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


When selecting a 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 large voltage fluctuations.

Power Consumption:

While domestic TVs may be 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. Now although domestic TVs are cheaper, 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!

The moral of the story: A slightly more expensive TV could in fact be cheaper in the long run.