a 2006 RV with a 110vt tv that's going bad, someone suggested I switch it out for a 12 vt but I also know there are TV's that are both AC/DC. Just looking for some input from those who have walked the walk.

having 12 vt would be nice when no AC is available so I wouldn't have to run my generator just to watch tv but its rare that we're not in a park with electric.

Don't know how the AC/DC tvs would switch over etc.

Thanks

**Spdracr39** · 09-28-2018, 04:10 PM

So my first question would be is a 12 volt socket available in the area the tv is mounted?

creativepart · 09-28-2018, 04:16 PM

There are a 100 more 110v TVs to chose from than any one 12v or AC/DC TV you’ll find available.

Get a small inverter to run your new 110v TV when needed.

Soppy · 09-28-2018, 04:25 PM

A lot more selection for 120v units. Some have a power cube that could be replaced for a 12v one. You could also install a small 200w sine wave inverter and plug the TV into it. That way you could still watch TV and not have to run the generator.

Tha_Rooster · 09-28-2018, 04:34 PM

First the selection of 12 volt tv would be slim and probably small screens, use a inverter.

Mark99 · 09-28-2018, 05:37 PM

I bought a 12 volt tv which really was a 110 volt tv that had a different power pack installed with a cigarette lighter plug. It never worked even after running heavier gauge wires. I bought a small invertor and it worked fine. Used that invertor on the next Camper with a large 110 tv with good results. Have a motorhome now with a built in invertor that works great. Have gone 8 hours today with dw inside watching tv and I’m outside watching another tv. It is also running the satellite box and recharging our phones all at the same time. At some point it will beep that batteries are getting low and I’ll fire up the generator for awhile.

Mzbrandi · 09-28-2018, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ostbob

I have a 2006 RV with a 110vt tv that's going bad, someone suggested I switch it out for a 12 vt but I also know there are TV's that are both AC/DC. Just looking for some input from those who have walked the walk.

having 12 vt would be nice when no AC is available so I wouldn't have to run my generator just to watch tv but its rare that we're not in a park with electric.

Don't know how the AC/DC tvs would switch over etc.

Thanks

Just a thought. Every place I've been out West, there isn't any TV to be had OTA. I use Sat TV. My sat needs 120v so need Gen or inverter. So I would just keep the 120v tv and not worry about the 12v ones.

YMMV
Brandi

Waiter21 · 09-29-2018, 05:30 AM

A lot of 120 volt TVs will work on 12 volts DC. They aren't advertised as such, but if you know what to look for, they will work. I did a short article on it here:

Will a 120 volt TV work on 12 volts DC – MAYBE – 2001 Coachmen Mirada 300QB

ALSO - If the TV's external power supply provides 18 or 19 volts (very common), I've installed a DC to DC converter to run the TV on 12 volts..

https://www.amazon.com/Step-up-Regul.../dp/B00S0UFR14

..

Sbrownstein · 09-29-2018, 05:50 AM

I agree with the inverter crowd. I have always used a small inverter to run my TV and often run a DVD player to go with it. Running a 4000 watt generator for a 100 watt or less TV always bothered me when you can get a small inverter to run both for less than $40. You can also charge cell phones, computers, etc at the same time. I bet you can save the $40 on the TV vs the limited number of wall wart models you will find. Finally, you can run the 120 volts from as inverter as far as you want with an extension cord, but you will need to find a heavy duty 12 volt connector close to your 12 volt DC TV.

svcattales · 09-29-2018, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ostbob

I have a 2006 RV with a 110vt tv that's going bad, someone suggested I switch it out for a 12 vt but I also know there are TV's that are both AC/DC. Just looking for some input from those who have walked the walk.

having 12 vt would be nice when no AC is available so I wouldn't have to run my generator just to watch tv but its rare that we're not in a park with electric.

Don't know how the AC/DC tvs would switch over etc.

Thanks

I just bought a "Supersonic" 12vt/ac TV and I'm very happy with it. I has 24" screen at 1080P resolution and picture is beautiful. I also use a 12vt car stereo for music tied into the 5 "home theater" speakers that came with RV. The TV headphone jack plugs into the "aux" jack on radio so sound is really great also. TV was $184 on Amazon (model SC-2412). Without the stereo being used as an amp, the TV sound volume was too low when air conditioning was running. Before I got the car stereo, I used a Bluetooth transmitter from headphone jack on TV which connected to a Bluetooth speaker. Sound volume was also good with this set up. If I wanted to run tv off AC, I have to swap power cords.

I think the main consideration between AC and DC TV is whether or not you like to boondock. As a many year boat cruiser, I learned that running an inverter to power an AC TV uses more battery power than running TV off DC. When I'm plugged into shore power, I don't change power source on TV to AC. Shore power charges my house battery bank, so no need to be swapping power cords. Greg

PS. DW loves the new TV & stereo set up and I've been called the "amp miser" to my boating friends, so this setup is great for both of us.

Skiddy · 09-29-2018, 07:56 PM

mine came with an inverter and it's a 99. being a 2006 wonder if it already has one.

Isaac-1 · 09-29-2018, 11:05 PM

I lean towards the buy a small inverter option here, any modern (made in the last 3-4 years) tv under 40 inches in size is going to draw under 40 watts in standard use. Take for example this random Samsung 32 inch smart HDTV https://www.samsung.com/us/televisio...n32n5300afxza/ the typical watt draw is 27 watts, with a max watt draw (probably with the audio cranked all the way up) at 65 watts. Therefore any brand name good quality inverter rated over 100 watts should be more than enough to power this tv (I would shy away from the no name inverters, some of which are overly optimistic in their power ratings, though even these can generally be expected to supply 1/3 - 1/2 of their rated output).

Ike

p.s. don't massively over size the inverter though, there is no sense in running a 2,000 watt inverter to power a tv that is drawing 30 watts, as the idle power consumption of that 2,000 watt inverter will likely be more than the 30 watts the tv is drawing.

ktn1966 · 09-30-2018, 09:51 AM

If what you have works and the chance of using it off grid is minimal then stick with the 110v style. We tried replacing our 12v tv with a large 55 inch smart tv but could never get a plug in inverter to run it properly. I would have needed to install a large pure sine wave invert. We put the 12v Jensen back in the trailer. We boondock primarily so it made sense for a 12V tv instead of the added weight and wear on the batteries, for us.

YMMV

ostbob · 09-30-2018, 02:10 PM

I don't have an inverter so I guess I will have to study on it.

Did find several places that have a large selection of 12 vt TV's.

https://www.12volt-travel.com/12-vol...ons-c-684.html

12 Volt TV DVD Skyworth/NAXA/RCA LED 12V Color Television

99 percent of the time we're hooked up to electric. Really just need for the rare occasions to watch movies for a couple hours at rest stops or very rare boondocking at a state park.

Just seems like getting 12 vt would cover both situations.