what to do with an extra 12v line ?????

[rube740]

Hi everyone, so I removed my fridge to try and get it fixed but the compressor is completely dead. So instead of spending 500$ to 700$ I was thinking of using the 12v (dc) line to install a flat screen tv. I don't know to much about electricity but I know TVs usually work with AC electricity lines. So does anyone have any ideas If there is some type of conversation box I can use or something? Where the fridge was I'm just gonna put an cooler which is what I used all year last year. My boat is a 1990 regal 265. two batteries ,no generator. Thanks to all in advance.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: what to do with an extra 12v line ?????

You can use an inverter to convert 12 volts DC to 120 volts AC. There is a picture and very detailed information about what you need to consider regarding wiring on the INPUT side of the inverter in a post about five or six down from yours. It is titled something like "Adding Christmas Lights on my boat". How big (watts) the inverter needs to be is determined by the amount of current (amps) or power (watts) the TV draws. There is a 10 - 15% loss in the conversion process. Lets say your TV draws 120 watts which is the equivalent of 1 amp at 120 volts. Remember that you put 12 volts DC INTO the inverter to obtain 120 volts out so there is a 10:1 factor involved. That means you need to put 10 amps + 10 to 15% into the inverter. That also means the battery must be able to supply that current for whatever period of time you run the TV and any other 12 volt stuff from that same battery.

 

[sasto]

Re: what to do with an extra 12v line ?????

They have 12V TV's that draw less than a 120V inverter. I have a friend that has one on his boat that has a backup battery installed in the TV, which he can recharge while at the dock. He can run on AC at the dock, and DC while at sea.

Good Luck!

 

[Fireman431]

Re: what to do with an extra 12v line ?????

+1 on the 12v TV. I would even check to see about this dual voltage TV....

http://www.12volt-travel.com/22-hidefinition-lcd-flat-panel-12-volt-television-p-7784.html

 

[rube740]

Re: what to do with an extra 12v line ?????

Thanks for the advise everyone. The 12 volt TVs seem like the logical choice put the only problem I see is that all the 12 volt TVs seem to be low budget name brands. I don't have a problem but I do have a problem with low picture quality. Any one have a 12 volt tv?

 

[Fireman431]

Re: what to do with an extra 12v line ?????

Thanks for the advise everyone. The 12 volt TVs seem like the logical choice put the only problem I see is that all the 12 volt TVs seem to be low budget name brands. I don't have a problem but I do have a problem with low picture quality. Any one have a 12 volt tv?

It's not as much as they're "low-budget" name brands, it's just that you have never heard of them. Look at it this way...if you needed a refrigerator in your home, you would look to Kenmore, Westinghouse, Amana, etc, because that's what you're used to looking at. You would never think about purchasing a Norcold, because it would seem to "low-budget" brand. However, Norcold is the leading builder of dual voltage RV/marine refrigeration units. Same applies to AC units. Home units (Rheem, Ruud, Carrier) versus boat units (MarineAir, CruiseAir, Webasto). Both sets of brands are excellent, just in their respective categories. People with boats know that than because they see that on a regular basis. Do some research on VESA (or whatever the brand is) and see where they rank on the production and reliability of dual voltage tv's.

 

[JDA1975]

Re: what to do with an extra 12v line ?????

I drove trucks for 14 years and have had several 12 volt TVs...in the end I ended up running standard household 120V TVs in my truck off of inverter for same reason, good quality picture and sound are important when its one of your primary entertainment sources. That being said the 12V TVs weren't really that bad, but they did wear out faster and replaced more often. think I went through 3-4 TVs in first 8 years, they 120V TV lasted the last 6 years until I retired

 

[rube740]

Re: what to do with an extra 12v line ?????

FireMan I hear you. You are right about brand names concerning quality. But JD points out that the 12v TV's had shorter life span then 120v. I think I'm going to ultimately end with a 12v TV mainly because I will be using the 12 volt line that was originally used for my fridge, everything is already wired all i have to do is move the wire around a bit. I'm going to splice the TV wire and put it together with the line that belonged to the fridge. I'll try and get some pictures maybe you guys will give me the best location for my tv. Merry Christmas guys and JD hope your enjoying your retirement.

 

[sasto]

Re: what to do with an extra 12v line ?????

I spoke with our resident sailboater (they are notorious for being energy conservitive). He has a Zenith. His is several yeard old, lives in saltwater enviroment, extreme heat, and alot of rocking and rolling.

Good Luck and Merry Christmas, rube.....I'm gone fishing!

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: what to do with an extra 12v line ?????

I will be putting a TV in my project boat, but only because all well equipped cruisers have them. I won't be using it much since I will be on the water to enjoy the water. I can watch TV at home.

I don't know where your boat will be when you are watching TV, but if you are swinging on your anchor, reception will likely suck (in and out, ghosting). What type of antenea will you be using?

 

[JDA1975]

Re: what to do with an extra 12v line ?????

Merry Christmas guys and JD hope your enjoying your retirement.

Merry Christmas to you as well, I cant say I am enjoying retirement, it was forced due to health issues, I am only 36 and like to stay busy, so if it wasn't for my boat resto project I would have gone insane already lol

 

[NYBo]

Re: what to do with an extra 12v line ?????

Many smaller televisions actually run on 12 VDC. Just check the power brick!

 

[rube740]

Re: what to do with an extra 12v line ?????

Well the tv will mostly be used by my daughter will I'm out in the water. She is 3 years old and tends to get bored. Im thinking since I'm not using the fridge and the tv draws less power I should have no problem with the battery being drained.

 

[rube740]

Re: what to do with an extra 12v line ?????

http://www.boat-project.com/electro/proj-12.htm

Check this out guys.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: what to do with an extra 12v line ?????

FireMan I hear you. You are right about brand names concerning quality. But JD points out that the 12v TV's had shorter life span then 120v.

I understand, but we don't know what kind of TV's he was purchasing. I'm not saying go with the most expensive, I'm saying go with the one that ranked best in performance and quality. Look to Consumer Reports or other electrical product trade journals. Mine is a Sanyo. It is a 110v TV (or so I thought) and then I looked at the owners manual that came with it (bathroom reading, y'know...). I found out it is 120v going in and 12.2v to the control board! I looked a little deeper in the manual and it has a diagram and an optional power cord available for direct 12v wiring!

I don't know where your boat will be when you are watching TV, but if you are swinging on your anchor, reception will likely suck (in and out, ghosting).

Get a decent marine antenna and you won't have this issue. There are, depending on location, approx 40 HD over-air channels being broadcast. The secret is to run the TV's menu setup program once you get to the area where you'll be anchored, not at the dock. Unless they're 1/2 mile away, signal strength will vary so much that the channels you got at the dock aren't going to be the same where you're anchored.

 

[rube740]

Re: what to do with an extra 12v line ?????

I think i'll be using DVD's more then anything. I probably wont even bother trying to connect a cable system to it if I do anything extra its going to be a digital antenna (which I see alot of these marine tv's have built in already) Cable channels are so cool but the price for a marine sattalite is not! I think i'll go to my boat today to try and measure some of the spots where i can put up the tv.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: what to do with an extra 12v line ?????

Here is a pic of my marine antenna from Radio Shack ($95). I get 47 channels including local broadcasts--all in HD. Shakespeare makes an identical one for $119. There are also smaller and different styles with a range of prices. Satellite tv isn't necessary unless you're a travelling live-aboard or have a ton of money to spend.

 

[JDA1975]

Re: what to do with an extra 12v line ?????

As far as the longevity and my personal experience with TVs go, it was over a 14 year span, and in that time technology, as would be expected, got better. materials used gets better, manufacturing gets better, etc. Also mine were subjected to more vibration than one mounted in a boat would take (yes boats vibrate, but it isn't nonstop 12+ hours a day) It is just my opinion that 120V TVs are built better, mainly because they do not have the extra hardware required to run on 12V, I did not intend to make it seem like they weren't good, I have used many brands over the years, vesa, sony, sanyo, visio, etc, all were comparable, it could be coincidence that the 120V TV I finally ended up with lasting so long...I even use that TV still as we speak as my computer monitor.

 

[rube740]

Re: what to do with an extra 12v line ?????

Great idea fire man the only thing is that I don't know how to run wire threw my arch. There is a round cover on top that is obviously made to gain entry. But how would I get the wire in to the boat and into the tv. I would love to get one of those digital antennas.

 

[sasto]

Re: what to do with an extra 12v line ?????

Great idea fire man the only thing is that I don't know how to run wire threw my arch. There is a round cover on top that is obviously made to gain entry. But how would I get the wire in to the boat and into the tv. I would love to get one of those digital antennas. View attachment 126263View attachment 126264

Pull the cover...hopefully the manufacturer left a wire or string leading to your electrical panel. Most do!

What boat are we talking about?