We have a new honda generator which runs out old 15inch colour tv quite nicely, but as the tv is a bit bulky we are considering buying a cheap flat screen one instead. Is it worth just buying an ordinary one or is there a benefit to spending a bit extra on a 12v one? We spend most of our time camped on fields without ehu.
If you are not on EHU you would need to turn the genny on every time you want to watch TV, (or use an inverter) if you spend the extra on a dual voltage model you have option of using some of your battery power and watching on 12V. This may be a better option for a quick watch of the late movie whilst lying in bed!
The downside is that there is quite a difference in price, when I looked into it 6 months ago the 12v models were twice the price for a digital TV with built in DVD player.
------------- Tony C
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It might be worth looking around at standard TVs, we have one of these in our van despite saying it's 240v it actually has a power block which steps the voltage down to 12v DC
Most flat screen tvs are 12 volt. My own is supplied with a transformer which converts the mains voltage to 12 volt. However if you buy a conventional flat screen I would advise you use a voltage stabliser to ensure the voltage is constant at 12 volt
my dad has one of these in his caravan from comet http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/product/401641/PROLINE-LVD1580WD we were away at the weekend and my mum had it on all friday night and saturday night running off the leasure battery and with the lights on in the van too with no flat battery,we had no EHU and although my dad has a honda generator it was not used,the leasure battery was only topped up with a maplin solar panel left in the sun for the two whole days, now im going to get one for my tent lol
------------- 2008 Bailey Pageant Champagne series 6 with a Dorema Daytona Awning + Nissan X-Trail + Outwell Trout Lake pollycotton tunnel tent
Internally they may be 12v but if the external connection is only a 240v volt one you will have to know what you are doing, and probably invalidate warranty, if you take back off and wire direct to other side of transformer.
Have a look in Asda or Tescos wherever. You can pick up a 15" LCD TV with built in DVD player for about £100. Just look at the back and see if it's run from a 240Vac -12Vdc transformer.
I've got one and run it from 240Vac if on EHU and off 12Vdc via a voltage conditioning unit (amperor?) if running off my battery.
Why pay mega expensive for speacial 12V caravan TVs?
We bought a 12v TV from a well know MH dealer in Newark. Went away for a weekend & had to take the damn thing back as it stopped playing dvd's
They are very expensive imho.
I have since bought a cheap flat screen TV/DVD from either currys or comet ( I carn't remember which but it cost alot less than the 12v one did ), this is 12v itself & comes with it's own transformer. A trip to Maplins later & my TV now has it's own 12v power lead & has worked fine with no problems in my MH & caravan, although I now use the 240 as we use EHU but I still carry my made up 12v lead with me just in case we decide to go away without EHU.
Cost from maplins I think was about a fiver then 10mins with a soldering iron.
Best to use a voltage stabaliser on 12v - otherwise your telly may well die prematurely which is an expensive hobby lol but i recon a lcd tv that is supposed to be mains only but has a transformer to give it a 12v supply should work fine. Only real difference is it will probably use a bit more power , and the voltage stabaliser is built in. Fit your own in-line stabaliser, put up with the slightly higher power consumption and count your saved cash!