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Old 11-07-2010, 12:11 PM   #1
Lee F.
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Running TV off batteries????

Our entertainment center/DVD player runs off 12 volt, but the TV uses ac. What would be the easiest way to run the TV using the batteries when shore power isn't available?
 
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Old 11-07-2010, 12:33 PM   #2
rlwhit
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You may want to look at one of quite generators. Honda and Yamaha are good ones. If you have a bank of batteries you can install an inverter.
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Old 11-07-2010, 12:55 PM   #3
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Our Honda is quiet and is what we use when we want to watch TV in the living room. A worthwhile investment with a side benefit of charging the batteries while we watch TV!
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Old 11-07-2010, 03:54 PM   #4
firetrucker
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If your TV (assuming you mean television) is an LCD, then a 300W inverter should do the trick.

If the TV uses about 100W, then you will have to supply about 9-10 amps to the inverter (make sure you use at least 10 AWG wire and keep the inverter close to the battery).

A single, standard RV/marine battery should be good for about 4-5 hours from fully charged to 50% charge. Two batteries will, of course, double that time, and if you have AGM or golf cart deep discharge batteries, conservatively add about 50% to those times.

If the TV uses less power, you get more time. If you have the lights and furnace on, you get less time.

Bob
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Old 11-08-2010, 03:21 AM   #5
Lee F.
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Oops, I forgot TV is commonly used for tow vehiche. I should have spelled out television. Anyway, thanks for the replies. I was hoping to avoid the generator route, but installing an inverter sounds like a pain and I only have two Interstate deep cycle batteries to work off of. The generator seems to make more sense.

Thanks again,
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Old 11-08-2010, 04:01 AM   #6
H. John Kohl
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You do have Solar power as an option too. If you do run the inverter I suggest making it seperate from the 12VDC system that runs the slides and legs.
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Old 11-08-2010, 04:38 AM   #7
firetrucker
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Quite a few people have inverters, many of them in the 1000 W to 2000 W range, but they have good sized solar systems. A smaller inverter, just to run the TV, wouldn't be much of a job to install, and could be a backup for some systems if you lost shore power. I carry both a 300 W and a 1 kW inverter, as well as 2 Honda generators, just in case.

But a generator has its own set of problems, too, so look at your needs and talk to some of the people who've done both.

Bob
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Old 11-08-2010, 10:18 AM   #8
Emmel
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Lee, are you sure the dvd/cd player is 12 volt? Our 2010 model plugs into 110volt. The bedroom tv is 12 volt but the entertainment center is 110. Just curious to see if they changed them this tear.
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Old 11-08-2010, 12:44 PM   #9
Lee F.
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Emmel,

I'll check it in the morning. I assumed it was 12v because the built in clock continues to run when disconnected from shore power, but I never actually checked it. We only picked it up a few weeks ago and have only spent a couple nights in it. I'm trying to get everything ready for our annual trip to Florida in March.
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Old 11-10-2010, 04:08 AM   #10
scattershot
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I use an inverter, and it's the kind that has clips to connect it to the battery. I just run an extension cord through the window to watch TV. It's temporary, but we don't watch that much TV when we're travelling.
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