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02-12-2016, 01:09 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Missoula, Montana
Trailer: 2014 19ft
Posts: 14
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12volt or regular TV
We have a 19 ft escape, that I would like to purchase a TV for. I plan on getting a 19 inch model. We have the 1500 watt inverter. Not sure if I should get a 12volt or a just a regular TV.
We do camp frequently where we will not be connected to electricity. Suggestions?
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02-12-2016, 01:26 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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Regular 120V TV has a converter that drops the voltage down to 12V ( ish ).
So if you go that way, you are inverting 12V from the battery to 120V and then back to 12V with loss all along the way.
So, just get a TV that comes with a 12V cord and a 120V cord.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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02-12-2016, 02:23 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Missoula, Montana
Trailer: 2014 19ft
Posts: 14
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Do you know if I can run a regular TV off the inverter, as is when the trailer is not connected to electricity?
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02-12-2016, 02:44 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Southern Alberta, Alberta
Trailer: 2015 Escape 5.0TA
Posts: 1,734
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Quote:
Originally Posted by donehrlich
Do you know if I can run a regular TV off the inverter, as is when the trailer is not connected to electricity?
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Yes that's what we do, we also run the Jack antenna or the satellite receiver off the inverter. Works great.
Cheers
Doug
__________________
Cheers
Doug
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02-12-2016, 04:52 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Long Beach, Washington
Trailer: 2012 Escape 19 "Tortuga"
Posts: 200
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cheap 120V TV and a good inverter for the times you're not connected is what we did. Think we paid $89. we play dvd's on the TV and run the sound thru the stereo (bluetooth).
steve
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02-12-2016, 05:46 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PGDriver
Yes that's what we do, we also run the Jack antenna or the satellite receiver off the inverter. Works great.
Cheers
Doug
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The Jack antenna is 12v already, no inverter needed.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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02-12-2016, 05:54 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Southern Alberta, Alberta
Trailer: 2015 Escape 5.0TA
Posts: 1,734
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008
The Jack antenna is 12v already, no inverter needed.
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You know you need to go camping when you forget these things Jim. I must be going through withdrawal. LOL
Cheers
Doug
__________________
Cheers
Doug
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02-12-2016, 05:55 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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other than a/c, everything else can be 12v....
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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02-12-2016, 08:09 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008
other than a/c, everything else can be 12v....
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... except the (optional) electric element in the water heater, which can't (reasonably) be 12V but doesn't need to be since it would logically be run on propane when shore power is not available. Oh, and the microwave can't run on 12V DC, and although you can run it on an inverter you wouldn't want to for very long.
I assume that the point is that the list of stuff built into the trailer which can't run directly on 12V DC is pretty short, and consists entirely of optional equipment or modes of appliance operation that you don't need: - air conditioner
- microwave oven (can run on inverter)
- electric element of water heater (use propane when not on shore power)
- 120V AC element of refrigerator (use 12V DC or proane when towing, propane when camped without shore power)
Most stuff you might plug in can be arranged to run on 12V DC without an inverter, with the notable exception of appliances with big motors (blender) or with heating elements (kettle, space heater, hair dryer...)
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02-12-2016, 08:26 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Santa Rosa County, Florida
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 Tow: 2024 Toyota Tundra
Posts: 3,105
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I'm currently using an Insignia (Best Buy house brand) TV in my trailer. When I'm home it uses an external power supply that plugs into house current and supplies 12V to the TV. I leave the power supply at home and use an adapter to plug the TV into 12V in my trailer when traveling. It works okay.
__________________
Mike Lewis
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie-- propane
Photos and travelogues here: mikelewisimages.com
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02-13-2016, 07:53 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Naples, Florida
Trailer: New 21 Escape (not classic)10/16 Sold Lil Snoozy 7/16
Posts: 484
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teli
We have been camping and used a 150 watt inverter to power up a 110volt 24inch TV/DVD and it played fine . We had forgotten the 400 watt. inverter . 1500 watts will power the new style tv's easily .
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02-13-2016, 09:28 AM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Northern, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2020 21C
Posts: 90
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When Camping in the boonies not near any cities can you pick up any reception from the Jack antenna? I am trying to decide if I should get the Jack antenna or not. Most of the time I will camp in National Parks, Provincial Parks or National Forest camps away from cities. I do like to watch TV in the evening and am getting the 1500 watt inverter and will take dvd's to watch. Is it worth getting the Jack antenna for the rare times I camp at a full hookup near town?
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02-13-2016, 10:42 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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If you camp with hookups you will more than likely have CG cable and internet, so I'd drop the Jack. I have only used mine less than 1/2 dozen times in 2 years, just get the cable ready option.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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02-13-2016, 10:53 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Travis County, Texas
Trailer: 2015 Esc 21. Formerly, Casita LD (16 & 17)
Posts: 802
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We used a boosted (to 60 mile radius) "leaf" antenna, for watching the super bowl the other night. Taped it to the window with painter's tape.
Here's a pic. And, FWIW, even though our box says 60 miles, all the ads online say 50.
__________________
Mary F Onward, through the fog!
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02-13-2016, 01:16 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Juneau, Alaska
Trailer: 2016 Escape 19
Posts: 555
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I was going to order the Jack antenna with our 19 Escape and decided against it since I am planning on putting two solar panels on the roof at a later date and the Jack antenna is right where I plan on putting the second solar panel. I am going to try the leaf antenna idea and if that does not work I will just pop in a dvd when boon-docking.
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02-13-2016, 03:33 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,543
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mary F
We used a boosted (to 60 mile radius) "leaf" antenna, for watching the super bowl the other night. Taped it to the window with painter's tape.
Here's a pic. And, FWIW, even though our box says 60 miles, all the ads online say 50.
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Are you pleased with its performance, Mary?
Right now we never watch TV when camping, but I would bet once we do more extended trips, it would be used more. I really do not like the look of the Jack mounted on top, or the fact it takes up space, and would much prefer if there was a more portable antenna that would do the trick.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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02-13-2016, 04:28 PM
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#17
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Northern, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2020 21C
Posts: 90
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How far away from a town were you when you used your leaf antenna for the SUPER BOWL? It sounds very interesting. Portable and easy to set up when needed is ideal. Thanks for the great info Mary.
Don't want to put holes in the roof for an antenna that won't work for the boonies.
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02-13-2016, 07:01 PM
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#18
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: elmira, New York
Trailer: egg camper 2007
Posts: 35
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All antennas are line of sight. If you have to many objects between you and the transmitting tower they don't work very well.
__________________
Jason
If you think you are too small to make a difference just try sleeping with a mosquito –- The Dalai Lama
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02-13-2016, 07:43 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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I wonder if flexible antennas, such as the Leaf, could be mounted to the inside of the fiberglass shell (but directly to it, outside of materials such as insulation with a metallic layer) and connected together to provide reception from all directions. It would be nice to have nothing external, and not have to aim or position antennas.
Some recent TV antennas look too small - I suspect that they are really intended for the lower UHF channels (upper UHF channels have been taken away from TV service), rather than any of the VHF bands. That's fine as long as all the stations you want are in the UHF band, and that's not the case in many places; half my local stations at home are VHF.
Like others selling TV antennas, the Mohu people bill the Leaf as somehow "digital" or "high definition"; it is not, the antenna is an analog device and is not specific to digital TV. If you have an old TV antenna from the analog broadcast era, it continues to work just as well (or poorly ) now that broadcasts are digital.
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02-13-2016, 07:47 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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From everything I've read, you need to be close enough to an unobstructed signal, that you're likely camped in a RV Resort with cable.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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