TV on boat: battery load

H

Henn

New Member
Feb 3, 2011
23
Lake Simcoe Ontario Canada
Boat Info
270SE Sundancer
Engines
Merc 7.4L MPI (454)
Bravo III
O.K, I have a question regarding T.V's.
My boat is set up with three batteries but I have no generator. I am planning on installing a 22" LCD/DVD combo in my 270, it will be used mostly while attached to shore power at the marina, how quick do you think it will kill my battery out on the lake. I plan on getting an "Energy Star" tv, I just want it so when my kids get bored they can slide under and watch a movie.

Any thoughts? thanks
 
If the combo unit you are looking at isn't DC powered, it wont work without a genny or away from the dock. If you install an inverter, you'll need to consider how many watts of power the inverter provides as well as how much power the TV/DVD combo uses to figure out how long you can run it before draining your batteries too low.

You might be better off using your laptop to let the kids watch DVD's unless you want to go with the inverter and additional batteries to power the TV/DVD.
 
Not sure about the amount of battery usage. You should have something like a crossover switch from one bank of batteries to the others. I have a 270 and leave my frig on all the time while on the hook.
Now I just bought a TV/DVD Combo for the 400. Can't tell you much there as we haven't launched it yet.
 
If you use a DC LCD TV that serves your needs it will sip current and draw minimal power. However, an inverter may be far less efficient and can draw substantially more. Also, a cheap inverter isn't particularly healthy for A/V electronics.

David
Earmark Marine
 
Cool, I have three batteries with a charger and inverter, Ill always have a battery just saved for starting in case we do lose track of time while out there. I am looking at the Insignia 22" LCD/DVD combo and it is energy Star rated.
Maybe Ill have to unplug from shore power while on the dock, sit down and watch a movie, then measure how much the battery has left.
 
I put a link to a calculator and no one pays any attention?
I don't get it! :smt009
 
Im sure it will work out great, but my batteries are not accessible right now so I have no idea what the specs are. I was more looking for a ball park, like will I get halfway through a movie and it will die? or will I be able to watch por..... I mean movies are day long no issue.

JerryS said:
I put a link to a calculator and no one pays any attention?
I don't get it! :smt009
Click to expand...
 
I would go with an LED. Much less power consumption. They cost a little more, but it sounds like it will be worth the investment for you.
 
Henn said:
Im sure it will work out great, but my batteries are not accessible right now so I have no idea what the specs are. I was more looking for a ball park, like will I get halfway through a movie and it will die? or will I be able to watch por..... I mean movies are day long no issue.
Click to expand...


you can safely go for 10+ hrs (depends on your battery type, condition and actual tv wattage, you could pull over 100 hrs)
 
Try doing search on cockpit TV installation, we have number of threads on this. I added 22" Toshiba TV/DVD combo on 320DA with inverter (400w/800w pick). Even though the boat had genny I would never run it to watch the tv or a fridge. Check the specs for the tv, but I think that new small TVs draw very little power and you should have no problems with healty batteries. I've used mine for 2 years and it work like a charm.
 
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