Best TV setup for 2022

[Mr. Lahey]

I've been searching old threads on tv's without much good info that pertains to todays availability. TV's recommended no longer available and so forth.

Affordable 12v tv on Amazon has horrific reviews. Hit or miss on if the one you get works well. Or even works at all. Just like most things you buy today. Lot of junk out there. Seems that it's real easy to spend big money on name brand stuff with higher ratings. Ouch!

How about running a 110v tv off inverter? I realize not as efficient. However now I can even find used flat screens for low bucks. Even if it gives out there are lot's more for sale super cheap.

What's the way to go here? 12v and pay for name brand? Or 110v & use inverter already in trailer????

[GPW]

Mr. L , we got a smallish RCA 12V flat screen TV for our camper trailer , and it's worked great ... $88.00 at Walmart. We did once hook up the power backwards and blew up the power board , Then we found a replacement power board on E bay for $20 , and fixed it ... Been working fine ever since ... When not in the camper , it's our kitchen TV . ( multitasking )
The new smaller Flat screen TV's don't use very much wattage , so a small inverter works fine ...

[randb]

After putting my tv in my van, I thought that something like this might have been a better fit. Due to its size etc.

Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk

[bdosborn]

10 years ago most of the small LCD TVs wee equipped with a 12V power brick so it was easy to find a 12V TV from a name brand manufacturer. Most of them have gone to 120V now, with the exception of a few that are at 19V. I bought an LG with a 19V power brick and will use a 12V to 19V converter to power it in the van:

LG TV

DC 12V Step Up to 19V

You could use an inverter to power it but the step up converter is more efficient so you'll use less battery (95% efficient for the converter versus 80% or lower with the inverter). The TV picture is pretty good and its cheap too since its a refurbished model. I metered it and it was using around 20W in eco mode.
Bruce

[lfhoward]

I thought I was going to read a thread on tow vehicle setups!

But this is interesting too.

[TCJ]

How are you going to watch TV? Presumably you'll be using a streaming service, because there's unlikely to be cable at any place you're camping.
If that's the case, just watch TV on your laptop or tablet. I've been doing it that way for three years, and it works great.

[Tom&Shelly]

Shelly and I abhor commercials and about 99% of the TV programming between the commercials.

So we bought an inexpensive DVD player (can't remember the brand--I'll find out if anyone asks) with a 12 volt cigarette lighter plug. When we don't have a campfire, and don't want to read, we can watch the other 1% of programming (a few years late) or whatever movies we find for cheap in thrift stores. At home, btw, the DVD has a larger screen and runs on 120 vac, but otherwise it's the same solution.

Tom

[Mr. Lahey]

Thanks all for the replies. Just to clarify a bit. TV would be going in a cargo trailer conversion. So space is not as limited. As far as what to watch I was going to hotspot my phone and stream from there. However as Cindy and I talked it over more. I don't think we are going to bother with tv at all.

I am just going to bring along my laptop and a couple good books. Hopefully weather doesn't keep us inside too often. If it does we will do just fine with less. Never camped with a tv before. Not going to start now.

[TimC]

...Never camped with a tv before. Not going to start now.

I was going to chime in about a TV for the camper. But I'm not sure my suggestions would be useful.

I bought a 12v/120v with DVD player model about four years ago and it's been in the TD ever since. I used it once to watch The Last Waltz in my yard to see how it sounded. Otherwise it was a waste of money. I find even in the late fall when it gets dark early it is too easy to while away the time tending to a camp fire, watching for the northern lights, searching the night sky and visiting with other campers, etc. That's all before I settle in and open a book for a few paragraphs before it hits me in the forhead.

I'm not anti-TV. I spend a potfull of time wasted at home in front of one. I just find it more relaxing without.

[rjgimp]

Never camped with a tv before. Not going to start now.

Attaboy.

[working on it]

...Never camped with a tv before. Not going to start now.

I'm not anti-TV. I spend a potfull of time wasted at home in front of one. I just find it more relaxing without.

* When my wife recently sold her business trailer, with a good TV still inside, the buyers asked if I wanted to keep it, but I said no thanks. I seldom get more than a few days camping a year, lately, and remain outside with my friends by the campfire 'til I'm falling asleep, and don't even use the stereo/CD player set-up I have in the trailer, nor the 8" tablet I have 250+ classic/bad/sc-fi movies on.

But I do listen to the weather radio, as there have always been severe T-storms everytime I ever camped (since 10 years old). However, NEWS FLASH !!!! this past trip, from Wed-Sun, there were no storms nor rain while camping or driving. A first time event! ....it rained later that night, at home, though....

[GPW]

Since we built our trailer(s) primarily for Hurricane evacuation , we felt the need for a small TV to watch the news of how things were developing at home ... and when it was safe to return , or if we had anything to return to at all ...

[patsy3523]

Running a 110v TV off an inverter is definitely an option, and it could be a good way to save money while still getting a quality TV. If you're looking for more information on this topic or other tech-related topics, I recommend checking out https://multitechverse.com/. They have some great articles that cover a wide range of tech-related subjects, including TVs, inverters, and more. Good luck with your search, and I hope you find the perfect TV for your needs!

[GPW]

Patsy's right , a small inverter will run modern low wattage TVs with ease.. Just get the good one .
Check the back of your TV for "power consumption", and get an inverter twice that size (or more) ... No need to buy one with thousands of watts unless you're running larger appliances... The SanyoTV in my studio only consumes 60 watts which is just a little more than a Hot glue gun ...

[Tom&Shelly]

The SanyoTV in my studio only consumes 60 watts which is just a little more than a Hot glue gun ...

And it's almost as entertaining (on a good day)!

Tom