Turning the tv on

Wholee · 05-08-2016, 03:28 PM

Hello I recently purchased a 2017 shockwave t21fqmx, this is my first trailer. I'm having a hard time figuring out how to turn on the tv? Do I have to run the generator? The trailer came with solar panels so the batteries are always full when I go and try to turn it on after work. I'm going to take it out for a short weekend to make sure everything else works before we go for a longer period of time i would like to know how to work the tv? I looked online and in all the manuals and can't find anything.

bubbles · 05-08-2016, 03:38 PM

Without the generator or connected to shore power their is no 120 volts AC which is what powers your TV. At least it sounds like the TV is not a 12 volt type. Start the generator or plug into shore power and check it out.

jk510 · 05-08-2016, 03:42 PM

The only way your tv will work without a generator or shore power is with any inverter. They convert 12vdc to 110vac for times like this.

Wholee · 05-08-2016, 04:09 PM

Thanks for all the replies.. They told me that it did have an inverter.. It does have 6 volt batteries on it instead of the 12 volt.. Would this have anything to do with it? Sorry for all the the dumb questions I'm a newby.

**Flybob** · 05-08-2016, 04:36 PM

The batteries have nothing to do with it. You may have an inverter as an option, but it may not be hooked up to everything. You may also have to turn it on as the use power if on even if they are not hooked to anything. If you do not have an inverter, you can buy a small one to run the tv, but it will run down the batteries faster.

bubbles · 05-08-2016, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wholee

Thanks for all the replies.. They told me that it did have an inverter.. It does have 6 volt batteries on it instead of the 12 volt.. Would this have anything to do with it? Sorry for all the the dumb questions I'm a newby.

Did they say inverter or CONVERTER? If converter, you need AC power as previously said.

Rookie19 · 05-09-2016, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubbles

Did they say inverter or CONVERTER? If converter, you need AC power as previously said.

This^^^
I didn't get one with my 2014 and it wasn't even an option. My in laws also just bought a 2017 sandstorm (same thing as shockwave) and theirs didn't come with one nor was it an option on the build sheet. So unless the dealer installed it you only have a convertor. If you do have an inverter they should have explained to you how to turn it on.

I wired one in though to my trailer with a switch to automatically kill the converter breaker so that I don't have an electrical loop.

Like everyone has said, you need the generator on, shore power or an inverter to run tv.

You could get a small 300-400 watt inverter to run the tv. My trailer has a cigarette lighter just above the tv so it wouldn't have cords everywhere if I did it that way.

PolarisGuy · 05-09-2016, 11:04 PM

Our 2016 Stealth has a 12v adapter by the tv. I simply ordered a cheap 12v cable off Amazon that plugs into my tv power and boom... TV viewing over 12v. Now.... I did purchase Insignia TVs from Bestbuy that do operate over a 12v circuit so in order to do what I did you have to make sure your TV can do it. You'd be surprised how many LED TVs these days will actually run off of 12 volts. Good luck!

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Briorick · 05-09-2016, 11:49 PM

If your tv is 12 volt compatible you can bypass ( cutoff ) the electrical plug and hard wire your tv directly into your 12 volt system. This way you will have tv regardless if your plugged in to shore power, or not.
We were out last weekend and power went out at the CG for approx. 3 hours. Thankfully, and with being stuck inside, with having my tv now hardwired to 12 volt we were able to watch tv while the weather passed. One of the best mods I have done.

Wolverine 1945 · 05-10-2016, 07:43 AM

Our TV only works on 12 volt !!!

**KyDan** · 05-10-2016, 08:12 AM

For years I've used a little cigarette socket inverter to power the TV when we're boondocking. It is not perfect and the TV has some light/dark bars in the screen but we've watched many hours of TV with that little $20 inverter. Just today received a pure sine wave inverter bought off Ebay. There is a power seller there who "auctions" them off every day. I kept bidding on different ones until I finally got one for $29 + $10 shipping $39 total.
I've seen them go for as low as $24 but that's pretty rare.
You can search Ebay for PURE SINE WAVE POWER INVERTER 300/600 WATT if you're interested.
A modern 27" LCD TV probably would run on a 50 watt inverter but they don't typically make them that small in pure sine wave models.

My TV came with the rig and it puzzled me why they don't just make them
straight 12v to begin with.... It's a jensen that is made for RVs.

Wolverine 1945 · 05-10-2016, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KyDan

For years I've used a little cigarette socket inverter to power the TV when we're boondocking. It is not perfect and the TV has some light/dark bars in the screen but we've watched many hours of TV with that little $20 inverter. Just today received a pure sine wave inverter bought off Ebay. There is a power seller there who "auctions" them off every day. I kept bidding on different ones until I finally got one for $29 + $10 shipping $39 total.
I've seen them go for as low as $24 but that's pretty rare.
You can search Ebay for PURE SINE WAVE POWER INVERTER 300/600 WATT if you're interested.
A modern 27" LCD TV probably would run on a 50 watt inverter but they don't typically make them that small in pure sine wave models.

My TV came with the rig and it puzzled me why they don't just make them
straight 12v to begin with.... It's a jensen that is made for RVs.

Maybe I am confused,,, but ours is a 12v Jensen ???
Plugs into 12v in a cabinet above the entry door,,,
on our Sunseeker !!!

**KyDan** · 05-10-2016, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolverine 1945

Maybe I am confused,,, but ours is a 12v Jensen ???
Plugs into 12v in a cabinet above the entry door,,,
on our Sunseeker !!!

My 27" Jensen has a household 120v cord and it plugs into a duplex outlet right next to it. At least the antenna booster has a 12v cigarette socket so we can easily plug in our inverter when necessary. I'd go retrieve the model number but it's pouring outside right now....

Afterthought-- my rig has an outside mount for the TV and there is a 120v socket out there too. I guess if the Jensen TV was 12v they'd have had to run a 12v supply out there too... it STILL seems silly to have a TV in a 12v RV that has an internal power supply to change the 120v AC supply back to 12v DC to power the guts of the TV... so if we're boon docking we invert 12v to 120 and the TV promptly converts that back to 12v internally. (shrug....)

Wolverine 1945 · 05-10-2016, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KyDan

My 27" Jensen has a household 120v cord and it plugs into a duplex outlet right next to it. At least the antenna booster has a 12v cigarette socket so we can easily plug in our inverter when necessary. I'd go retrieve the model number but it's pouring outside right now....

Soon to be pouring here I guess ???

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