12v TV

[steve56616]

I have bought a 12v tv. Works fine with the mains adapter when hooked up to electric. My question is.. how do I connect it to the 12v plug in my Avondale Ospray that is ment for the 12v tv???
I assume I need a cable with the end plug that goes into the tv? if so where do I get one?

Thanks Steve

 

[waffler]

If your tv is intended for battery use it will have two power cables. One mains with a transformer, the other with a car cigar lighter plug on it. Your van will either have a *** lighter socket of a two pin one. You can get a two pin to *** lighter socket converter at most caravan dealers.

 

[steve56616]

Thanks for that information. The TV has a mains transformer but no cigar lighter plug with it. I have a two pin socket in the van that plugs into a 12v socket. So I can get what I need from a caravan shop?

 

[Damian]

Not all 12v TV's are meant to be run on battery supply but only through the mains transformer, which gives a stabilised 12v supply.
Before connecting to the van battery which actually has more like 13.8v, check that the TV is suitable.

 

[JTQ]

It appears from the description its not one of the TVs designed specifically to work from a 12 volt battery, just one with a 12 volt DC interface from AC.
However these TVs can often be used from your battery but as Damien states be aware your battery can be well over 12 volts and this can and does sometime cause problems. To guard against this risk I suggest you make sure that you dont use the TV via a battery connection whilst on EHU.
The reason being simply that whilst on EHU the van's charger is taking the voltage well above 12 volts and in many cases that higher voltage gets to the 12 volt socket in the van. So use a made up lead whilst off EHU and the supplied adaptor when on EHU.
You can usually get the plug you want to match the one on the supplied lead and the one needed to fit your vans socket from Maplins. There are many different ones with different pin sizes and lengths on TVs so go into Maplins with the adaptor in your pocket to make sure you get the right one. You then need soldering iron skills to make up the lead; note however very carefully which way round the plug is wired. Look for any logo on the set by the input, its most likely the centre is positive but just every so often its not. The lighter socket by convention is positive on the centre pin.

 

[ChrisUK]

Did you buy it new or secondhand? If new the instructions should indicate if it will run off a 12V battery. I would be surprised if it didn't. If secondhand, Google the net for an instruction book, usually you can find one. Getting the correct connector at the TV end may be difficult, my Avtec TV 12V into the TV is very odd.
eBay can be a good source for connecting leads and much cheaper.
The battery volts should be OK as there will be no mains charging the battery which might increase the volts to the TV, if there ws mains, you would be using your mains addaptor.