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Old 08-12-2019, 05:22 PM   #1
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Anybody replaced their 110-volt AC TV with 12-volt DC unit?

Hi Everyone,

Fairly new to this great forum. My wife and I recently purchased a Flagstaff MicroLite 25FBLS, which is the same trailer as the Rockwood 2511S. We've only used the trailer once so far for about 5 days and are very excited about it. We have another trip planned right after Labor Day.

We do mostly dry camping so we’re generally not connected to 110 volt AC power. Since I enjoy watching a movie in the evenings, I plan on replacing the 110-volt AC powered Furion 32" TV that came in the trailer with one that runs on 12 volts. In this trailer the TV is located next to the kitchen and above some cabinets (See attached pictures). The TV swings out so you can store things behind it. There’s an IRV Technologies AM/FM/DVD player which is in the cabinet below the TV which runs on 12 volts, so I’m hoping to tap into its DC power source.

There are plenty of 12-volt TVs on the market with the identical dimensions. If I can get to the power and bring it up to where the TV is I should be able to watch DVD movies off the batter(ies) just by replacing the TV.

Has anyone done this? I’m guessing that the easiest way would be to get it at the back of the AM/FM/DVD player, but I'd like to hear about anybody else's experience that has already done this.

I also plan on putting a smaller 12-volt TV in the bedroom, but I have no idea where I can find a 12 volt source!

Thanks in advance!

Rick

** I did post this question on a thread for the Rockwood 2511S.
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Old 08-12-2019, 05:32 PM   #2
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The choice for 12V tvs is limited and they tend to be more expensive. Many people simply add a small inverter to drive the tv. You can pick up a 300W ( more than enough) pure sine wave inverter for around $50 almost anywhere.
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Old 08-12-2019, 06:18 PM   #3
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Quote:
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The choice for 12V tvs is limited and they tend to be more expensive. Many people simply add a small inverter to drive the tv. You can pick up a 300W ( more than enough) pure sine wave inverter for around $50 almost anywhere.
THIS^^^^^
Bought a refurbished Vizio 110v smart tv for $50 and a 150w inverter for $12.
Way less than a comparable 12v tv.
And I can use the inverter's USB charging ports for electronic devices.
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Old 08-12-2019, 06:54 PM   #4
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Originally Posted by Flybob View Post
The choice for 12V tvs is limited and they tend to be more expensive. Many people simply add a small inverter to drive the tv. You can pick up a 300W ( more than enough) pure sine wave inverter for around $50 almost anywhere.
Thanks, Bob.

I realize that I can run the existing 110-volt AC TV from a 12-volt source by using an inverter, but it will use up far more current than getting the 12 volts straight from the battery (OHMs law). It's worth thinking about though, and I do need to look at that closer and see how much more current I would use that way.

I think a 12-volt 32" TV will run me about $299. Certainly more than the cost of an inverter.

I'd still have to find a 12-volt source though.

BTW, thank you for your service!

Rick
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Old 08-12-2019, 07:15 PM   #5
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I found a 22 inch Vizio at Costco it was a 110v unit with a power supply and I wasn't really interested in buying a 12v but while browsing around with my wife shopping I saw this TV on sale for less than 200 dollars and I spun the display around and checked the power in and it said 12v DC so I bought it and made a power cord for it. and now it resides in my fivers bedroom. I also like the fact it is LED and not backlit so it uses less power and runs cooler then my inverter uses for the 32 inch in the living room.
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Old 08-12-2019, 07:16 PM   #6
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Is there a 12v dc smart tv?
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Old 08-12-2019, 07:35 PM   #7
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Is there a 12v dc smart tv?
all the ones I have looked at are 17v DC for some reason? the tv I bought they had the same model that was smart but the volts were 17 so I bought the dumb one.
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Old 08-12-2019, 08:11 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by onetonford View Post
I found a 22 inch Vizio at Costco it was a 110v unit with a power supply and I wasn't really interested in buying a 12v but while browsing around with my wife shopping I saw this TV on sale for less than 200 dollars and I spun the display around and checked the power in and it said 12v DC so I bought it and made a power cord for it. and now it resides in my fivers bedroom. I also like the fact it is LED and not backlit so it uses less power and runs cooler then my inverter uses for the 32 inch in the living room.
Good deal! I wonder if there's a higher chance of failure putting an LED TV in an RV that is not designed to me "mobile". At lest at Costco you're protected for 2 years. I think I'll look at our local Costco and see what they have.
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Old 08-13-2019, 04:48 AM   #9
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You don't need a special 12V TV, I purchased 2 Samsungs and put in my TT, both were 12v already with a 110v power supply. I just needed a plug for the 12v.
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Old 08-13-2019, 12:57 PM   #10
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You don't need a special 12V TV, I purchased 2 Samsungs and put in my TT, both were 12v already with a 110v power supply. I just needed a plug for the 12v.
This is true. I believe Sony does the same thing. As far as travelling with a "home TV", there should be no more problems that an RV. Just make sure that the conversion is from 115V ac to 12 volts dc and not an odd dc voltage. Those should be in the specs or on the power supply.
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Old 08-13-2019, 01:14 PM   #11
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We added a 12V TV in the bedroom of our Sunseeker 2500TS. There was a 12 volt "cigarette lighter" plug in the wall about waist high and would interfere with getting around the bed. I removed the plug from the wall and spliced into the DC power behind the plug, routed the wires inside the wall, including the antenna cable, to the TV location and connected the TV. I then mounted a small DVD player on a shelf above it. All of the wire connections were hidden in the wall and directly behind the TV. Very clean look. See pictures.
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Old 08-13-2019, 01:49 PM   #12
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Do it. We took the 24" Furion out of our Rockwood 2109S and replaced it with a 19" Samsung that only requires 12V DC. Paid about $125 for it online.

We almost always dry camp so this was the obvious choice for us.
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Old 08-13-2019, 01:57 PM   #13
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The TV is only going to take in the neighborhood of 50W. If the inverter is 85% efficient, you are only losing 7.5W. That's a little more than 0.5AH.
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Old 08-13-2019, 02:03 PM   #14
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A general thing to keep in mind when buying any tv for an RV. You many time have unusual viewing angles. Make sure you view the tv you are considering from the angle you will use in the RV. Some of the lower cost tvs accomplish their cost savings by using a lower cost display that is virtually unviewable at an angle.
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Old 08-13-2019, 02:44 PM   #15
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12 V TV

We have a FR Wildwood. It has a 12V outlet next to the TV's 110V outlet. Are you sure you don't have a 12V outlet in the vicinity?
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Old 08-13-2019, 04:00 PM   #16
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The TV is only going to take in the neighborhood of 50W. If the inverter is 85% efficient, you are only losing 7.5W. That's a little more than 0.5AH.
X2.... Is it really enough loss to worry about it? You can also power a Blu Ray player from the same inverter.
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Old 08-13-2019, 04:28 PM   #17
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We have a FR Wildwood. It has a 12V outlet next to the TV's 110V outlet. Are you sure you don't have a 12V outlet in the vicinity?
Unfortunately, there is no 12-volt outlet of any kind in the vicinity of the main TV. I think I'd have to remove the AM/FM/DVD player, connect to its power cable, and fish it up to the TV.

In the bedroom. there's only a 110 volt plug ear the spot where I can put a TV. The only obvious 12-volt source is a cigarette lighter type connector on one side of the bed at the other end of the bedroom. I'd need a fairly long extension. Ugh...
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Old 08-13-2019, 04:31 PM   #18
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Purchased a 22" Supersonic 12 Volt DC/AC flat screen TV 1080P LED HDTV with DVD Player built in for $120 from amazon about 6 months ago.

Works great both inside and outside under the awning.

Added a second mount inside for storage.

Be sure to use an appropriate size fuse.

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Old 08-13-2019, 07:15 PM   #19
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Good deal! I wonder if there's a higher chance of failure putting an LED TV in an RV that is not designed to me "mobile".

Don't be misled about a "RV ready" TV. There has been no proof that the TVs put in RVs are any more rugged than another TV from any other store. The only thing that is really RV ready is the 12v option.
Many of the TVs out there have a power brick that supply 12v to them. Research online or go into a few stores and check them out.
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