Community Forums

dcoff12 · 04-01-2008, 08:51 AM

I am hoping that one of you more electrical minded people can direct me on how to get our TV to operate when the engine is running. It works fine other than when we start the motor so I am guessing that some type of a safety shut-off switch has been wired into the system somewhere. We have two daughters ages 4 and 7 and on long trips it makes no sense why they can not watch videos on the TV. Oh yes we of course do have the generator running while we are trying to use the TV while traveling.
Our coach is a 2005 George Boy Landau 34 on a Workhorse with the 8.1 Vortec. Any assistance would be appreciated.

Dennis

dcoff12 · 04-01-2008, 08:51 AM

I am hoping that one of you more electrical minded people can direct me on how to get our TV to operate when the engine is running. It works fine other than when we start the motor so I am guessing that some type of a safety shut-off switch has been wired into the system somewhere. We have two daughters ages 4 and 7 and on long trips it makes no sense why they can not watch videos on the TV. Oh yes we of course do have the generator running while we are trying to use the TV while traveling.
Our coach is a 2005 George Boy Landau 34 on a Workhorse with the 8.1 Vortec. Any assistance would be appreciated.

Dennis

RustyJC · 04-01-2008, 09:10 AM

If you have a front-mounted TV, it is shut off with the engine running since having a TV visible to the driver when the vehicle is in motion is illegal in many states.

Rusty

dcoff12 · 04-01-2008, 09:30 AM

Thanks for you reply Rusty

You know I don't think I can see the front mounted TV from the drivers seat but I don't know that for sure. I will have to check this.
So all of the "in-motion" antennas on motorhomes are for TVs other than the front mounted units?
I guess I could carry our small protable TV and strap it into the easy chair across from the couch since it has a built in dvd player. Just a bit much it seems with 2 TVs already installed in the coach.
Thanks again Rusty.

Dennis

Nonno · 04-01-2008, 09:53 AM

I don't have a front mount (mine is mid mount and blocked by the slide) but I think this was discussed a long time ago. If my memory is correct someone found that if they moved the plug to the other outlet in the same box the TV would work. If that doesn't solve it what about a short extension to another outlet. Hope this helps.

dcoff12 · 04-01-2008, 10:49 AM

Great ideas Bob, I will try both suggestions and hope that one might work.

Thanks for the information.

Dennis

Peeta · 04-01-2008, 04:18 PM

Dennis we had the same problem for the first day. Bob is correct. I just unplugged the TV from the one plug in that outlet and there is a second outlet in the same compartment and plugged it in there. Works great. In our Bounder you can get a glimpse of the TV from the driver's seat but not much of one.

dcoff12 · 04-02-2008, 05:32 AM

Thank you Peeta for responding. I plan to check out all of these options this weekend. It would be great if we had another outlet close by also. Good to know that others have found ways to solve this issue.

Dennis

tropical36 · 04-02-2008, 08:41 AM

There is a relay with it's coil in the ignition circuit...it was in an overhead cabinet in my old Pace Arrow....
I by-passed it, probably by just pulling a wire off the coil connection, (logically assuming that the contacts were normally closed)...so it wouldn't have any effect...a simple and easy mod....if memory serves me....it was the 12volt DC only and would still work on 120AC, having said that, there's no reason why the relay conacts can't be in the 120vac circuit feeding that paricular outlet. If you want that outlet always energized, then find the relay and remove it from the circuit.

georgetown350 · 04-02-2008, 09:38 AM

My tv plugs into a small device which then plugs into the outlet. The purpose of this device is to keep the tv off while driving. I removed the device and plugged directly into the outlet. Now I can watch tv, talk on the cell phone and drink a coffee while driving down the highway. But of course with two hands on the wheel. DW s hands.

Steve

hamguy · 04-03-2008, 07:26 AM

My TV works nicely while driving. I can't bend back enough to see it but the DW can move back and enjoy the Cooking Channel.

Ken Roberts · 04-03-2008, 08:13 AM

We have an in-motion satalite dome on the motor home and at home we subscribe to Direct T/V. When we go on the road we take one of the direct receivers and in conjunction with the in-motion dome we listen to Country music from coast to coast, which I believe is Sirius. When we pull over for lunch we just change the channel to CNN and catch up on the news. For us it works great, Ken, '04 DSDP....

Hillbilly2 · 04-03-2008, 10:23 AM

I think Directv uses XM, but same thing, just different company and format. Yes, if plugging into another outlet works, thats an easy fix, otherwise the lockout relay would have to be found and disabled.