Club 80-90 Forums

Hey,

So I have a small tv DVD that I no longer use. I want to use it in the bus but it is a normal household tele. The wire doesn't have a transformer thing on it so does that mean it won't work unless I am on hook-up? Anyway to get it to work off 12v?

Cheers
Josh

Yes it needs 240v, either using hookup or a 12v to 240v inverter.

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I suspect that if it was designed for 240v, little if any thought would have gone into efficiency so even if you use a 12v to 240v converter, it could prove to be power-hungry. With 12v entertainment units theres not a great deal of incentive for manufacturers to make them less power hungry. Parasitic-draw stereos are a prime example. With 240v (a mass market) its now a selling point (consider washing machines etc with green ratings) but noone really seems to give a fig about camper/RV/Caravan owners and worse, don't always give accurate consumption figures. I find I'm having to use ohms law all the time to decide whats worth buying or not.

None of this matters on hookup although for a lot of people, independence from mains electrickery is important. Solar can play a part, but amps are amps and you can soon flatten a battery watching a TV for more than a couple of hours or so. A tablet or even a notebook with TV capability, that can be charged in the day, with extra help from the leisure battery in the evening. might be the most efficient way to do it.

I have a 12v-to-240v adapter but I'm not convinced that running a converter, plus the item, are a sensible or even logical way to do it. Portable items that have internal lithium batteries like satnavs, tablets, phones etc, generally only consume milliamps and can work well. Some things (the iphone is one) seems to like 1 amp or more capability when charging so its still a lottery.

Thanks for the replies. Maybe il give it a miss then.

Josh

Does the TV have an external transformer I.e. a 'brick' on the cable. If so some people have found the output voltage of the brick is 12v DC and had success simply cutting off the brick and wiring the positive and negative wires (correctly) to a cigarette lighter adapter.

This is hit and miss as your supply isn't as regulated as the TV would normally get, but some people have had luck, others didn't and the TV ultimately died with some use, but if the TV is otherwise scrap might be something to think about checking.

greasemonkey wrote:Does the TV have an external transformer I.e. a 'brick' on the cable. If so some people have found the output voltage of the brick is 12v DC and had success simply cutting off the brick and wiring the positive and negative wires (correctly) to a cigarette lighter adapter.

This is hit and miss as your supply isn't as regulated as the TV would normally get, .

how exactly is a cheaply produced tiwaneese 240vac trasformer going to be more stable than a battery??

There is a tendency for the voltage in a vehicle to rise above 12.5 to perhaps 14v at times if you start your engine for any reason. Some circuits are not tolerant of such peaks unless you fit some kind of regulation. No doubt why failure is possible. Personally I wouldn't mess about. Better to Just get something more suited to the job - or enjoy your trip away without TV. I haven't watched TV in 15 years. Much prefer Youtube.

Mocki wrote: how exactly is a cheaply produced tiwaneese 240vac trasformer going to be more stable than a battery??

Not stable, I said regulated. As CovKid said, auto electrics operate more within a range, rather than a fixed 12v, so yes a transformer (regardless of origin) will be better suited.

Like I say, it's not really an option I would chose to do by choice, but if the TV is going for scrap might be worth seeing if it works ok. If the transformer is internal I wouldn't bother messing at all.

I think the dedicated TV or using a tablet is the best option. Tablets are perfect as you can run off a power pack that you charge at home. There are 20k+ mah packs for under 20 quid now that will keep a phone/tablet running for a week under normal use. I watch movies etc on mine, but eventually bought a proper 12v TV. They are pricey, but they are perfectly suited for the job and quality is extremely good.

I would seriously think twice about having a tv in your van. We have one in our van and they can change your camping experience and not necessarily for the better! It's too easy to switch the telly on when its raining rather than put a coat on and go outside. Whats the point of spending 20, 30, 40 on petrol to do the thing your trying to get away from in the first place.