What size Inverter For Running 24" TV While Running ?

[Fourwinds28A]

Kids want to watch 24" TV while running and would prefer an inverter instead of running the generator. What size inverter ? and would you wire it straight to the running battery of the class C RV, with a fuse of course.

The class C is built on a Chevy Chassis with 7.4 L motor. Would only run the inverter while the rv motor is running. Would run the generator if we were stopped.

Appreciate the help, Thanks

[Johndale]

I have a 800 watt one and it runs TV and sat. But make sure it is new style flat screen.


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[Fourwinds28A]

Originally Posted by Johndale

I have a 800 watt one and it runs TV and sat. But make sure it is new style flat screen.


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Thanks for the reply, yes it's a new flat screen.
How do you have yours wired up ?

[harleyjt]

Just a thought. Many of the newer flat screens actually run on 12v power. If your TV has a transformer, check the output on the transformer label. You may find it is a 12v output. If that's the case, just wire the TV directly to 12v. No need to start at 120v just to reduce it back down to 12v.
jt

[Johndale]

Mine I hard wired it up front overhead so I can run the tv just on battery if wanted. But the converters come with cigarette lighter adaptor on them.


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[ChasA]

The smaller inverters like 400 watt will only put out about 100 watts when plugged into a lighter socket. To get the full rated output they must be hardwired with a substantially sized wire

[amosnandy]

The difference between1000 Watt and 2000 watt is so minimal I buy the bigger ones. You can hard wire it to the coach batteries with a 30 amp breaker and # 2 wire you can buy at any car audio place. I just plug mine into the 110 shore power plug when on the road. then you have power any wear in the coach. If you overload it trips the breaker. It has to be unplugged to use the shore power so you can't accidentally feed 110 to it. It's enough to run all the TV's and sat boxes.

[Waiter21]

Two items:

1) Harleyjt mentioned that your current TV may work on 12 volts. Many TVs will work on 12 volts, even though they aren't advertised or marketed as such. Here is a link to see if yours will operate on 12 volts:

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

2) - I added a small inverter so I could run small 120 volt stuff (cell phone / laptop chargers, etc) while traveling down the road. I installed a gray colored outlet and labeled it INVERTER. I can turn this inverter ON/OFF and it runs off the chassis battery, not the coach battery.

Installing small 400 watt inverter | 2001 Coachmen Mirada 300QB

..

[mel s]

Originally Posted by Fourwinds28A

Kids want to watch 24" TV while running and would prefer an inverter instead of running the generator. What size inverter ? and would you wire it straight to the running battery of the class C RV, with a fuse of course.
The class C is built on a Chevy Chassis with 7.4 L motor. Would only run the inverter while the rv motor is running. Would run the generator if we were stopped.
Appreciate the help, Thanks

Fourwinds28A
You need an inverter with 120AC with a watt output slightly greater than the 120VAC watt input used/needed by your TV....(as indicated on the label of the TV).
I use a 400 watt MSW inverter, wired directly to my house batteries, to run my 24" LED TV and my DirecTV receiver simultaneously, (both when traveling and when parked or camping without shore power).
Mel
'96 Safari

[amosnandy]

Probably the most valuable tool I have for setting any of this electrical stuff up is the what meter. You can buy them at Menards, Home Depot or Lowes for around $15. You plug the male end into an outlet, the female is what you plug you appliance, tv, toaster, microwave whatever. Turn the appliance on and the watt meter shows how much it is drawing. Mine reads up to 1440 watts. More than you ever want coming out of one outlet.