TV Power Usage

[jennymaywright]

We have recently bought our Autocruise Stargazer and were lucky enough to have a satellite dish and Sky box included. Also included is a solar panel but we're not sure what its putting into the battery as there wasn't any paperwork to cover it. It is doing something as the basic monitor inside is lighting up indicating something is going in. We are, of course, thinking of buying a TV but are concerned that the power required will drain the leisure battery very quickly - we don't intend to use camp sites very often and therefore will not have hook-up. Is there any way we can improve the 12v supply?

 

[sinbad1]

More batteries

 

[GregM]

We have recently bought our Autocruise Stargazer and were lucky enough to have a satellite dish and Sky box included. Also included is a solar panel but we're not sure what its putting into the battery as there wasn't any paperwork to cover it. It is doing something as the basic monitor inside is lighting up indicating something is going in. We are, of course, thinking of buying a TV but are concerned that the power required will drain the leisure battery very quickly - we don't intend to use camp sites very often and therefore will not have hook-up. Is there any way we can improve the 12v supply?

We are newbies but we understand it to depend on various factors such as the Battery size and TV power usage.

Our 12v TV runs at about 4 amps, and our leisure battery is 113 ah, which in theory means we could watch the TV for 28 hours. This assumes that you have no other 12 volt appliances running.

In Reality we found that our leisure battery can last about 3 days, that is with the TV on for a couple of hours each night, lights and kids charging DS's etc. We have just added a 2nd leisure battery and plan to purchase a solar panel next so we can manage for long trips away.

 

[Wildman]

We are newbies but we understand it to depend on various factors such as the Battery size and TV power usage.

Our 12v TV runs at about 4 amps, and our leisure battery is 113 ah, which in theory means we could watch the TV for 28 hours. This assumes that you have no other 12 volt appliances running.

In Reality we found that our leisure battery can last about 3 days, that is with the TV on for a couple of hours each night, lights and kids charging DS's etc. We have just added a 2nd leisure battery and plan to purchase a solar panel next so we can manage for long trips away.

hi a great theory but as you have found does not work. 113amp/hrs is an odd battery. Assuming it is correct and a battery should never be allowed to fall below 50% charge that would theoretically give you 56.5 useable amp/hrs don't forget your other power usage, lights, chargers, waterpump blown air heating etc. 56.5 amp hours does not go very far, however if wilding and moving on everyday a few hours driving should keep the battery topped up, a solar panel will help in the summer. However unless it is a very large one or unless you are in Spain, will not do you much good in the winter.
More batteries is the order of the day.

 

[jennymaywright]

We are newbies but we understand it to depend on various factors such as the Battery size and TV power usage.

Our 12v TV runs at about 4 amps, and our leisure battery is 113 ah, which in theory means we could watch the TV for 28 hours. This assumes that you have no other 12 volt appliances running.

In Reality we found that our leisure battery can last about 3 days, that is with the TV on for a couple of hours each night, lights and kids charging DS's etc. We have just added a 2nd leisure battery and plan to purchase a solar panel next so we can manage for long trips away.

Hi Greg. Many thanks for the info. Very helpful. Jenny

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[jennymaywright]

hi a great theory but as you have found does not work. 113amp/hrs is an odd battery. Assuming it is correct and a battery should never be allowed to fall below 50% charge that would theoretically give you 56.5 useable amp/hrs don't forget your other power usage, lights, chargers, waterpump blown air heating etc. 56.5 amp hours does not go very far, however if wilding and moving on everyday a few hours driving should keep the battery topped up, a solar panel will help in the summer. However unless it is a very large one or unless you are in Spain, will not do you much good in the winter.
More batteries is the order of the day.

Thanks Roger. Lots of helpful info. Jenny

 

[scotjimland]

and one of these beauties .. :thumb:


Link Removed

and don't listen to the anti genny brigade, when you need extra power.. it cannot be beaten

hardhat

 

[pappajohn]

and one of these beauties .. :thumb:


Link Removed

and don't listen to the anti genny brigade, when you need extra power.. it cannot be beaten

hardhat

is there an anti-genny brigade ?

thought it was just two opposing camps....Kipor and Honda

An LCD tv should use between 2 and 5amps per hour.....slightly more if its playing a DVD on a built in player.

 

[GregM]

hi a great theory but as you have found does not work. 113amp/hrs is an odd battery. Assuming it is correct and a battery should never be allowed to fall below 50% charge that would theoretically give you 56.5 useable amp/hrs don't forget your other power usage, lights, chargers, waterpump blown air heating etc. 56.5 amp hours does not go very far, however if wilding and moving on everyday a few hours driving should keep the battery topped up, a solar panel will help in the summer. However unless it is a very large one or unless you are in Spain, will not do you much good in the winter.
More batteries is the order of the day.

Wildman

The battery that was with the 'van when we purchased it was a Numax Sealed XV31MF as shown a thttp://www.adverc.co.uk/product/966 so I just stuck with that size and got another XV31MF. I did think it was an odd size but didn't think too much about it LOL

 

[jennymaywright]

is there an anti-genny brigade ?

thought it was just two opposing camps....Kipor and Honda

An LCD tv should use between 2 and 5amps per hour.....slightly more if its playing a DVD on a built in player.

Thanks George and Jim. Will take a serious look at a generator. Jenny Laughing

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[pappajohn]

Thanks George and Jim. Will take a serious look at a generator. Jenny Laughing

Who's George ?

 

[jezport]

A lot of LCD TVs use around 4amps however there are some newer models that use less than 2amps, so look around.

 

[MAUBRI]

Thanks George and Jim. Will take a serious look at a generator. Jenny Laughing

Hi Jenny,

Just to add my two pennys worth, Remember most T.V.'s wont work below 10 volts and some even higher, so as others have said, trickle charge with Solar;normal charge with genny and Altenator. A full boost on mains for a 24 hour when available to get you up to the magic 14.7 volts. A battery will last longer with a periodic boost on mains.

Brian

 

[madbluemad]

I may be wrong here but bin the sky box and buy a cheap decoder that runs off 12 Volt as opposed to your sky box which runs off 230 Volt

Jim
hardhat