Help! I want to install an LCD flat screen TV in my H420 and need some help. It seems that 12 volt units are not generally available or I haven't looked in the right places and therefore will have to use a 120 volt unit. I want to be able to use it on the hook and will therefore have to run it off an inverter. I have a Heart Freedom 20 installed and I am wondering if I will have a problem powering the tv from it eventhough the inverter produces a modified sine wave compared to a true sine wave that is recieved from land lines or will I have to install a deadicated supply producing a true sine wave for the tv? What has everyone else done?
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Darrel
Nothing
Most sailors I know have not bothered with a TV of any kind. Seems like a lot of wasted power usage. We really enjoy "being away from it all" while on the boat. The last thing I want is a television getting in the way of a restful relaxing time.
Most sailors I know have not bothered with a TV of any kind. Seems like a lot of wasted power usage. We really enjoy "being away from it all" while on the boat. The last thing I want is a television getting in the way of a restful relaxing time.
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Rick Sylvester
No problems
running our 13" Sharp Aquos LCD on a Xantrex pocket inverter. You can see ours in an interior pic at our website (see link.) BTW, our unit actually runs on 12v and has a dedicated converter (from AC) to do it. I contacted their tech folks to see if I could run it hard wired to the the house supply as I was concerned about voltage variances and they said NO WAY it has to be regulated by their supply. Soooo, we run a 12 v supply which is inverted to 110v which is then converted back to 12v. Go figure.
running our 13" Sharp Aquos LCD on a Xantrex pocket inverter. You can see ours in an interior pic at our website (see link.) BTW, our unit actually runs on 12v and has a dedicated converter (from AC) to do it. I contacted their tech folks to see if I could run it hard wired to the the house supply as I was concerned about voltage variances and they said NO WAY it has to be regulated by their supply. Soooo, we run a 12 v supply which is inverted to 110v which is then converted back to 12v. Go figure.
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Fred Ficarra
We did a ProSine 2.0
I was told that the biggest need for clean, true sine wave juice though, is our microwave. Don't know if that's true. I do know that this inverter produces juice just like shore power. The only way to tell that it's on is to check the control panel. It's perfect. With our old square wave inverter, all you had to do was look at the computer monitor. (CRT) This inverter also comes with a 100 amp battery charger so that might be overkill for you. You just care about a clean wave, right? Also, shop around for your TV. Ours, from Costco.com is powered by a 'brick' from AC that puts out 12 volts DC to the TV. All I have to do is take the 'brick' away and hook the TV directly to ships 12VDC power. Later, Later. In that case you wouldn't even need to use an inverter. In any case, you are going to love your flat screen. After my wife and I quit arguing about the extra cash going out the door, she saw the TV picture and that was it! End of argument. Worth twice the price. I just remembered my high school autoshop class. One lesson was that there is no way to turn DC back into AC such as when charging batterys. Hay, that was the 60's. Now look what's out there.
I was told that the biggest need for clean, true sine wave juice though, is our microwave. Don't know if that's true. I do know that this inverter produces juice just like shore power. The only way to tell that it's on is to check the control panel. It's perfect. With our old square wave inverter, all you had to do was look at the computer monitor. (CRT) This inverter also comes with a 100 amp battery charger so that might be overkill for you. You just care about a clean wave, right? Also, shop around for your TV. Ours, from Costco.com is powered by a 'brick' from AC that puts out 12 volts DC to the TV. All I have to do is take the 'brick' away and hook the TV directly to ships 12VDC power. Later, Later. In that case you wouldn't even need to use an inverter. In any case, you are going to love your flat screen. After my wife and I quit arguing about the extra cash going out the door, she saw the TV picture and that was it! End of argument. Worth twice the price. I just remembered my high school autoshop class. One lesson was that there is no way to turn DC back into AC such as when charging batterys. Hay, that was the 60's. Now look what's out there.
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Fred Ficarra
Rick, the tech folks answer was a given.
Just like the huge number of electronics manufactures that tell you to wire their stuff directly to the battery. They are just looking to cut down on installation troubleshooting problems. Do the job right and you shouldn't have any problems. Look at your TV case. It gives the power requirements. There will be a variation of acceptable input voltage. 12VDC input is THE standard for almost ALL home (plug into the wall) electronics. And all of that stuff is regulated INTERNALLY so as to be able to accept variable voltage. OK all you electronics guys, lets hear it.
Just like the huge number of electronics manufactures that tell you to wire their stuff directly to the battery. They are just looking to cut down on installation troubleshooting problems. Do the job right and you shouldn't have any problems. Look at your TV case. It gives the power requirements. There will be a variation of acceptable input voltage. 12VDC input is THE standard for almost ALL home (plug into the wall) electronics. And all of that stuff is regulated INTERNALLY so as to be able to accept variable voltage. OK all you electronics guys, lets hear it.
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John Vasey
11 inch/dvd combo unit
Mike, we purchased a 11 inch LCD with an integrated DVD unit, it also has great stereo sound, we purchased it at Walmart in Canada ($650) it is a DC unit (converter) as well, it comes with a rectifier (AC/DC). The beauty of this unit is it comes with a stand and we take it home for the winter.
Mike, we purchased a 11 inch LCD with an integrated DVD unit, it also has great stereo sound, we purchased it at Walmart in Canada ($650) it is a DC unit (converter) as well, it comes with a rectifier (AC/DC). The beauty of this unit is it comes with a stand and we take it home for the winter.
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Buck Harrison
Hi Mike,
On my 420, I mounted a Samsung 17" (120vAC) flatscreen moniter w/ built-in TV tuner in the aft cabin on the bulkade just over the Gen. access door. I also have a 15" Samsung (120vAC) flatscreen moniter (also w/ built in TV tuner) that I can place in the cockpit just to the right of the companionway. I ran all the wireing (for both TVs) back to the Nav station to tie into the TV antenna (already existant for the TV that came w/ the boat) and the desktop computer (placed on the shelf under the Nav station table). Both flat screens have been running JUST FINE off of my Hart 25 inverter for the past 2.5 years. The 17" is great to watch in bed, and the 15" flat screen in the cockpit displays my Visual Navigator software/charts and can also provide (in the cockpit) TV reception either full screen or screen in screen. It's real nice to be cruising down the coast and watch (in the cockpit)local broadcast TV for the news and local weather, etc. If you would like any further details let me know.... Buck... s/v L'Attitude
On my 420, I mounted a Samsung 17" (120vAC) flatscreen moniter w/ built-in TV tuner in the aft cabin on the bulkade just over the Gen. access door. I also have a 15" Samsung (120vAC) flatscreen moniter (also w/ built in TV tuner) that I can place in the cockpit just to the right of the companionway. I ran all the wireing (for both TVs) back to the Nav station to tie into the TV antenna (already existant for the TV that came w/ the boat) and the desktop computer (placed on the shelf under the Nav station table). Both flat screens have been running JUST FINE off of my Hart 25 inverter for the past 2.5 years. The 17" is great to watch in bed, and the 15" flat screen in the cockpit displays my Visual Navigator software/charts and can also provide (in the cockpit) TV reception either full screen or screen in screen. It's real nice to be cruising down the coast and watch (in the cockpit)local broadcast TV for the news and local weather, etc. If you would like any further details let me know.... Buck... s/v L'Attitude
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Rick Sylvester
Hey Fred, I thought about all that
for all the reasons you mentioned. I imagine I could have cut out the converter and hardwired the thing without a problem but on the one in a million chance those guys weren't completely blowing smoke up my butt I decided to plug in the inverter. Its's no big deal and it works fine. I can always rewire it later. BTW, I thoroughly enjoyed your website. Impressive boat.
for all the reasons you mentioned. I imagine I could have cut out the converter and hardwired the thing without a problem but on the one in a million chance those guys weren't completely blowing smoke up my butt I decided to plug in the inverter. Its's no big deal and it works fine. I can always rewire it later. BTW, I thoroughly enjoyed your website. Impressive boat.
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Fred Ficarra
Rick, thanks for the kind words
and I'm with you. Can't hurt to save some watts. Oh, BTW I just went back to your web site. It's great. Keep your link handy for those updates. And thanks again.
and I'm with you. Can't hurt to save some watts. Oh, BTW I just went back to your web site. It's great. Keep your link handy for those updates. And thanks again.
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