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Old 03-22-2017, 05:18 PM   #1
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Television

i have to buy a new TV for the new 5.0. I will leave my old one with the 17B trailer(still works great) when i sell it. Is it important to buy an RV TV? and does it need to run on both types of power? i am not getting an inverter thing? but sometimes would like to watch on battery power. I think the one i have is a 19 inch? wouldn't mind a larger one. suggestions?
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Old 03-22-2017, 05:43 PM   #2
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If you are purchasing a new one, then for simplicity, I'd purchase a 12v model. Otherwise you will need to add a small inverter to operate while away from electric. I specified on my build sheet for "TV ready" to include a 12v outlet, not a 120v outlet. Works like a charm. Not necessary a RV model, but a 12v model, similar to what truckers use and that is a good place to start looking for a model.
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Old 03-22-2017, 05:47 PM   #3
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Here is the link...http://www.roadtrucker.com/12-volt-l...olt-tv-dvd.htm
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Old 03-22-2017, 06:16 PM   #4
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Kate, 12 vdc TVs, in my experience, can be darker than 120 vac models. I would personally recommend an AC rather than a DC model, and if you want to occasionally operate it in an area where there are no hook-ups, but a small (150 watt) pure sine wave inverter that plugs into the 12v outlet just inside the door of your 5.0 TA.
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Old 03-22-2017, 07:00 PM   #5
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Why would 12v tv's appear to be darker? Most tv's now are dc and have converters that convert the 120v to 12v. A nice LED 12v television is what I'm watching now, in my house plugged into 120v.
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Old 03-22-2017, 07:17 PM   #6
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Kate, I searched for a decent TV that was 12V, and found some of reasonable quality, but they were way more expensive than others that were 120V. I ended up buying a 24" Samsung smart TV on sale at Best Buy in the US for under $150.

I used a small 200W inverter that powers it and my laptop with shows on it. I didn't get a built-in inverter in my trailer, though down the road may add one. Either way using an inverter you can buy any TV your heart desires.
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Old 03-22-2017, 07:42 PM   #7
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Ditto what Jim said. We have a nice 19" Insignia TV intended for home use that came with a plug-in converter from 120V AC to 12V DC. Since the TV is expecting 12V DC input (see photo), I simply made a 12V DC plug-in for it to run direct from a 12V DC outlet (see photo; 120V AC that came with the TV on the left, 12V DC that I made on the right). Works great either way. Nice to have the option in case we need either outlet for something else.
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Old 03-22-2017, 07:46 PM   #8
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Ditto what Jim said. We have a nice 19" Insignia TV intended for home use that came with a plug-in converter from 120V AC to 12V DC. Since the TV is expecting 12V DC input (see photo), I simply made a 12V DC plug-in for it to run direct from a 12V DC outlet (see photo; 120V AC that came with the TV on the left, 12V DC that I made on the right). Works great either way. Nice to have the option in case we need either outlet for something else.
I have the exact same television and setup but I purchased the 12V DC plug/cord on Amazon instead of making one. Works great.
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Old 03-22-2017, 08:54 PM   #9
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Wow lots of good advice!
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Old 03-22-2017, 09:03 PM   #10
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Why would 12v tv's appear to be darker? Most tv's now are dc and have converters that convert the 120v to 12v. A nice LED 12v television is what I'm watching now, in my house plugged into 120v.
Jim. I said "in my experience." I'm not criticizing your choice or your current television. I've owned two 12v DC TVs in the past and they were inferior to AC TVs. Because of my past experience, I would not consider another. Additionally, the available selections are far fewer than 120v AC TVs. Kate asked a question; I stated my opinion.
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Old 03-23-2017, 07:45 AM   #11
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Come to think of it, my previous 12v TVs displayed the picture on CRTs, not LEDs, so brightness probably wouldn't be a problem with LED TVs. Still, the available selection of AC TVs far outnumbers DC TVs and I personally prefer to shop for electronics in an electronics specialty store rather than a truck stop.
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Old 03-23-2017, 07:50 AM   #12
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That would explain the darkness you experienced, with the new backlit LED's screens, my aging eyes are getting spoiled....
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Old 03-23-2017, 09:05 AM   #13
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That would explain the darkness you experienced, with the new backlit LED's screens, my aging eyes are getting spoiled....
Come on now Jim. Your'e still young at heart. At least you can still get out of bed every morning, and do almost everything you want to do!
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Old 03-23-2017, 09:41 AM   #14
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True, Carl, but I have more aches and pains now, hoping once it warms up they will dissipate....out to the camper to install my 12v tv I found in the basement from another camper, hoping I have the right remote. Will post some pictures....
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Old 03-23-2017, 10:14 AM   #15
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I just changed the title of this thread from TV to Television to help with future Search.

For a lot of things, I try to buy the best I can afford and then call it one-and-done. Technology does not fall into this category due to constant improvements.

My eyes and hearing aren't what they once were. I prefer to purchase a television(s) that has good sound and a good picture. If it was for my home, it would be better sound and a better picture. But a trailer is like a rolling earthquake, everything shakes and shimmies as it goes down the road. I don't expect a television will last as long as just fastened to the wall in my sticks 'n bricks.

I just know the one(s) in my trailer won't get near the workout as the one(s) in my home. Using this consideration, the best value for the dollar is what I want and fortunately I don't need to worry whether that's 12v or 120v.
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Old 03-23-2017, 10:44 AM   #16
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Hi: Donna D... I was just about to have some fun with the thread "TV". We're still using the same TV we bought for our 5.0. It has better sound than the one in the house. The thinner the TV's the tinnier the sound. As for an RV TV that's BH. Just a way to charge more. We have a 10 buck 60W inverter that turns it into a 12V but then I'm known for being cheap. Alf
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Old 03-23-2017, 11:58 AM   #17
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Another vote for the Insignia TV from Best Buy. It was inexpensive ($150, I think), has a 12V input, and also has a transformer if you want to run it on house current. It's not "ruggedized" for RV use but I've taken it on a couple of long trips without problems.

On the other hand, I had bad luck with a ruggedized Jensen TV made for RV use. It was expensive ($300), comparatively heavy, and it finally broke. I wouldn't recommend a Jensen.
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Old 03-23-2017, 01:15 PM   #18
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Another vote for the Insignia TV from Best Buy. It was inexpensive ($150, I think), has a 12V input, and also has a transformer if you want to run it on house current. It's not "ruggedized" for RV use but I've taken it on a couple of long trips without problems.

On the other hand, I had bad luck with a ruggedized Jensen TV made for RV use. It was expensive ($300), comparatively heavy, and it finally broke. I wouldn't recommend a Jensen.
with that TV do you still need a little inverter to use the 12 volt input?
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Old 03-23-2017, 01:41 PM   #19
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with that TV do you still need a little inverter to use the 12 volt input?
With the Insignia TV you don't need an inverter or transformer, but you have to find or make a 12V connector. One end plugs into a 12V receptacle in the trailer and the other plugs into the TV. You can get the proper plugs and wiring from a Radio Shack, if you can find one.
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Old 03-23-2017, 02:00 PM   #20
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You can get the proper plugs and wiring from a Radio Shack, if you can find one.
Make sure you get the polarity right. I fried a radio with the wrong Radio Shack plug.
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