Flat screen TVs are very common in motorhomes these days. When buying a TV, there are many options to consider. A typical question we get asked is "Why should I buy a Motorhome TV rather than a standard domestic TV?"
 


It is important to think of more than just price. Power draw and voltage range are the key points:

Voltage range:

Your TV will be powered from your house batteries (this allows you to watch TV when you are free camping). The voltage of deep cycle batteries can range between 11V to 16V. On a cold day, the battery charging system (solar / smart charger) can be charging at over 15V. Your TV must be able to cope with this high voltage and a wide range of voltage fluctuations.

Power Consumption:

While domestic TVs are cheaper to buy, they draw much more power. For example, a standard 15" LCD TV draws around 5 Amps of current. It must be used with an inverter (converts DC battery power back to mains ac power). There is an efficiency loss through this 'inverting' process which typically adds a further 20% of power draw to the equation. If you buy a specifically designed Motorhome TV (see Our TV section), it will only draw around 1.5 amps. Although domestic TVs are cheaper, if you install one in your motorhome an inverter is usually required. Your battery capacity may need to be increased to cope with the extra demands. This adds more weight to your vehicle and could mean having to upsize your charging system too!

A more expensive 12V TV could will most likely be cheaper in the long run.