RogeTeri
Free Member
Bit confuse. I have two leisure batteries and a large solar panel fitted on the roof. Everything seems to work ok but the television. Do you need to be on a hook up to use it? It works fine when connected to the mains supply
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It works fine when connected to the mains supply
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Or is it a 240v TV like you'd use at home? In which case, it will only work on hook-up - unless you have an inverter.
The TV came with the van, why is life so complicated???
I have learned I know nothing!
Have heard of inverters but would not recognise one if I fell over it, must take my card to Peterborough I think it will have melt down
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At least you know that
If you do fall over your invertor it is not installed correctly
G
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On the back of the TV it says its 12v/240v. Its wired into the main fuse box
So if I need one are there any you recommend?
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Well this post has made us feel a whole lot better as we have just had the same trouble getting our heads round the whole inverter/12v issue. What I thought was the inverter turned out to be an amp for the bass speaker oh: We got a friend round who had more experience and told him the TV didn't work on 12v so he pointed out that we needed to plug in to the 12v for it to work. oh: I naively assumed that when we were off mains that everything just worked as normal but through the inverter instead!! Might have to invite Jaws in for a glass or 2 this weekend so we can pump him for info!! By the way if you spot a motorhome with no lights on Saturday night it may well be us with a drained leisure battery because we don't know what we're doing
I can't tell you how much better I felt reading your post. Was a little hesitant to post in the first place as it is an admission of ignorance. I think one of the advantages of motor homing is you not only buy into a way of life you also buy into a community. This is evident from the waves you get on the road to the people on this site who are willing to give their time to reply and offer to give advice and help. The only down side is the likely decent into alcoholism
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. The only down side is the likely decent into alcoholism
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That's the last thing to worry about. Whatever else we all have in common (or not) we were all beginners once and had the same questions to ask
SIMPLE GUIDE TO 12 VOLT LCD TV FOR MOTORHOMES
LOTS OF TVS WORK OFF 12V---ASDA, TESCO, COMET, CURRYS ETC.
MAKE SURE IT SAYS 12V ON THE BACK
MAKE SURE IT HAS A PLUG TYPE AS IN PICTURE not four pin etc,
THESE PLUGS ARE READYLY AVILABABLE OFF GAMES CONSOLES ETC,
YOU CAN USE YOUR 240 LEAD ON HOOKUP OR MAKE UP A LEAD FOR 12V VIA CIG LIGHTER OR CROC CLIPS (PORTECT WITH IN LINE FUSE)
OR WIRE TO YOUR ARIEL PLUG
IDENTIFY POSS AND NEG THEN MAKE UP YOUR LEAD
IF YOU WANT TO YOU CAN PROTECT WITH A VOLTAGE STABILIZER
OR AS IN MY CASE JUST WIRED DIRECT TO ARIEL PLUG.
IF USING VOLTAGE STABILISER YOU MAY FIND THAT IF VOLTAGE DROPS TO 12.4V IT WILL NOT WORK, BUT IF NONE USED YOUR TV MAY WORK AS LOW AS 12 V (LONGER)
AS VOLTAGE DROPS THE PICTURE WILL GO OFF BUT STILL HAVE SOUND, SO PLENTY OF WARNING TO CHARGE YOUR BATTERY BEFORE ANY DAMAGE OCURS.
To sums it up simply--------
There are always conflicting opinions on whether it is safe to use a 12v TV directly from the van 12v supply. I see the argument this way:
Using an inverter from the van battery to provide 240v then powering the TV via the mains adapter is inefficient and uses considerably more power. I tested my current TV last week and there was a 25%+ difference in consumption. It is therefore better to use the 12v direct if possible.
The first point to make is how much did you pay for your TV? If it's a £350 super-duper model then perhaps it may be worth splashing out on a voltage regulator or going for the inverter option. If you paid £50 for your TV then why not just wire it straight into the 12v and risk it? In most cases the TV will be absolutely fine.
The second point is why not be versatile? The risk of the van battery voltage exceeding the safe input voltage of the TV only applies when the battery is being charged, ie: when the engine is running or when on hook-up with the charger powered up. So why not adopt the following strategy?
a) Don't use the TV when the van engine is running unless you use it via an inverter and mains adapter.
b) If you're on hook-up either use the TV via its mains adapter, straight from a 240v socket or turn off the battery charger when the TV is in use.
Seems perfectly simple and logical to me - and saves both cash and battery capacity.
May I add I have been using several lcd TV without a stabiliser-wired to the Ariel socket both on EHU and charger on without problem for the last 7/8 years-the battery will work as a pretty good stabiliser. Also ran the van while the TV was on but as I am driving I don’t watch the TV with engine running.
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I'm somewhat confused by the fact that a couple of posters have mentioned wiring "direct to your aerial plug" Surely the aerial plug is for the aerial (doh) and nothing whatsoever to do with the power supply, whether it be 12v or 240v? Or am I getting confused (again)?
Sorry about the confusion but all of mine have had 12v sockets with the Ariel: Smile: TO MAKE IT CLEAR you need to couple your TV to a 12v power supply that is with the Ariel socket or not :thumb:
terry
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