living room television

[rvgwen]

Hello all. I am not sure how to ask my question and have it understood so here goes. The large television in the living room does not seem to work if not connected to shore power. Am I missing something here or do I need to add something to power the television when boon docking. The bedroom television works fine on 12v. Thank you for your help with this issue.

Mike and Gwen
2013 Montana Big Sky 3402rl

[PackerFan]

The livingroom TV will only work when connected to shore power. It is a 110 volt Television. The bedroom TV is a 12 volt television and will work when connected to shore power or when you are boondocking and just running off the batteries.

Your TV's are doing just what they should be doing.

[bigskyjimmy]

X2 took me a few to figure that my self because i have never had a DC TV

[DQDick]

You'd need a large inverter and some serious batteries if you want to watch TV on the big screen. Normally boondocking that would mean running the satellite TV system or at least the antenna and the tuner in addition to the TV.

[Champ_49]

quote:Originally posted by DQDick

You'd need a large inverter and some serious batteries if you want to watch TV on the big screen. Normally boondocking that would mean running the satellite TV system or at least the antenna and the tuner in addition to the TV.

Dick, I was about to look into getting an inverter, but with your statement of a lot of battery power and a large inverter for a big screen and sattelite would be needed I thought maybe you could direct me in the right direction. I want an inverter for a one night boondocking situation. I have a 40" tv and dish network with the winegaurd traveler dish. Of course will use minimum lights for the evening. I am looking more in the line of boondocking at Wally world on occasion is all. Likely not to happen to often but would like the option.

I do have 2 12volt batteries in the unit now. My first choice would have been a pure sine wave 600 watt inverter for this application. Am I wrong?

Dave

[maximo]

Get a generator - Honda is about as quiet as they get.

Frank

[1retired06]

Agree with a generator. Batteries probably will do down quickly with a large capacity inverter.

[rvgwen]

Thank you so much for your reply's to this topic. I think I understand what I was missing now.

Mike and Gwen
2013 Montana Big Sky 3402rk

[Art-n-Marge]

The problem with generators is that most CGs with quiet times don't like them on past some hour (usually 10 or 11pm). Hopefully you are in the bedroom by that time and don't need the 110v television any more and will run exclusively off the 12v batteries. If not using a generator, adding more coach batteres (another one or two 12v or equivalent) will extend your power to satisfy one or two nights "off the grid". This is where 6v systems are better. In all cases you will need a suitable recharge/condition method. Make sure the wiring for additional batteries is done correctly so that the juice goes though all batteries correctly. Let me know if you need help understanding this.

Do be cognizant about leaving the generators unsecured overnight. There have been reports of a portable generators "walking away" if left outside and/or unattended. I actually disconnect my gennys at night and put them under lock and key before retiring for the evening and even this is no guarantee.

[DQDick]

I can't actually give you an estimate on inverter size. I looked at the situation and went the generators option. When and if we stop at a truck stop or wallyworld we are tired enough we just go to bed and don't do TV.

[mhs4771]

You would need to add up the max power requirements for the TV, Sat Receiver, and Dish Controller. Add a little more as a fudge factor and that would be the min size inverter you'd need. Then you would also have to determine what the draw would be on the batteries to see approx how long they could supply that power. It's do able, you just need to calculate what's needed. That's part of the reason we opted for the on-board genny in our SOB.

[Wheelhouse]

We found that not all outlets work on the generator, like the LV tv. We found that we had to put a cross-over in the panel for all outlets to work. Put the cross-overs and every outlet works. Wife invited neighbors over when power went out, turned on generator and no power to a lot of outlets. Cross-overs worked.

[lasater]

I run 4 each 6 volt batteries through a 3,000 watt inverter. During the day, I run a 5 cubic foot freezer, 2 laptops, and any lights I need. At night, I turn the inverter off (the freezer stays cold overnight). Like a lot of old-timers, I use a CPAP at night and have a 12 volt power supply for it.

While traveling, I turn off my propane (for personal safety reasons) and run the refer and freezer from the inverter. When I stop, then everything gets recharged either through shore power or by generator. I also like redundancy, so I have a 5.5K Onan installed and carry a 2K portable. The 2K is for long term boondocking with good gas usage.

My battery and solar setup will run the big TV but between the TV, receiver, and satellite antenna; a lot of juice gets used...generator time.

My bedroom TV is a CRT type and never gets used. I considering taking it out completely and using the space for storage. But, that's just me.