Boat TV recommendation needed

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KAM

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I need to replace a 16 inch TV on the boat the old one was a cheap Akura which suffered from poor viewing angle but has now packed up. I have not been able to find a 12V unit of this size which does not look as if its very similar to the Akura. Cello, Manta etc all seem to use the same boards and screens. Needs to have usb record and playback.
 
KAM said:
I need to replace a 16 inch TV on the boat the old one was a cheap Akura which suffered from poor viewing angle but has now packed up. I have not been able to find a 12V unit of this size which does not look as if its very similar to the Akura. Cello, Manta etc all seem to use the same boards and screens. Needs to have usb record and playback.
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We bought an LG for our pad in France. I was surprised to see it ran off 12v. Whether it would cope with boat voltage fluctuation I don't know. Surprisingly miniscule power drain.
 
Specifically 12v TVs are overpriced, and there is very limited choice.

TVs today are just monitors with TV tuners inside, and run off DC power just like other computer hardware. If you can find one which has an external power supply, it's a simple matter to create a DC-DC power supply to replace the AC-DC one.

Sometimes you can use a car adapter for a laptop, or you can make one yourself for very little money using a buck regulator like this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/DROK-Regula...ue&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_12&smid=AONS7HEF348I5

Note you do not need to be an electronics whiz to hook this up.

Wire the "power in" side to a (CB or fuse protected) circuit in your yacht. Cut the pigtail off the supplied power supply and wire it to the "power out" side. Double check the voltage and polarity, and Bob's your mother's brother.

Then brag to your wife about your electronics feats.

These buck regulators have a wide range of input voltage and will smooth out any conceivable voltage foibles on your boat.
 
If you do want a native 12V TV, then these Avtex ones look good: http://www.avtex.co.uk/index.php/tv-dvd.html

They appear to have all the bells and whistles you talk of, and appear to have been designed for more 'portable' use, so may stand up better to the rigours of a marine application a little better. They also look (from the photos I could find) as though they are quite modern in style, too - many of the 12V specific TVs I've seen recently appear to be cast-offs from the big-bezelled, clunky looking, early flat TVs of the late 90's / early 2000's.
 
dom said:
Thanks Dockhead!! ...that's just saved me a heap of pointless wiring :cool:
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Cheers.

One other thing to check before buying -- pretty obvious but worth mentioning -- make sure the buck regulator is rated for the wattage of the TV. Small TVs (19" say) are very power efficient now, typically 25 watts or less, which is only 1.3 amps or so at 19v, so most of these will do, but you should check.
 
We just bought an LG 22 inch. Type 22MT47D-PZ. Comes with a transformer to bring it to 12 volts... we use it on 220 as we have a large inverter and our boat is wired 24 V.

Good video quality; used for movies etc onboard. GL
 
Monique said:
We just bought an LG 22 inch. Type 22MT47D-PZ. Comes with a transformer to bring it to 12 volts... we use it on 220 as we have a large inverter and our boat is wired 24 V.

Good video quality; used for movies etc onboard. GL
Click to expand...

A normal TV with an inverter is another perfectly valid way to go.

It may seem kind of silly to convert power from 12v (or 24v) to 230v and back to 19v or whatever, but the losses are still only a few watts, which will likely be much more acceptable than paying double for half the TV by buying a specially 12v one.
 
I've just finished installing this;
http://www.avtex.co.uk/index.php/tv-dvd/avtex-l186dr.html
Works directly off 12V with a suitable voltage regulator (easily installed)
Fabulous picture with the Avtex 12v/24 volt DC boosted STH3000 aerial and a great viewing angle.
It has loads of inputs (HDMI, USB x 2, DVD etc.) and I have hooked it up to our Nav system for viewing when underway.
Its a bit costly but our boat share has eased that.
Good luck.
 
cliveshelton said:
I've just finished installing this;
http://www.avtex.co.uk/index.php/tv-dvd/avtex-l186dr.html
Works directly off 12V with a suitable voltage regulator (easily installed)
Fabulous picture with the Avtex 12v/24 volt DC boosted STH3000 aerial and a great viewing angle.
It has loads of inputs (HDMI, USB x 2, DVD etc.) and I have hooked it up to our Nav system for viewing when underway.
Its a bit costly but our boat share has eased that.
Good luck.
Click to expand...

Grundic leemax 19. Runs on 12V. Plays usb.
 
Is a power regulator really necessary. Lots of 12v equipment wired straight into the boats supply without a problem.
 
KAM said:
Is a power regulator really necessary. Lots of 12v equipment wired straight into the boats supply without a problem.
Click to expand...

Yes. Battery voltage can fluctuate from fully charged to discharged. We use the TV as a PC monitor for nav info and so the variable voltage can be an issue. Others here have advised to regulate it. It's easily done and not costly. Simply put the regulator between the 12v supply and the tv.
 
KAM. The comment I got was that you could damage the TV if you had it on when the engine was running when the alternator could be kicking out 14.5v. If you can remember not to run the engine when you are watching the TV, then no problem. We actually bought a Maplin 90W Universal Laptop Power Supply with Travel Adapter Plugs which we also use for running the laptop, charging the phones and can plug into our TV.

We just bought a standard TV, not one of the caravan specials, and just kept on looking for one with an external power supply. We actually took up the extended warranty, just in case it found working on a yacht too strenuous, but it is still going strong 6 years on. It has a DVD option, which is useful as up in Scotland there are many places where you cannot get a signal.
 
I have had a variety of items wired directly to my boats 12V supply for the last 25 years and not noticed any problems with engine on or off. I like to keep things simple and reduce clutter so would appreciate a technical explanation for why a regulator is needed with a 12V TV but nothing else. My last TV worked without a problem for several years before failing. I don't think the failure was related to the 12V supply. I would also appreciate comments on viewing angle of some of the above units as it seems to be more important on a boat where viewing positions are limited compared with a domestic installation.
 
It may seem kind of silly to convert power from 12v (or 24v) to 230v and back to 19v or whatever, but the losses are still only a few watts, which will likely be much more acceptable than paying double for half the TV by buying a specially 12v one.[/QUOTE]

Greets matey,

No intention to buy a 12 V TV. When we got back on the boat, we saw it was 12 V.... Caca happens! :-)
 
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