Community Forums

Jyrocharlie · 08-06-2019, 11:27 AM

Honda
1000-Watt Super Quiet Gasoline Powered Portable Inverter Generator with Eco-Throttle and Oil Alert

This would be great and run at idle with just your tv. You could hardly hear it. You would have to check the watts on your coffee maker to see if it would make coffee.

Jyrocharlie · 08-06-2019, 11:34 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-0p1uIJs-I

LeisurePursuits · 08-06-2019, 11:45 AM

I prefer to not annoy my neighbors just to watch a little TV. Go ahead and get a small relatively quiet generator and use it to efficiently charge your batteries if they get low. But don't use it to just watch TV.

Glen 3 · 08-06-2019, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeisurePursuits

I prefer to not annoy my neighbors just to watch a little TV. Go ahead and get a small relatively quiet generator and use it to efficiently charge your batteries if they get low. But don't use it to just watch TV.

I've always been of the same mind. Last night we arrived at a campground around 5:00. We could hear a loud generator going but assumed it was just for someone to cook supper and will be off soon. It stayed on all evening. I was busy trying to figure out the TV so it didn't bother me too much but my wife was sitting outside and wanted to hear nature and quiet. Eventually she went over there to find one woman outside with what appeared to be every light in her trailer on. My wife asked her if she could turn off the generator (quiet time was in 5 minutes). The lady said abruptly, "I still have five minutes left!". At 1 minute after 11:00 it went silent. We have no other reason to use a generator besides the TV. I may search for a 12 volt combined DVD /TV for Rainy day day use. BTW it rained all last night and, so far, all day today. I'm in the prairies but it feels like the west coast.

LeisurePursuits · 08-06-2019, 03:51 PM

No need to search for an elusive DVD/tv combo. Do they still make those? Here is a link to a
small inverter under 20 bucks that has good reviews.

https://www.amazon.com/BESTEK-Invert.../dp/B07DVXNSDH

KM Rolling · 08-06-2019, 04:27 PM

+1 on the inverter. We use one quite a bit to power our TV and laptop when not on shore power or not running genny.

Just make sure to not run down your battery(s) too low.

Glen 3 · 08-06-2019, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeisurePursuits

No need to search for an elusive DVD/tv combo. Do they still make those? Here is a link to a
small inverter under 20 bucks that has good reviews.

https://www.amazon.com/BESTEK-Invert.../dp/B07DVXNSDH

Thank you very much as that is nearly perfect! This is the place for answers. Our 2020 trailer (Winnebago 1706fb) does not have the old cigarette lighter type connections but there are lots of USB connections that charge up our devices quickly. I'll search some more when we get back home but does anyone know of an inverter that will plug into a USB port for power?

Double bonus, the lady next door hasn't turned on her generator. We got here at 8:00pm and it's so quiet.

KM Rolling · 08-07-2019, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glen 3

Thank you very much as that is nearly perfect! This is the place for answers. Our 2020 trailer (Winnebago 1706fb) does not have the old cigarette lighter type connections but there are lots of USB connections that charge up our devices quickly. I'll search some more when we get back home but does anyone know of an inverter that will plug into a USB port for power?

Double bonus, the lady next door hasn't turned on her generator. We got here at 8:00pm and it's so quiet.

Never seen an inverter that will run off a USB, don't think that is going to happen.

You can either wire in a power point (old cig lighter type port) for an inverter, or just clamp your inverter straight to your battery.

There are other units that some folks like to use that are a power box of sorts...it's more expensive than a simple inverter, but very convenient.

Do a google or amazon search for something like this-

Portable Power Station Explorer 160, 167Wh Solar Generator Lithium Battery Backup Power Supply with 110V/100W(Peak 150W) AC Outlet for Outdoors Camping Fishing Emergency
by Jackery

tuffr2 · 08-07-2019, 01:18 PM

I am lucky that I like music as the radio works off the 12V battery. If I am staying in a State Park w/o cable but has electric i watch DVD movies when it rains or at night. Usually there is not very good TV antenna reception at some remote State Park.

ricndot · 08-07-2019, 06:39 PM

you WILL need a way to replace the 12v power you draw from the batteries. whether its a genny, a solar system or ground power. doesn’t matter if you use an inverter to power the a/c tv or if you get a 12v tv. power is power and must be replaced or your batteries will die.
we removed our 32” jensen 12v dc hdtv a few months ago (still works fine), for a 43” samsung a/c powered tv. its powered by a whole house 2000 watt inverter that draws power from our 4gc2 batteries whose juice is replaced by our solar system. solar even powers our 115v adult beverage fridge in the truck bed

can’t remember the last time we used our genny.

aether_one · 08-07-2019, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glen 3

does anyone know of an inverter that will plug into a USB port for power?

Nope, not enough power from a USB port to even power the smallest inverter.

Brad Wilf · 08-08-2019, 10:43 AM

I had a 12v tv/dvd combo in my last camper, worked great, went with the camper when it sold. When I'm ready for a another one, purchasing same brand from same place. "Skyworth" reasonably priced, worked well. Just plug and play.

http://www.roadtrucker.com/12-volt-lcd-tv-dvd-widescreen/12-volt-tv-dvd.htm

KM Rolling · 08-08-2019, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ricndot

you WILL need a way to replace the 12v power you draw from the batteries. whether its a genny, a solar system or ground power. doesn’t matter if you use an inverter to power the a/c tv or if you get a 12v tv. power is power and must be replaced or your batteries will die.
we removed our 32” jensen 12v dc hdtv a few months ago (still works fine), for a 43” samsung a/c powered tv. its powered by a whole house 2000 watt inverter that draws power from our 4gc2 batteries whose juice is replaced by our solar system. solar even powers our 115v adult beverage fridge in the truck bed

can’t remember the last time we used our genny.

True that.

We have not invested in solar or great batteries. We have two 100 amp hour lead acid batteries (giving us an effective usable 100 amp hours).

If not running the A/C, we can do all our normal living for 3-4 days off these two batteries, then we will either need to plug in or run the generator to recharge the batteries.

Glen 3 · 08-08-2019, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Wilf

I had a 12v tv/dvd combo in my last camper, worked great, went with the camper when it sold. When I'm ready for a another one, purchasing same brand from same place. "Skyworth" reasonably priced, worked well. Just plug and play.

http://www.roadtrucker.com/12-volt-lcd-tv-dvd-widescreen/12-volt-tv-dvd.htm

That's probably the best solution. I don't watch TV when camping except if the bugs are unbearable or its raining. Up here it has rained every day since the end of June (not non-stop of course). I'm beginning to forget what a dry day is like. Camping or otherwise.