How to connect an Inverter.

[pcatterall]

If left permanently connected it would use power and eventually flatten the batteries.

Inverters are not the most efficient way to power a laptop. Most can use a dedicated 12 to19+-v dc-dc converter.

The TV is often a 12 volt input fed via an AC 240v to 12 DC transformer. So make up a cable to plug the TV straight into the boat's DC supply.

Yes but caution in that some TV's don't like high dc voltages ( ours blew up ) best to have some sort of voltage regulator ( ??)

 

[GrahamM376]

Yes but caution in that some TV's don't like high dc voltages ( ours blew up ) best to have some sort of voltage regulator ( ??)

Correct, fried one of ours connecting it direct with engine running.

 

[sailinglegend420]

Yes but caution in that some TV's don't like high dc voltages ( ours blew up ) best to have some sort of voltage regulator ( ??)

We have been running our TV from a 12 volt plug for 7 years as permanent liveaboards, with the batteries being charged either on mains in the winter or with a DC genny in the summer. In each case the battery voltage is regularly up to 14.6 volts. Any manufacturer of a good TV with a 12 volt input that might be used in a "Mobile" situation should know that voltages on a 12 volt battery will go as high as 14.6 volts - or more. The TV should all have some kind of regulation built in. I have heard of several people with problems running TVs off 12 volts - but each time they have let the voltage go below 12 volts and the TV stops working.

If you are buying a new TV for a boat check with the manufacturers if you can use a 12-14.8v source to power the TV. It will be a much more efficient option than a small 12v to 240v inverter to feed your TV 240v AC transformer, which then drops the feed back down to 12 volts!