LCD TV

[Tom6]

Off boat, at home, i avoid having a separate tele and instead use my computer to watch movies and such. I still haven't used my computer to watch proper tele as someone on my Lan network has a huge collection of movies and great tv series's. I also use my compuer forplaying music and pretty much everything. It seems hugely wasteful of space to have so many different devices all doing things that can be done by just one (or two). The main problem for a boat is that my desktop machine is quite inefficient and uses a lot of power, laptops do too. Given that laptops/netbooks have such tiny screens but usually have an output port it would seem sensible to make sure that when you buy a tele you get one that can you can plug a laptop/netbook in to. There's a boat i stay on for a week or so each month but i don't live on a boat, so my advice may be exactly wrong for you.

 

Good luck and regards from

Tom

[petro]

Hi all

 

Saw a nice looking TV at Crick on the Roadpro stand; brand was DQT. Seemed a bit pricey but has anyone any views or comments before I raid the piggy bank ?

 

Any info gratefully received.

 

Cheers

[Tom6]

Can you plug laptop's or other machines into it?

[Nickhlx]

We have the truly excellent Avtex W193D set which can act as a PC monitor and consumes only some 37 watts when on 12 volts - possibly less when a monitor with the digital and analogue tuners switched off. Yes, it was expensive but does everything and does everything very well.

 

Nick

Edited June 2, 2009 by Nickhlx

[Pot Noodle Adventurer]

While we are on the subject, a couple of weeks ago we bought an LCD TV + a hard drive recorder, great, then we added satellite ( Aldi, £64.99) works a treat only thing is we don't seem to be able to record satellite. Can anybody point me in the right direction I've tried all combinations of scart connections, or maybe it's not possible. Thanks

 

The Aldi Satellite sounds good. Do you just connect it up and off you go or do you have to subscribe to some service provider?

[alan_fincher]

The Aldi Satellite sounds good. Do you just connect it up and off you go or do you have to subscribe to some service provider?

No - they are "free to air" satellite, so no subscription, card, (or anything else) is required.

 

Also available as Maplin "satellite suitcase" - often one of their heavily discounted items. Ours was £60, and unlike some will run directly off 12 volts.

 

To answer the earlier question.........

 

Although we have no such sophistications on the boat, (we can no longer be bothered to take TV equipment with us, in fact), I have had no trouble recording from a Maplin free to air satellite box on to a hard disk recorder, (using good old fashioned SCART lead), when at home.

 

Can you plug laptop's or other machines into it?

Virtually all modern LCD TVs surely allow direct connection of a laptop, and use as a bigger screen.

 

Many do not have a phenomenally good resolution, though. Fine for watching movies, less good for multiple windows each full of small text.

[tnewson]

Hello,

 

I just bought a 15'' hd lcd tv. Built in dvd and freeview players. It was £125 from tesco! Well worth the money!

 

It had the external transformer plug so i just snipped it before the transformer and connected a 12v lighter plug with a switch in the middle. If you do buy one make sure you look for a tv which has a power cable that disconnects from both ends because the ones that have a permanently attached power cable wont have an external transformer.

[WotEver]

It had the external transformer plug so i just snipped it before the transformer and connected a 12v lighter plug with a switch in the middle.

 

You'll find lots of posts (including in this thread) telling you why that ain't such a great idea.

 

Regards,

Tony

[tnewson]

Nah its fine, i have a regulator from my battery so that when it is charging i can still use all of my electrical bits and bobs. It saves spending lots of money using individual regulators.

[bespin]

tnewson what sort of regulator do you have on the battery i was looking for something that would do this from the battery to regulate the whole boats 12volts

 

also what telly was it from tesco

Edited June 5, 2009 by bespin

[Guest]

Nah its fine, i have a regulator from my battery so that when it is charging i can still use all of my electrical bits and bobs. It saves spending lots of money using individual regulators.

Wouldyou be kind enough to give more details of the regulator that you use?

[tnewson]

Well i bought a 120w regulator and i paid somebody that i know on the river to modify it allowing me to keep the volts between 12 and 18. Im really not sure how he done it but he is an electrical engineer so its way above my understanding of electricals, but it can be done!

 

The tv is a Technika 15.4'' from tesco mate. Youll find it on the net. if its not in your local shop.

[WotEver]

keep the volts between 12 and 18.

 

So if you're happy running a 12V TV from a 50% higher voltage then you're good to go

 

Personally, I'd rather run 12V electronic equipment from 12V.

 

Regards,

Tony

[Sarah and Ian]

Can you get 12v to 240v adaptors the kind of things that you use abroad etc. We've seen a TV that has a 12v transformer but no plugs so it can be fitted into 12v. Don't like the idea of cutting plugs of and invalidating warranties. Looked in Maplins and they had a 12v inverter but same thing applies with cutting plugs of as it had a cigarette lighter fitting.

 

Thought a you would be able to get them but looking on maplins and the net seems like they're not available.

 

Alternately

 

If I bought the below and bought a 12v wall socket to 12v car type socket (I've seen these in a caravaning shop) would I be able to plug the Inverter into this and run a 19" TV on it. Seems like this could give us more felxibility in the long run.

 

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?Module...O&U=strat15

 

 

Thanks in advance

Edited June 6, 2009 by Sarah and Ian

[WotEver]

We've seen a TV that has a 12v transformer but no plugs so it can be fitted into 12v. Don't like the idea of cutting plugs of and invalidating warranties.

 

Keep looking and you'll find LCD flat screens that have a socket for the 12V feed - much like laptops have (although laptops are rarely 12V but the principle's the same). Look for a TV where the mains plug feeds into the PSU 'brick' which in turn plugs into the TV. Then purchase a 12V to 12V regulator as sold by Maplins to replace the brick.

 

Can you get 12v to 240v adaptors the kind of things that you use abroad etc. If I bought the below and bought a 12v wall socket to 12v car type socket (I've seen these in a caravaning shop) would I be able to plug the Inverter into this and run a 19" TV on it.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?Module...O&U=strat15

 

Yes, you could use this IF you're prepared to put up with a less efficient system (you'll lose at least 10% efficiency through the inverter) and IF the size of the 12V cabling to the TV position (and the associated fusing) is rated at 30A.

 

Inverters are best used close to the battery with the 240 volt cabling being the long cables. But now we're moving into a whole new field.

 

Regards,

Tone

[Sarah and Ian]

Keep looking and you'll find LCD flat screens that have a socket for the 12V feed - much like laptops have (although laptops are rarely 12V but the principle's the same). Look for a TV where the mains plug feeds into the PSU 'brick' which in turn plugs into the TV. Then purchase a 12V to 12V regulator as sold by Maplins to replace the brick.

 

 

 

Yes, you could use this IF you're prepared to put up with a less efficient system (you'll lose at least 10% efficiency through the inverter) and IF the size of the 12V cabling to the TV position (and the associated fusing) is rated at 30A.

 

Inverters are best used close to the battery with the 240 volt cabling being the long cables. But now we're moving into a whole new field.

 

Regards,

Tone

 

Thanks for this makes complete sense what your saying thought it sounded to easy how I had planned it in my mind. I've looked on the Maplins site but can not find any Im sure they're there but a search on the site for 12v regulators brings up nothing that would appear to be suitbale. Could someone please post a link of so that I know what I'm looking for sorry to be a pain.

 

It seems a cheaper than buying a "specialist 12v tv" funds are tight at the moment with an ever growing list of things that we need to get for the boat when we get it.

[alan_fincher]

Thanks for this makes complete sense what your saying thought it sounded to easy how I had planned it in my mind. I've looked on the Maplins site but can not find any Im sure they're there but a search on the site for 12v regulators brings up nothing that would appear to be suitbale. Could someone please post a link of so that I know what I'm looking for sorry to be a pain.

 

It seems a cheaper than buying a "specialist 12v tv" funds are tight at the moment with an ever growing list of things that we need to get for the boat when we get it.

One of these will stabilise your boat's nominally 12 volt supply to a genuinely constant voltage.

 

Amperor Stabiliser Link

 

Probably not the cheapest, but tried and tested by many forum members, ourselves included.

[Sarah and Ian]

One of these will stabilise your boat's nominally 12 volt supply to a genuinely constant voltage.

 

Amperor Stabiliser Link

 

Probably not the cheapest, but tried and tested by many forum members, ourselves included.

 

 

Thanks for this Alan so looking at this I will need to get a 12v (car adapter adaptor to 12v plug type socket) is that correct. Saw them for a few pounds in the caravan shop when we were out and about. The website you showed me looks like you only get those type of 12v attachments.

 

Thanks for all your help.

[alan_fincher]

Thanks for this Alan so looking at this I will need to get a 12v (car adapter adaptor to 12v plug type socket) is that correct. Saw them for a few pounds in the caravan shop when we were out and about. The website you showed me looks like you only get those type of 12v attachments.

 

Thanks for all your help.

Equipping the boat with a car "cigarette lighter" type outlet is a good solution.

 

Whilst you could cut the plug off the Amperor input lead, and replace with something else, IIRC the supplied plug both contains a fuse, and an indicator light to show it's connected - better not to throw those away.

[Guest User]

These people also do a 12v regulator and adaptor Roadpro (clicky) (I've been using one on my LCD TV for a couple of years now)

[The Meerkatat]

These people also do a 12v regulator and adaptor Roadpro (clicky) (I've been using one on my LCD TV for a couple of years now)

 

 

Likewise Graham

 

It is a Amperor stabiliser that can handle inputs ranging from 10v-28v, top buy!!!

 

MK

[Greybeard]

Product update.

 

Just bought an Amperor 12 Volt LCD/TFT Voltage DC-DC Stabiliser (at last).

 

Had a minor problem in that their standard adaptor doesn't fit the Avtex tvs - apparently Avtex sockets are slightly different from every other make - sods law!

 

Spoke to a very user friendly guy called Craig at Amperor and he sorted it out straight away - free of charge aswell.

 

Nice one!

 

Mike

[Tom6]

Oh bugger it. I just bought a Maplins 'laptop' adapter with a plug for a car-cigarette lighter. On special offer at £20 and able to push out about 120 Watts at various different output voltages i thought i was getting a real bargain. 120Watts just about covers my laptop and loads of choices of laptop-type plugs helps! What wattage can the Amperor RoadPro dish out?

[WotEver]

Spoke to a very user friendly guy called Craig at Amperor...

 

Hi Mike,

 

That was probably Craig McQuiston who is the Technical Support Engineer for Amperor and is indeed a very helful and friendly guy

 

T.

[Greybeard]

Oh bugger it. I just bought a Maplins 'laptop' adapter with a plug for a car-cigarette lighter. On special offer at £20 and able to push out about 120 Watts at various different output voltages i thought i was getting a real bargain. 120Watts just about covers my laptop and loads of choices of laptop-type plugs helps! What wattage can the Amperor RoadPro dish out?

 

Arghhhhhh!!!!! A techie question - I wouldn't dare.

 

Seriously though try Craig on 01294 204883 he'll know straight away.

 

 

Hi Mike,

 

That was probably Craig McQuiston who is the Technical Support Engineer for Amperor and is indeed a very helful and friendly guy

 

T.

 

It was Craig and you're right he's really helpful.

 

Mike