Best TV/DVD combo unit for boat. Go 12V or AC?

SeaNile

SeaNile

Well-Known Member
Aug 16, 2010
1,522
Chadds Ford, PA
Boat Info
2003 50 Sundancer
Engines
Cummins QSM11
I'm going to change out the old tube style TV and go with a flat panel and a combo DVD player. There will be a mount in the interior as well as one on the arch and moving the TV will be as simple as plug and play. Anyway, I'm not 100% sure if I should go with a 12V TV such as this one

http://www.truckers-store.com/store...-Thin-TV-w-USB-SD--DVD-Player_1097692401.html

Go go with the traditional TV from Best Buy.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Toshiba...ombo/2047614.p?id=1218320892520&skuId=2047614


Any thoughts?
 
I'm not sure of the brand either but more concerned about going the 12V route or with a standard 110v TV.
 
If you choose a 120V combo, you can always plug it into an inverter, which runs off your 12V ports.
I would go that route myself, I think DC is best used for small appliances, where you're just wanting juice to run the motor, and not concerned with the electronics in video display devices.
 
Wired2Cruze said:
If you choose a 120V combo, you can always plug it into an inverter, which runs off your 12V ports.
I would go that route myself, I think DC is best used for small appliances, where you're just wanting juice to run the motor, and not concerned with the electronics in video display devices.
Click to expand...

I'm going to get a Skyworth 12v combo. Some members were able to get TVs from BB with power packs on the cord that converted 120v AC to 12v DC, but they are not available now.

The inverter idea is not good for many boaters, the inverters are very inefficient in converting energy and will drain the batteries faster than direct 12v, so if time on the hook is you 12v is best.

When my home was hit by lightning all my Toshiba electronics were wiped out, no other brand suffered failure. I will not buy that brand again. Good luck, MM
 
The Naxa gives you power cords for both 12V and 120V, so, you can use it either way. I bought a 19” Naxa in February and it worked fine off of 12V. Since those screens are small, they give you a good picture. The DVD player works fine, except that for some reason you get reduced sound output. I usually had to turn the volume all the way up to hear it. It has a headphone jack that I guess you could use to run the sound to an amplifier.

A couple of weeks ago, my grandson was watching cartoons in the cabin when I started the engine. For some reason, that killed the TV. I don't know if a voltage surge took it out or what happened to it. The warranty on the set is only three months. Have you noticed that neither of the links that you put up give you any warranty information?

Anyhow, I had the TV power wired to the boat accessory output since I don't use that for anything. On the new set, I wired directly to the house battery to try to eliminate whatever caused the original set to blow out when I started the engine.

There is nothing in these flat screen, solid state tv's that uses 120VAC to my knowledge. They all run on low voltage dc. So, even if you buy a 120VAC tv, it just means that it has a rectifier bridge either inside the set or as a “brick”on the power cord to convert the source to low voltage DC. If you want to use the tv on a boat, why not buy one that gives you the option of using either a 120VAC power cord or a 12VDC power cord.

LED's are low voltage devices that require about 3v dc and they are very voltage sensitive. If you go over the operating voltage, they blow out in a nanosecond. That is probably the reason that the warranty period is so short. I consider these things like kleenex, if they happen to blow out, get another one. At around $300, they are not much of a loss considering how much a tank of fuel costs.
 
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Bucit said:
This is what I bought. I searched the web and found a coupon code so I got the TV delivered for $155. It works very well and even though it's a 720P the picture is very good becasue the TV is only 19"

http://www.vivaladeals.com/p-3623-1...-hdtv-atsc-digital-tuner-with-dvd-player.aspx
Click to expand...

That is a great price. I see that you have to buy the 12VDC cord as an $12.99 option. The unit obvously comes with an AC power cord that has a "brick" on it, just cut the brick off and wire directly to your 12VDC power source and save yourself the added $13. And, you are right, the small screens do not need high resolution to give a good picture. You are a bargain finder, I'm gonna PM you next time that I need to buy something - Great deal! :smt001
 
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JerryS said:
That is a great price. I see that you have to buy the 12VDC cord as an $12.99 option. And, you are right, the small screens do not need high resolution to give a good picture. You are a bargain finder, I'm gonna PM you next time that I need to buy something - Great deal! :smt001
Click to expand...

THe 12VDC cord is to plug into a cigarette lighter style type olug. The unit come swith the step down transformer. As a matter of fact the tv that was installed in my boat KEC Enhanced Def TV had the same transformer so all i had to do was mount the TV and plug it in. Works perfect on dc or ac. The sound was good and the DVD player too.
 
This is the one I was thinking of, it is 22in.

http://www.roadtrucker.com/12-volt-...tm#Skyworth_22_Wide_Screen_12-Volt_LCD_TV_DVD

Not these features that may be helpful, and may also be missing in the unit above that failed:

Special Surge Protection electronics to help keep Voltage spikes from damaging the TV, when you shut off the vehicle while the TV is still on.
Special Low Voltage ability to run when battery voltage is lower by 15% (10.2 Volts). Even as low as 10.2 Volts. Fantastic design.
 
I bought a Skyworth 12VDC TV/DVD over two years ago and it is still working fine. I think they
are made by Philips. They use Philips code for universal remotes.

Len
 
Hey Mike, why didn't you tell me about the surge protection stuff six months ago. Who knew about these voltage surge problems? Let's start an investigation and find the guilty party! :smt001
Really, have you seen anybody mention the surge problem previously?
Wouldn't you know it, there is nothing else in my boat or cars or truck that just go "poof" because I start the engine.
 
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Bucit,
That is a great deal!!! I may have to buy one now too!! I have my TV plugged in because I primarily do bay running and have the generator on while doing so. If I start anchoring out though, the 12v option is huge because my Tracvision is 12v so I could have the TV operate without the genny running all of the time!! Do you recall your coupon code?
 
tdschafer said:
Bucit,
That is a great deal!!! I may have to buy one now too!! I have my TV plugged in because I primarily do bay running and have the generator on while doing so. If I start anchoring out though, the 12v option is huge because my Tracvision is 12v so I could have the TV operate without the genny running all of the time!! Do you recall your coupon code?
Click to expand...

I'll try and remember but in the meantime I'll do a quick search and let you know.
 
Todd, the coupon code was VIVAEDU. I just tried it and it still works. With the discount the TV is $151 and with shipping I paid $165 (sorry I thought it was $155 originally).
 
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