flat screen tv's - Fiberglass RV
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 02-23-2012, 11:37 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
Name: Laura
Trailer: Winnebago
Iowa
Posts: 127
Angry flat screen tv's

Ok, my husband and I are having a disagreement. He wants to put a very large flat screen TV in our FGTT. I say it will take more electricity than a small TV. If we would be running on solar power, would it make a difference? The LIL Snoozy has room for a large TV, and he wants a huge one. I am sure someone out there can settle this argument for us.
Laura June is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-23-2012, 11:39 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
Ed Harris's Avatar
 
Trailer: 1982 Fiber Stream and 2001 Casita Spirit Deluxe (I'm down to 2!)
Posts: 1,989
Every TV sold is required to list its power draw on the label.
Just look and compare.
Ed Harris is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-23-2012, 11:50 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
Trailer: 2002 19 ft Scamp 19 ft 5th Wheel
Posts: 3,640
Send a message via Yahoo to Darwin Maring
Get the Large TV and when the power drains out the battery, read a book.

He will B happy and so will U.
Darwin Maring is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-23-2012, 12:14 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
honda03842's Avatar
 
Name: Norm and Ginny
Trailer: Scamp 16
Florida
Posts: 7,517
Laura,

I don't think power will be your issue if you get an LCD TV. We've found because the trailer's small, a smaller TV does the job because you're closer.
__________________
Norm and Ginny

2014 Honda Odyssey
1991 Scamp 16
honda03842 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-23-2012, 12:46 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
cpaharley2008's Avatar
 
Name: jim
Trailer: 2022 Escape19 pulled by 2014 Dodge Ram Hemi Sport
Pennsylvania
Posts: 6,710
Registry
In addition, some tv's are 12 volt which is great for solar and made for travel, some people take the tv from home but on the long run they will not hold up to the jarring and bumping and moisture of rv travel. Jensen marine tv's are good.
cpaharley2008 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-23-2012, 12:46 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Trailer: 2008 21 ft Bigfoot Rear Bed
Posts: 629
Norm is correct in regards to size versus viewing distance, this is good sizing guide.
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-UDtkFQ5...placement.html

George.
GeorgeR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-23-2012, 01:05 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
David Tilston's Avatar
 
Name: Dave W
Trailer: Trillium 4500 - 1976, 1978, 1979, 1300 - 1977, and a 1973
Alberta
Posts: 6,926
Registry
Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008 View Post
In addition, some tv's are 12 volt .
Does anyone have suggestions for a 12 VDC flat screen TV. 19" to 24" would be good.
David Tilston is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-23-2012, 01:17 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
cpaharley2008's Avatar
 
Name: jim
Trailer: 2022 Escape19 pulled by 2014 Dodge Ram Hemi Sport
Pennsylvania
Posts: 6,710
Registry
Here is a 15" that I have and the picture is unbelievable.
Jensen Je1512led 15" Led Hdtv Wall Mount Only 12v
The speakers are in the front as well as the controls, nice features
cpaharley2008 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-23-2012, 01:17 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Ed Harris's Avatar
 
Trailer: 1982 Fiber Stream and 2001 Casita Spirit Deluxe (I'm down to 2!)
Posts: 1,989
Quote:
Originally Posted by GeorgeR View Post
Norm is correct in regards to size versus viewing distance, this is good sizing guide.
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-UDtkFQ5...placement.html

George.
In over 35 years selling TV's I have NEVER seen a man want a smaller one and rarely seen a Woman want a bigger one.

Just the way it is?
Ed Harris is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-23-2012, 01:25 PM   #10
Member
 
Roger M's Avatar
 
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 62
Registry
The most efficient TV's for RV use are 12v LED LCD's. Currently we use a laptop to watch movies with but we are looking at the 19" - 22" models and they draw about 3-5 amps, very low compared to the 110v models which are in the 20a to 30a range as I recall. A quick google search shows the Jensen 32" LED draws 7.5 amps - still within range of a 225amp hour battery system and a 100w solar panel supplying about 4 amps per hour.

Assuming the TV is not on day and night but just a few hours a reasonable solar system can provide more than enough power for your needs.

Shop around the RV and trucker sites, read the specs and you'll find plenty of options.

If you have not taken delivery of your Lil Snoozy yet, ask if you can get a dual battery setup, either 2-12v or 2-6v. 6v batteries have thicker lead plates and will endure deep cycling longer than 12v batteries. Just one 12v deep cycle battery will work harder or draw down capacity lower to supply the the entire load.
Roger M is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-23-2012, 02:24 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Ed Harris's Avatar
 
Trailer: 1982 Fiber Stream and 2001 Casita Spirit Deluxe (I'm down to 2!)
Posts: 1,989
Roger
There are no TV's that draw 20 or 30 amps that is just not practical?
Like I said they are all required to specify the draw right on the label.

I think you might be surprised too that now that many TV's use LED backlighting and small switching power supplies that even up to 32" they can have very modest needs for power.
Ed Harris is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-23-2012, 02:40 PM   #12
Member
 
Roger M's Avatar
 
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 62
Registry
Ed, you're right. The fact household circuit breakers are 15 - 20 amps did not occur to me when answering this post. I did dig up the Jensen 32" LED TV specs though, and they state 90 watts, 12v 7.5 amps. Thanks for the catch, Roger
Roger M is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-23-2012, 04:29 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
honda03842's Avatar
 
Name: Norm and Ginny
Trailer: Scamp 16
Florida
Posts: 7,517
As to ruggidized TV's we have a standard off the shelf LCD TV and have used it for probably 8 years in various RV's, at least 7 months a year. It has been all over the place including a 1000 mile dirt road. It has never had a single issue.

As to 19" TVs, I was looking at them in Walmarts the other day $98-150 with front speakers. Buy a small 100 watt inverter and you can run it anywhere every night if you choose.
__________________
Norm and Ginny

2014 Honda Odyssey
1991 Scamp 16
honda03842 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-23-2012, 04:30 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Trailer: Helite
Posts: 164
Big Truck Stops have all kinds of 12VDC items including TVs.
Art VanDelay is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-23-2012, 05:00 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
honda03842's Avatar
 
Name: Norm and Ginny
Trailer: Scamp 16
Florida
Posts: 7,517
As an energy reference, a 19" LED/LCD Vizio TV from walmarts draws 22watts an hour. That is equivalent to one incandescent bulb in the typical trailer. Power is not an issue.
__________________
Norm and Ginny

2014 Honda Odyssey
1991 Scamp 16
honda03842 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-23-2012, 06:15 PM   #16
Member
 
Name: Don
Trailer: 17.5 Bigfoot
Ontario
Posts: 94
"Buy a small 100 watt inverter and you can run it anywhere every night if you choose."

I'm wondering about this statement. My research shows that to run a LED TV off an inverter....the inverter has to be a Pure Sine Wave type. I just purchased a 1000W Pure Sine wave Inverter.....I haven't read about a PSI of less than 1000W. Right in the instructions it states that a Modified Wave Inverter is not recommended for a LED TV....a Pure Sine Wave Inverter is recommended. The above may not apply to a LCD TV. Please enlighten me.

PS.....Norm....just saw your post in the Inverter thread.
Don Dunsmore is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-23-2012, 06:31 PM   #17
Senior Member
 
Greg H's Avatar
 
Name: Greg
Trailer: 72 Boler American
Indiana
Posts: 1,557
Loves truck stop has one on sale now with the built in DVD player, it's AC/DC and I think it was like $115.00.
Greg H is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-23-2012, 06:41 PM   #18
Member
 
Name: Don
Trailer: 17.5 Bigfoot
Ontario
Posts: 94
I just bought this nicely sized Samsung 22" LED TV from Best Buy. AC only. One of the few TVs still offering a Head Phone jack. Cool white color that blends in nicely. Also comes in black. Very light. great picture.

http://http://www.samsung.com/ca/con...UN22D5010NFXZC
Don Dunsmore is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-23-2012, 07:28 PM   #19
Senior Member
 
honda03842's Avatar
 
Name: Norm and Ginny
Trailer: Scamp 16
Florida
Posts: 7,517
Sine Wave

Don,

If I sold Sine Wave Inverters that's what I'd say as well.

We've been running off non-sine wave inverters since we started RVing 11 years ago and have not seen a single issue with non-sine wave inverters.

Virtually every 110 VAC TV has a circuit that turns the AC into DC as a first step any way.

We buy our 2 little 100 watt inverters at Walmart and our 1200 watt Inverter at the Black and Decker outlet. The former were $19 and the latter was $59.

I'm reporting our actual experience and hopes this helps.

We've used the small inverters to run 2 different TVs, Satellite Dish Receiver, all our phones and all of our computers over an 11 year period.

We've used the large one to run an AC fridge we had in an earlier trailer, and our coffee pot as well as the items run by the smaller inverter.

In general I look for low cost solutions that work.
__________________
Norm and Ginny

2014 Honda Odyssey
1991 Scamp 16
honda03842 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-23-2012, 08:09 PM   #20
Senior Member
 
Ed Harris's Avatar
 
Trailer: 1982 Fiber Stream and 2001 Casita Spirit Deluxe (I'm down to 2!)
Posts: 1,989
Don

I have a 200watt PSI unit for the record.
Also for the record I do not think in general it matters either way for most TV's out there.

If the TV is an A.C. model then it will already have an inverter inside it or in the power cord as the backlight on small TV's is not run from 120vac power anyway.
Whether the thing uses LED or CFL backlight they will in general be stepped down a lot inside somewhere.
This makes them less prone to issues with an external inverter and the quality of its waveform.

There is a lot of just strange info out here on the web about all of this and I have to wonder how it is passed on really?

Of course it would be better to find a 12vdc unit for everything in our rigs but I have heard of very few issues with cheapo inverters really destroying anything lately due to the waveform output by them.
That does not mean it can't and doesn't happen,I just do not think it is very common.

Now if the input voltage drops to the point where the inverter can not maintain a steady output most that I have seen will shut down from undervoltage thus protecting the load that way too.
My little PSI model does this and beeps loudly as a warning which is both nice and annoying at the same time.
Ed Harris is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Make a Flat Screen TV look a little more vintage to match your traier Carol H Modifications, Alterations and Updates 15 02-15-2012 01:41 PM
Where to mount a bracket to a flat TV screen Cyndi B. Modifications, Alterations and Updates 6 02-09-2012 07:57 AM
Installing a flat screen TV - how to get wiring to it? Carol H Electrical | Charging, Systems, Solar and Generators 23 06-20-2011 02:58 PM
Looking for screen room or screen panels Deb & Chuck Classified Archives 0 09-19-2009 04:07 PM
Mounting a flat screen tv in a Burro JMS Problem Solving | Owners Helping Owners 7 04-05-2009 07:35 AM

» Upcoming Events
No events scheduled in
the next 465 days.
» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:44 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.