Watching TVs While Anchored -110v or 12v?

[Alex F]

I was wandering how you guys watch your TVs when anchored. Do you have to run generator to produce 110v or do you have your systems configured to use 12v to use the house batteries?

With the TV upgrades, do you consider AC/DC TVs or do you use DC/AC converters to have regular TVs work? Am I correct to assume that KVH setups all need 110v? But, if you just want to watch a DVD how do you do it?

Thanks,
Alex.

 

[RonF]

We only watch TV from dinner to bed time. So, when we are on the hook we have to run the generator. Here in FL, we usually need the A/C running too. However, with today's gas prices, I can see the merit of a small inverter or a 12V TV for just watching.

 

[Quint4]

I have a 19" flat panel with built in DVD....I just use 12v.

 

[Skeetobite]

We have a genset and 2 110v tv's.

The KVH M2 and M3 systems are 100% DC (12v) systems. The 12v DC or 110V AC tv is provided by you.

we carry a portable DVD player that can be used as a stand alone or attached to one of the tvs when running the generator.

Most of the time my wife connects her ipod to the tv in our cabin to watch a show she's downloaded or recorded on the computer.

We often just break out the laptop (17" HD screen) to watch a DVD. The battery life is good enough to get through a full feature film if we're swinging around in the peace and quiet.

I do want to replace the cabin tv with a DC version eventually. I'm researching this on and off (since it's not a priority) and plan to select a "Brand Name" TV/DVD combo at a reasonable price. I'm also adding an in dash AM/FM/DVD stereo on the bridge since my chartplotter will also play 2 video sources.

 

[Robski97]

90 % of the new flatscreens are dc . But they come with a 110v transformer so u can plug into ur house outlets. The problem is the boat builders are plugging them into 110V and not wiring them to 12volts. Also guys with KVH the dish is 12volts but ur converter box is 110V . Its a joke....


Rob

 

[Turtlesboat]

I was going to go the complex route but ended up with a nice little setup that works great and didn't cost much money, under $100.

I gave up on the glojunk antenna, I kept the small junky CRT 12v stock TV. Bought a good fm transmitter to transmit to my stereo. Loaded up my itunes with a ton of movies. Bought the video cable for my iphone.

Friday night, I load my iphone up with some movies we want to watch (I can hold about 5 feature films on my 8gig). At night, I plug my iphone into the dock which feeds the TV and fm transmitter and has a remote control, turn on the stereo and we have a good movie experience. everything is 12v and it charges my phone at the same time.

 

[Sorrento 25]

19" Dell Widescreen, Alpine auto DVD player, Alpine Dolby Digital amp all on 12V.

 

[gerryb]

19" Sharp LCD/DVD widescreen AC only (after purchasing and returning an AIWA 15" LCD/DVD with AC/DC). Purchased a little cigarette plug converter to use batt power for the TV when not under dock power or generator. Also have a FM transmitter for broadcasing to stereo speakers.

 

[Alex F]

90 % of the new flatscreens are dc . But they come with a 110v transformer so u can plug into ur house outlets. The problem is the boat builders are plugging them into 110V and not wiring them to 12volts. Also guys with KVH the dish is 12volts but ur converter box is 110V . Its a joke....

Rob

Rob, are you saying that most regular flat screens or marine flat screens are 12v? When I go to Best Buy, Costco, Circuit City, etc. I see all of them as 110v. This link is the only 12v TVs I found so far:
http://www.bundlecity.com/Television and Plasma TVs/AC DC TVs/

Can you share some 12v TV/DVD brands or models you know.

Thx,
Alex.

 

[douglee25]

Can you share some 12v TV/DVD brands or models you know.

Thx,
Alex.

Alex, see this thread for 12v Tv's.

http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10629

Doug

 

[Turtlesboat]

You should also really check the back of the TV's to see how they are going to be held up. I returned 3 tv's because all that was holding them up was a thin piece of plastic. They should be mounted to the frame, but i'm finding that most are not. Couple of days pounding wakes and that TV is coming down.

 

[Hampton]

Rob, are you saying that most regular flat screens or marine flat screens are 12v? When I go to Best Buy, Costco, Circuit City, etc. I see all of them as 110v. This link is the only 12v TVs I found so far:
http://www.bundlecity.com/Television and Plasma TVs/AC DC TVs/

Can you share some 12v TV/DVD brands or models you know.

Thx,
Alex.

Contrast 600 - The range I have seen is 600 - 800. 600 is not great.

Viewing angle on this tv is only 75 degrees or less. Good ones go 170 degrees. This is a huge downside.

See my thread as someone linked.

 

[Quint4]

I bought my 19" flat panel from circuit city...brought it home and promptly cut off the "wall wart" 110 to 12v transformer and direct wired it. Not for the faint of heart but it works great. Many of the new tv's do not seem to have the transformer on the cord anymore.

 

[Henry Boyd]

I was going to go the complex route but ended up with a nice little setup that works great and didn't cost much money, under $100.

I gave up on the glojunk antenna, I kept the small junky CRT 12v stock TV. Bought a good fm transmitter to transmit to my stereo. Loaded up my itunes with a ton of movies. Bought the video cable for my iphone.

Friday night, I load my iphone up with some movies we want to watch (I can hold about 5 feature films on my 8gig). At night, I plug my iphone into the dock which feeds the TV and fm transmitter and has a remote control, turn on the stereo and we have a good movie experience. everything is 12v and it charges my phone at the same time.

Holy cr_p! What's the data compression on those? 8 gig is typical DVD file size.

Henry

 

[RiverRat]

If we're down in the cabin watching TV the gen is running so we use the 110 side on the tv although I do have the 12v cable to plug it in to 12v if I wanted. But since the wife insists on the A/C being on, might as well run the stuff off of 110.

 

[Turtlesboat]

Depends on what I set it at, but a film usually squeezes down to about a 1.? gigs and still looks good on the iphone and small tv's. the H264 codec is really nice, good compression. I'm sure in a couple of years they'll be something twice as good though.

 

[Robski97]

Alex,
I havent seen a Flat screen that wasnt 12volts. ( under say 24 " ) U can wire it right to a 12 volt power supply and not use the power cord that came with it . Yes the TV all work on 110 volts but theres a transformer ( big blk box ) either in the cord or in the TV . The small TV;s have them on the cord.


Rob

 

[Robski97]

I just read hamptons TV link. I guess when they give u the power supply they call it a 110 volt TV which is 10000 % wrong. These are all 12 volt TV's

Rob

 

[tobnpr]

There's a similar thread going on around here, somewhere but I couldn't find it. Most small LCD TV's are actually DC and powered by the venerable AC adapter (just like your laptop). Check the AC adapter for the DC output voltage; if it's 12V it can be run directly off your boat's batteries, just be sure to pay attention to the polarity of the plug.

No, the KVH systems are not necessarily 120V. My M3 is 12V as is the included receiver; but be advised there's a pretty substantial amperage draw.

Everyone is going to have different needs here. I live in FL, aside from a few months a year AC (not voltage- air conditioning ) is a necessity, which means the genset is generally running all the time. Plus, the audio for the salon TV is through a 120V home theatre system so watching TV aboard for us requires 120V. 'Course the gen's alternator and battery charger are also on to meet the 12V DC requirements.

I will add this- the WORST thing you can do is run your genset to watch TV. If you don't generally have large AC loads, you're going to be better off configuring your TV entertainment system for 12V. As was mentioned, you can also pick up a small inverter to power an AC televsion off of your batteries...

To each his own, here. There is no "right" or "wrong"- just what best suits the way you do your boating.

 

[skolbe]

I keep reeding that people are complaining about the Glomex antenna. The Glomex Antenna is really a UHF antenna. Most Analog stations are broadcast in VHF, where many of the digital stations are UHF. So, that is why people are having success with the digital stations and the Glomax antenna. It makes a great UHF antenna.