TV on leisure battery?

[MarionK]

Not being a fan of TV, this is not a question I thought I would ever ask!

So, I gather you can get 12v TVs. Do they have to plug in to the cigarete lighter or can you wire them in? How many hours am I likely to get before the battery needs recharging? typical 11ah leisure battery afaict (I won't be using electric for hot water, or lights or fridge (except for controlling gas and maybe not even that :S )

 

[David and Sally]

Modern 12v televisions don’t take much power. They usually plug into a 12v socket near the aerial point.

I presume you mean a 110 amp hour battery.

 

[MarionK]

Thanks David and Sally I've found a funny looking socket, and it has power even off EHU

 

[monzer]

Thanks David and Sally I've found a funny looking socket, and it has power even off EHU

A 12v TV plug will look something like this...

The socket in your cupboard should look like this...

 

[David and Sally]

You might need

Amazon product ASIN B011BVEHYG
To convert a wall socket, Hella type, to the normal car cigarette lighter type tha the tv will come with

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[The Wino]

Thanks David and Sally I've found a funny looking socket, and it has power even off EHU

Do you mean mains power if so you have an inverter somewhere but it will probably use more power using an inverter than a 12 v socket

 

[Orion]

Many modern TVs will have a 240v to 19v (or similar) transformer supplied with them. They can be used with a 12/19v converter that is commonly used to charge or operated a laptop from a car ciggie socket.

 

[RobPullen]

Plenty of 12v TVs out there. Depends a bit on what you are willing to spend, how big you want it, whether it’s going to be wall mounted etc. Look around and online.
We have an Avtex, runs off mains and 12v like the pics above, so can be used anywhere. It is good quality and easy to tune in using the DVB tuners built in. Can also use a memory stick to pause, rewind and record stuff if you want. We also use an Amazon fire stick through it powered from the USB on the tv and linked to our phone for various programmes. This means you can use it anywhere whether hooked up to power or not. We have had four days off EHU and used the TV throughout with no concerns, the solar panel keeps the leisure battery topped up.
Never found the battery anywhere near low enough to be a concern from 12v tv even at night.

 

[The Wino]

We've just got a cheap Aldi 12 v TV it's fine for us as we don't watch a lot anyway.

 

[MarionK]

Do you mean mains power if so you have an inverter somewhere but it will probably use more power using an inverter than a 12 v socket

No it's 12V but (ooer) it's nothing like any of the pictures folks have posted :S It's two paralell slots a bit less than a cm long and about the same apart. I've got to run an errand so pics will be a while.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[MarionK]

Modern 12v televisions don’t take much power. They usually plug into a 12v socket near the aerial point.

I presume you mean a 110 amp hour battery.

oops yes just seen the typo and it's too late to edit

 

[donkey]

That's the older style 12v socket. You can still get plugs from caravan dealers.

Geoff

 

[headlight]

That sounds like a "clipsil" socket.
This is the plug that goes into it

 

[pappajohn]

A word of warning
If you change the plug make absolutely sure you get POS and neg the right way round,
If not, you'll blow the TV electronics without doubt

 

[MarionK]

I've ordered an already linked adapter, hopefully it will have pos and neg marked on it.
Edit: I can see an L for live on that one so presumably thye do come marked up.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[MarionK]

We've just got a cheap Aldi 12 v TV it's fine for us as we don't watch a lot anyway.

I've had good experiences of Aldi stuff so I've ordered one. Should I get an aerial? (The van one is broken off/missing.)

 

[The Wino]

I've had good experiences of Aldi stuff so I've ordered one. Should I get an aerial? (The van one is broken off/missing.)

I got a powered 12 v one we occasionally use although lately we have used a firestick tethered to the phone but you need plenty of data.
The 12v one isn't a fixed one if you want I can look at the make it was recommended by someone on here. The only problem is that you do end up with the wires looking like 3 plates of spaghetti hanging down the back. I keep meaning to look for a splitter 12,v lead.

 

[autorouter]

I've ordered an already linked adapter, hopefully it will have pos and neg marked on it.
Edit: I can see an L for live on that one so presumably thye do come marked up.

Sorry to be pedantic, but I wouldn't like you to make a mistake. 12V circuits are DC, and have POSITIVE (+) and NEGATIVE (-) wires. 240V EHU type circuits have LIVE (L) and NEUTRAL (N). And EARTH as well, usually. If it's a circular 12V DC socket, the outside ring is NEGATIVE and the centre pin is POSITIVE. I'd be very careful wiring a Clipsal plug, it's so easy to make a mistake.

 

[MarionK]

Sorry to be pedantic, but I wouldn't like you to make a mistake. 12V circuits are DC, and have POSITIVE (+) and NEGATIVE (-) wires. 240V EHU type circuits have LIVE (L) and NEUTRAL (N). And EARTH as well, usually. If it's a circular 12V DC socket, the outside ring is NEGATIVE and the centre pin is POSITIVE. I'd be very careful wiring a Clipsal plug, it's so easy to make a mistake.

It's 12v, see post #10, and I ordered a ready joined plug and socket adapter to avoid having to figure out what to fix to what. See post #15. I am still wary of the fact that it is possible to put the plug in the wrong way round, see my comments in #15.
Thanks for your concern.

 

[autorouter]

I am still wary of the fact that it is possible to put the plug in the wrong way round, see my comments in #15.

I think the pins are different widths, so it's difficult to insert the wrong way round. But probably not impossible.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[pappajohn]

I think the pins are different widths, so it's difficult to insert the wrong way round. But probably not impossible.

I am still wary of the fact that it is possible to put the plug in the wrong way round

Yes, they are different sizes.
Not by much....maybe a millimeter but it can't be plugged in the wrong way.

 

[headlight]

I take it that you have ordered something like this

 

[MarionK]

I take it that you have ordered something like this View attachment 634168

Yes.
In fact that's the exact same picture.

 

[headlight]

I have one of these 12v caravan sockets a couple of inches from the TV aerial socket so I assumed it was for running a 12v TV.
My socket is marked max 4amps.
My TV however is 240v so I run it from an inverter.
I bought the same clipsil plug with a cigarette lighter socket attached as you and use a 12v cigarette lighter USB charger in it as my cab cigarette socket and cab 10amp power socket are only live if you turn the ignition on.

 

[BobJayne]

... 240V EHU type circuits have LIVE (L) and NEUTRAL (N).

I think what you meant to say was LINE(L) and NEUTRAL(N), both of which are LIVE.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[MarionK]

headlight, I briefly considered simply taking the regular tv but, as we'll be off EHU I would have to fuss about with an inverter, and would have to mount the TV on the wall/partition. It's a bit big for the mh too.

I bought the same clipsil plug with a cigarette lighter socket attached as you and use a 12v cigarette lighter USB charger in it as my cab cigarette socket and cab 10amp power socket are only live if you turn the ignition on.

That's a handy point I hadn't thought of. The cab cig socket doesn't work at all according to my son. ( I haven't checked it out yet! ) So this will do as a substitute, (at least when I'm not conserving the battery for the tv )

 

[headlight]

Do you have solar or just a single 110AH lead acid leisure battery ?

 

[MarionK]

Just the battery. If the upcoming long weekend trip turns out ok, I will look into solar, otherwise it would only be for recharging phone and tablets in the dim and distant future.

 

[headlight]

You've got about 50 usable amps from your leisure battery before it needs charging.
A 12v TV will take roughly 3amps every hour it is used so you have about 16 hours TV use in total less lighting, water pump and anything else electrical you use.
We used to have a single 100AH lead acid battery but alway stayed on EHU.
Just over a month ago I fitted a second 100AH lead acid leisure battery and had Vanbitz fit a 115 watt solar panel and Victron MPPT controller.
They also fit their battery master, which keeps the engine battery charged, FOC and you get 10% funsters discount and a free night on their campsite.
We haven't been on EHU since having it fitted and have had 2 X 4 night breaks and in 2 weeks time are having 12 nights off EHU.
We haven't looked back since getting the solar.
We are light electric users (probably only 20-25 amps per day) and our set up more than copes with our usage with the batteries being fully charged before 12 noon each day providing we have some sun.
Even when we had 2 days of rain and clouds on the third day it was sunny and the batteries were fully charged by 1.30.

 

[autorouter]

I think what you meant to say was LINE(L) and NEUTRAL(N), both of which are LIVE.

I am happy with using LINE or PHASE for the wire which is not tied to ground at the substation or premises, and NEUTRAL for the wire that is grounded at either the substation or premises. However in general everyday use most non-electricians use LIVE for LINE/PHASE, so that's what I go with on this forum. Just like I use 'plug' not 'plug top' as hard-core electricians do.