Club 80-90 Forums

I finally thought I was up and running - ready for the first true mini-adventure in "The Moule". The Welsh sea-side did not dissapoint , with sun and seagulls on Sunday morning, but the multimedia experience was a bit naff.

I had my 110aH leisure battery fully charged with a posh 3 stage charger, 15" flat-screen and DVD player.

The TV uses approx 45watts and the DVD approx 12watts, so I thought I would have many hours of uniterrupted camper/film action.

After 1 hour of "The Jackal" the tv screen kept going blank (no loss really coz film is shi*), but the DVD player and sound were still going. Switching tv on and off helped for small periods of time.

I suppose the voltage was running low?

The TV was running directly off battery, but I was running DVD off a 150watt inverter. I didn't realise the inverter was constantly 150w. These would mean approx 200watts being taken off battery.

Should I expect poor performance when using an inverter of this power?
What is the lowest powered inverter you can get?
Or am I better trying to find a cheap 12v dvd player, and save the inverter for emergencies?

Interesting question...I run a DVD (0.5A) and a lcd TV (0.7A) off a 600 watt inverter and have had 4hrs of uninterupted films....from a 65 a/h batt.

the more you pay for an inverter the less power you lose through it I'm told

Hi Kev

I agree "The Jackal" is shi*

Not to sure what the prob is with your battery draining so fast but don't think it will be your inverter.
Most inverters only draw the current the thing pluged into it needs (up to the maximum value) and are usally around 90% efficient.

Kev

Im not sure what your problem is either. An inverter will only draw what current it requires - and as said previously, around 90% efficiency. If its inefficient it will get very hot - the power has to go somewhere.

Im just getting used to running my 12v 15" lcd in the van. I watched a dvd (on 300w inverter) and all seemed fine. However, my eberspacher wouldn't start. Im kind of guessing that the TV's take more power than they claim.

Im going to be using it a lot more from March as i will be living in the van for part of the week - so if i learn anything i'll let you know....

Ringo

Im no expert with this,but i do find that my Tv /DVD drains the leisure battery fairly quick,i dont use it on 12v now only when on hook up.
I was speaking to another club member on sat who said that tv and dvd players take a lot out of the battery.

I bought a genny £33 and got a 780w peak power proline one from b and Q everyhting works fine woth it and not too noisy , best £33 i spent , Its not too big and throw it away after a year suppose. It means mains even in the wildest of places

DVDs , TVs ,Inverters Etc etc. All to much for me I just like to look out the window (it said that on my school repost).

This is just to say Hi & welcome as im also from BRIZZLE.

P.S The Jackel's not the worst film about. That one go's to Patch Adams
with Robin Williams (sooooo bad)

Actually, I think you'll find the worst film ever is in fact Howard The Duck. I, er, believe some people went to the cinema to see it

Dubstar wrote: Howard The Duck. I, er, believe some people went to the cinema to see it

your kidding.....






I believe Chicken Little was in the same bin

I was only a youngster at the time. Well nineteen. Does that count as an excuse? I might try to see if it's on Ebay, just to reminise about old times. Not the DVD but the actual film

awwww noooo i loved howard the duck tiz a great film spesh the girl in it me fave bits when her and howard are on the bed and shes just in a thong and silk pj top cooooooooooooor lol. still good bit of cheese that film i think, u can only get it on ebay as a copy as they dont supply it on reg 2
worst films got to be either broke back mountain or the lake house

Hi, I run a 15" Flat screen TV 12 Volt (hard wired), with a din size Radio/CD/DVD/MP4 unit and a 600 watt amp, no inverter needed. What I did have to do was fit an inline iscolation switch to the TV as when it was turned off (not on stand by) it still drew power from the liesure battery.
I did start off with an inverter but had so many problems with flat batteries I opted to take it out.

Steve

I know I got poo pooed when I've said it before but I recon 90% efficiency from an inverter is pie in the sky or marketing hype. Perhaps if you shell out huge amounts for serious kit but otherwise I'm not buying it.

Try and get 12v kit, if you can't get 12v then other DC voltages and use a decent DC converter, otherwise get a good book

Beach Bum wrote: What I did have to do was fit an inline iscolation switch to the TV as when it was turned off (not on stand by) it still drew power from the liesure battery.
Steve

Thats very interesting. I might fit a switch just in case this is happenning. Or, i might stick in an ameter and find out for sure if the TV takes anything when its supposedly switched off.

Ringo

just pull the lead out of the back of the screen!!