Is there any difference in a specific caravan TV @ £300+ , or a 12v Tele from asda where i would just take power from the battery rather than a transformer?
T V's
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- Apr 5, 2007
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- Apr 25, 2006
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I'm no expert, and I do agree that certain makes of tv made principally for the travel market eg caravans, motorhomes and hgv's etc appear to be, shall we say, on the dear side? Especially when compared against conventional tv's that have a 12v function.
However, on another forum, it is suggested that many conventional tv's are giving up the ghost when used on 12v due to the instability of the current which can fluctuate from 10v - 13v. This has lead the fragile tft screens blowing. Apparently, many manufacturers are unwilling to cover warranty issues unless an amperage regulator is used when the tv is switched on (or even on stand-by?)
The travel market sets have basically been manufactured with all the necessary electronics to combat amp fluctuation etc Some of the manufacturers have been around for a very long time naking kit specifically for the leisure markey. So they should know what they're doing by now!
I was tempted to buy a cheap lcd tv but have now saved up the pennies to buy a set from one of the specialist companies. It just gives me peace of mind that what I'm using has actually been manufactured for that purpose.
However, on another forum, it is suggested that many conventional tv's are giving up the ghost when used on 12v due to the instability of the current which can fluctuate from 10v - 13v. This has lead the fragile tft screens blowing. Apparently, many manufacturers are unwilling to cover warranty issues unless an amperage regulator is used when the tv is switched on (or even on stand-by?)
The travel market sets have basically been manufactured with all the necessary electronics to combat amp fluctuation etc Some of the manufacturers have been around for a very long time naking kit specifically for the leisure markey. So they should know what they're doing by now!
I was tempted to buy a cheap lcd tv but have now saved up the pennies to buy a set from one of the specialist companies. It just gives me peace of mind that what I'm using has actually been manufactured for that purpose.
- Sep 13, 2006
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We have a 12v tv from Asda bought about 6 months ago a Baier 15in with freeview and DVD player - I don't know if it is the one you are looking at.
Pros
Seems to have a reasonable battery drain - we can use the TV and DVD player quite a lot (keeps the kids happy on rainy days) and the battery will still have plenty of charge after a weekend.
All functions as if on mains even with water pump etc running.
Very good picture (see cons as well) and freeview reception with status 530 aerial.
Even when the battery is low the TV still functions normally.
Cons
Only one really and this will probably apply to most budget LCD screens - the picture can be strange - like a negative on dark bits when viewed from angles mainly in the dark.
There is an almost 100% cure to this - buy a wall bracket, we bought an Asda one for
Pros
Seems to have a reasonable battery drain - we can use the TV and DVD player quite a lot (keeps the kids happy on rainy days) and the battery will still have plenty of charge after a weekend.
All functions as if on mains even with water pump etc running.
Very good picture (see cons as well) and freeview reception with status 530 aerial.
Even when the battery is low the TV still functions normally.
Cons
Only one really and this will probably apply to most budget LCD screens - the picture can be strange - like a negative on dark bits when viewed from angles mainly in the dark.
There is an almost 100% cure to this - buy a wall bracket, we bought an Asda one for
We have a 12v tv from Asda bought about 6 months ago a Baier 15in with freeview and DVD player - I don't know if it is the one you are looking at.
Pros
Seems to have a reasonable battery drain - we can use the TV and DVD player quite a lot (keeps the kids happy on rainy days) and the battery will still have plenty of charge after a weekend.
All functions as if on mains even with water pump etc running.
Very good picture (see cons as well) and freeview reception with status 530 aerial.
Even when the battery is low the TV still functions normally.
Cons
Only one really and this will probably apply to most budget LCD screens - the picture can be strange - like a negative on dark bits when viewed from angles mainly in the dark.
There is an almost 100% cure to this - buy a wall bracket, we bought an Asda one for
You are very unlikely to damage a cheapo TV using it off the battery as long as when on EHU you don't connect it to the battery but use the provided AC adaptor.
When on EHU your "12" volts will be about 13.8 which if not immediately damaging the LCD TV it will inevitable reduce its life.
Some people simply accept that risk.
When on EHU your "12" volts will be about 13.8 which if not immediately damaging the LCD TV it will inevitable reduce its life.
Some people simply accept that risk.
- Apr 25, 2006
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I'm not sure what the current draw is from a cheapo set, but one of the claims from manufacturers of purpose built sets are their very low draw. Apparently the new Avtex 19" set only uses around 3 amps.
- Apr 25, 2006
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I'm not sure what the current draw is from a cheapo set, but one of the claims from manufacturers of purpose built sets are their very low draw. Apparently the new Avtex 19" set only uses around 3 amps.
- Apr 25, 2006
- 19
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I'm not sure what the current draw is from a cheapo set, but one of the claims from manufacturers of purpose built sets are their very low draw. Apparently the new Avtex 19" set only uses around 3 amps.
- Apr 25, 2006
- 19
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I'm not sure what the current draw is from a cheapo set, but one of the claims from manufacturers of purpose built sets are their very low draw. Apparently the new Avtex 19" set only uses around 3 amps.
We now have a Avtex 15" DVD / TV previously having a year old Grundig 15" DVD / TV and along with the far better veiwing angles and the ability to run on 12V safely, it also has a much better picture on weaker signals than the non leisure TV had.
As leisure TVs are lower scale production than std ones, you will not get the same economies of scale so may not be as good value, I still feel that the when you are using it in a field generally surrounded by trees, if you want a watchable picture at varied location (without going down the Sat route) then if you can afford it then get a leisure TV.
As leisure TVs are lower scale production than std ones, you will not get the same economies of scale so may not be as good value, I still feel that the when you are using it in a field generally surrounded by trees, if you want a watchable picture at varied location (without going down the Sat route) then if you can afford it then get a leisure TV.
A tv tuner unit in a tv is a std piece of circuitry they are mostly made by the same company and sold to the manufactures so the idea of a better picture is down to the aerial im afraid and all other equations like weather etc.
The abiltiy to run 12v safely is no different on the Avtex the difference is the Avtex uses a regulated 12v supply/charger and as pointed out already 1 of those can be purchased if so required.
Avtexs are in more robust and in a heavier duty casing but that is all the difference,the screen is also no different as the 15/17 lcd market is not blessed with a great choice and all these companies share screens?
I would still think long and hard about parting with an extra
The abiltiy to run 12v safely is no different on the Avtex the difference is the Avtex uses a regulated 12v supply/charger and as pointed out already 1 of those can be purchased if so required.
Avtexs are in more robust and in a heavier duty casing but that is all the difference,the screen is also no different as the 15/17 lcd market is not blessed with a great choice and all these companies share screens?
I would still think long and hard about parting with an extra
An inverter is not a good idea. At the Irish National CC rally at Easter the people in the van parked next to use set up a 19inch LCD TV up and used an inverter. Their battery was dead within a couple of hours. ANy current conversion is very inefficient and will multiply how much energy used to power the TV. I have a 19 inch Asda own set that while not advertised as such, runs of 12V DC. It runs just fine from the caravan's battery. Only thing is that the picture quality is poor (poor colour and very fuzzy) compared with my branded LCD tv at home. These issues are not power related, just it being a cheap set, and unlike the old CRT TVs the quality in picture between expensive brands and cheapos is significant with LCD.
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