can anyone answer my question, we have decided to give camping a go as were a little bored with holidays abroad but i cant live with out the tv/dvd. if we were at a camp site without a electric hook up how long would a 20'' lcd tv last for, running thru an inverter off a car battery,, here are the specs 60amp 12v battery------350watt inverter------ and tv using 75watts??

It would probably last an evenings viewing without problems and then start the car ok in the morning to recharge. If you are going to a proper camp site they nearly all have electrical hook-ups though. I recently went camping and had the DVD in the tent of a night!

75W = approx 6A when you've got it down to 12v.
So you'll get approx 10 hours of TV.
Only trouble will be the battery won't like being fully discharged unless it's deep cycle...

The whole point of camping is to get drunk in a field, you don't need a telly to do that

Seriously, if you're going to sit around and watch telly you may as well stay at home. It's warmer and drier, and the bogs are a lot nicer.

batterys are not a problem i can get them out of the cars at work before we scrap them. how many 'cycles' will the battery perform before she dead? martyn- trouble is we have a 3 year old and we try to get her in bed by 9pm and im still going to midnight

[Edited on 1/9/08 by afj]

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Originally posted by martyn_16v
The whole point of camping is to get drunk in a field, you don't need a telly to do that

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Alot of lcd's are 12v anyway so no need for an inverter.

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how many 'cycles' will the battery perform before she dead?

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If you run it through a step-up inverter, the inverter will start bleeping to tell you when the battery is below a certain voltage. Mine does it at around 12volts.
You also need to consider the inefficiencies of the inverter in your sums!

thanks for the help everyone can i also get digital tv on the camp site thru a small portable aerial

If you need the comforts of home, buy a lead from Towsure (or buy the bits from Towsure and make your own). Then get a hook-up pitch. You can take a little heater, fridge, lights, toaster, kettle etc.....

quote:

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Originally posted by martyn_16v
Seriously, if you're going to sit around and watch telly you may as well stay at home. and the bogs are a lot nicer.

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Yeah, thertically a 60Ah battery can supply 60Ah's of power.

However for starters, its not that simple, even for a new battery.

And secondly, as mentioned, the inveter will have a low voltage drop-out, Which is often fairly hi. Usally it will siron a bit before that too. They are also only about 80/90% effecient (MSW inveter).

But yeah. Best way is just to suck it and see. Do a dry run tonight!
- However, if i had to guess, depending on the battery. Three hours?


Daniel

Your going arse about face using an inverter - the easiest option is to just buy a 12v car/caravan lcd that was designed for the job - most have freeview and even dvd player built in.

Plenty of low wattage upto 15" versions on ebay as an example of whats available



[Edited on 1/9/08 by Mr G]

Im trying to keep the cost down as we may not even take to camping. but we got a 20'' sony tv for only £100 when we got our 40'' and ive already got a 350w inverter and a free surply of batterys, hopefully most places will have a hookup

Bored of leaving the country.... so you thought you'd sit in a field, in the UK, in the rain, with horrible toilets and crappy showers... watching DVDs!

What sort of places have you been previously where this seems more attractive??? Please tell, so I can avoid them!

Sorry! But I spent a week camping this summer with Tae Kwon-Do summer camp... it was a bit crappy but atleast we had a massive field just to ourselves.
Realised when lookin round the rest of the 'proper' camp site that I'd rather stay at home!

Cheers,
James

[Edited on 2/9/08 by James]

i love going anywhere hot , last few where dominican republic kefalonia spain a few times but with a 2 year old its important to keep her out of the sun --englands ideal

Sun cream?