How to Run TV on Battery
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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5121
Printed Date: 14 Jun 2025 at 12:06am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: How to Run TV on Battery
Posted By: FrogCouple
Subject: How to Run TV on Battery
Date Posted: 06 Aug 2014 at 6:08pm
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Can anyone tell me how I can watch my Jensen TV/DVD Player that came with my new 2014 Rpod off the battery? Do I need a special cable for that and what kind of cable do I need? How much of the battery does watching a DVD movie take? I do have a 2,800-Running Watts Inverter Portable Generator with Champion Engine that I can watch TV with but I am thinking it will take a lot of gas and be noisy for my neighbors. Any advice is much appreciated-thanks.
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Replies:
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 06 Aug 2014 at 6:33pm
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Most of the television combos that come in the pods require AC. You could use the generator but the better option would be an inverter attached to your battery. 150 watts would give you enough power to watch tv while charging cell phones or a laptop, but not require too many amps at idle or full power from the battery. It is best to wire it as close to the battery connection as possible, which usually means connecting it behind the converter where the battery leads are connected. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: WillThrill
Date Posted: 06 Aug 2014 at 11:06pm
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I wired a 12 volt socket into my converter with only an 18" run. I plug a small inverter into the socket and run small AC electronics off of that. It's good for up to 200 watts, so I'm not positive that it would run the TV. I need to test the TV's draw with my Killawatt meter sometime. ------------- "Not all those who wander are lost." Tolkien 2014 Hood River 177 2005 GMC Envoy XL |
Posted By: Budward
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2014 at 4:14am
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I mounted my invertor under the bed in the front of my 179. It is less than two feet from where the wiring from the battery hits the circuit breaker under the floor in the left front corner. I penetrated the floor with a pair of 6AWG wires and tapped power there through an additional breaker I added. In the 179's case this also puts the invertor on the end of the camper where the TV is. I also run a CPAP at night so having it under the bed is convenient to plug that in. I used the pure sine wave Morningstar that techntrek mentioned here, 300 watts is plenty for what I need it to do, didn't use the 1000 watt Sunforce I already owned, it is noisy with the built in fan. http://www.morningstarcorp.com/products/suresine/ - http://www.morningstarcorp.com/products/suresine/ ------------- 2014 179 Towed by a 2015 Ford Transit Diesel Supervised by a German/Aussie mix and a Labradoodle! |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2014 at 8:32am
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That Morningstar isn't cheap but it is an awesome inverter. More than enough power to charge phones, laptops and run the tv, pure sine wave (there are a few things that have problems with modified sine wave, which is what you get with all the cheap inverters), and one of the best features is no fan at all as Budward mentioned. Just about every other inverter out there uses a fan and eventually those little fans die. Here's a link to a company that runs a great solar forum, their price for the Morningstar is fair. http://www.solar-electric.com/inverters-controllers-accessories/inverters/moin.html - http://www.solar-electric.com/inverters-controllers-accessories/inverters/moin.html ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Budward
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2014 at 3:29pm
I'm impressed with the Morningstar. Don't really understand the odd shape but whatever One thing to note- it isn't "plug and play", no built in AC outlet or DC cig plug cord, you have to wire it up. Not an issue for me but could be for electrically challenged folk... ------------- 2014 179 Towed by a 2015 Ford Transit Diesel Supervised by a German/Aussie mix and a Labradoodle! |
Posted By: ReiMan1776
Date Posted: 09 Aug 2014 at 1:40am
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I replaced the Jensen 19" in my 2015 178 with a 24" Insignia on sale at best buy for $119. It has a small "brick" power pack which plugs into AC with an output of 12 volts. I just need to add a 12 volt outlet or hard wire to the 12 volt side of the converter. I already tried it out with a 12 volt adapter plugged into cigarette lighter and it works. Much better. TV and larger, works on AC or battery and fits into space in the 178. Some drilling on existing bracket for new holes to match back of larger TV. No need to buy a new bracket. My Jensen 19" already has a bad LED crystal. Compare this. TV to the cost of a converter. ------------- Dan |
Posted By: bonanddoug
Date Posted: 17 Aug 2014 at 10:29am
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I'm working on adding an inverter to my 2015 179. Budward, do you have any pictures you can post? I am getting the same inverter. Would have been real nice for FR (or the dealer) to use a 12V television. Other things that are annoying: the RG cable from the wall jack to the television fell apart due to a poorly crimped connector, the connection to the DVD is composite(??) video, with the current setup the television audio doesn't go to the stereo so you are stuck with the tiny television speakers if you use cable or antenna, the swing out bracket has no tilt feature so the picture is unwatchable if you are lying in bed. I was impressed with the antenna; I got about 30 channels here in Tracy CA which is 70 miles or so from the nearest big city (Sacramento). I looked at Samsung televisions; they are DC but 14 volts, not sure why they chose that voltage. ------------- 2015 179 HRE 2014 Chevy Silverado 1500 |
Posted By: ReiMan1776
Date Posted: 18 Aug 2014 at 12:10pm
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Yes, the Samsung's are 14V and that is why I went with the Insignia. You can get the TV audio to play on the Jensen sound system. You have to remove the Jensen DVD player and take the red and white RCA connectors on the back of the player [On mine was plugged into output - makes no sense] Simply put them into red and white jacks labeled input. Then select the input selector on the DVD player. You hook up output Audio RCA connectors on the TV to the red and white jacks on the wall. I have the 178, 2015.
------------- Dan |
Posted By: jacqqueandsusan
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2014 at 4:46pm
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Hey ReiMan, is your television just inside the door on the left? I have a 177 and would like to replace my television with the Insignia but am wondering if it will fit.
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Posted By: ReiMan1776
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2014 at 8:24pm
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Yes, just inside door on left. Big improvement over the 19". I had to make a template from the back of the insignia to use the existing mount and drill new holes but got it done. I tested the TV with Jensen DVD player and standard DVD 's and found the picture quality to be ho hum ok. Then tried a blu ray player with blu ray disks, no comparison. The Jensen is fine with standard DVD but blu ray is awesome. I was surprised how many tv stations I pulled in HD being 30 miles from San Diego. Now I will add a 12 volt outlet to run tv off the battery when no electrical is available. The tv fits but I had to add on to the length of the retaining straps just used a zip tie on the end of the hook on right. This is the 24" size and does go on sale. The 28" will be too wide fir the space. ------------- Dan |
Posted By: jacqqueandsusan
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2014 at 11:17am
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Great, thanks for the info.
I look forward to changing them out. My 2014 177 already has the 12v cigarette lighter outlet just below the television, so the all I'll need to do is drill some holes in the mount. |
Posted By: GingerPod
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2014 at 8:21pm
Could you please elaborate on how you got the TV sound to work through the Jenson speakers. I have the stock Jenson TV and it appears the audio out jacks are disabled when scrolling through the menu?I switched around RCA jacks as you suggested and makes perfect sense,but seems to be no output.Tried every conceivable option for the hell of it and nothing.I think this was done purposely but not sure why.In essence the output audio jacks from the Jenson head unit could be disconnected from the TV when playing DVD and would make no difference. No sound comes out of the TV speakers anyway  Even so,which mode on the Jenson head unit would work?It appears to me that only 2 choices exist,AUX1 and AUX2 which are for front AV jack and the other for bluetooth device. Seems odd the stock Jenson TV would be configured like that,so if I got a different TV as noted above it would work correct? DVD's play as they should through the Jenson speakers but not at all through the TV speakers and of course the TV only plays through the tiny TV speakers Do tell your method's  ....thanks------------- FOUND OUR NEW-RETRO TEARDROP!!! |
Posted By: ReiMan1776
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2014 at 11:47am
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To get the tv sound to operate through the built in speakers I had to take the Jensen unit out, just remove screws and pull out far enough so you have access to the back of the unit without pulling on wires. You will need to take the red and white RCA cables that are connected to the output jack and switch them to the input jack, both jacks are labeled. On my 2015 179 those cables run to the wall plate with a red and white female RCA audio jacks. In my case all I needed was a pair of female RCA to 3mm headphone cable adapter which I connected to my tv headphone jack. On the Jensen TV (which I replaced) there is a red and white audio pair of female jacks on the side. A pair of audio cables with male ends connected to the wall plate makes the connection from audio out on the tv to audio in on the Jensen stereo. Select the auxillary button on the Jensen
------------- Dan |
Posted By: bonanddoug
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2014 at 3:54pm
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The TV in my 179 has RCA jacks for audio output. I did have to set the TV audio output to 'fixed' via the menus on the TV. To remove the stereo I had to get a #2 square driver to fit the screws that hold it in. The only signal that needs to go to the TV is the video from the stereo/dvd.
------------- 2015 179 HRE 2014 Chevy Silverado 1500 |
Posted By: GingerPod
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2014 at 5:42pm
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Thanks guys....yeah I tried all that but, My Jenson TV have the audio out disabled "grayed out" when scrolling down the menu. So no matter what I tried there is no signal to the audio out RCA jacks on the back of the TV. The front AV jack had the same results. I ordered a new TV and now works perfectly so I can hear it whenever the AC cycles on  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E0EYIV4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E0EYIV4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 The noisy,but acceptable AC, was why I was trying to make the TV sound go through the Jenson external speakers to begin with. I probably just got a weird TV from FR out of the 1000's they equip their products with.I have read here though that I'm not the only one who has received a TV with the output disabled. ------------- FOUND OUR NEW-RETRO TEARDROP!!! |
Posted By: bonanddoug
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2014 at 9:48pm
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Is there a menu selection to disable the TV speaker?
------------- 2015 179 HRE 2014 Chevy Silverado 1500 |
Posted By: GingerPod
Date Posted: 07 Sep 2014 at 1:24pm
No,all the audio options are grayed out. ------------- FOUND OUR NEW-RETRO TEARDROP!!! |
Posted By: 2McPods
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2014 at 2:04pm
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I emailed Jensen about this and this is what they said to do- In order to change the audio out
selection, the TV speakers have to be turned off in the system menu first. Once
turned off you can adjust the audio output. This is what I did to get mine to work: On the back of the Jensen stereo switched Rca wires to in audio and then on the back of the tv make sure the red and white rca are in the out put audio. Turn off Tv speakers and then change the audio from variable to fixed. Then use the AUX 1 on stereo  ------------- Everything Happens 4 A Reason Pat & Viki McCartney 2015 171 {2McPods} 2014 F150 Pittsburgh, Pa |
Posted By: 2McPods
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2014 at 3:34pm
yes under the audio section. Turn off TV speakers and then you can change the grayed out audio to fixed
------------- Everything Happens 4 A Reason Pat & Viki McCartney 2015 171 {2McPods} 2014 F150 Pittsburgh, Pa |
Posted By: GingerPod
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2014 at 9:17pm
Thank you,I will try this next chance I get...it may not matter now that I got a new TV. But I'm thinking about mounting the original Jenson TV above the bed.So I can watch laying down straight or watch both TV's at the same time ------------- FOUND OUR NEW-RETRO TEARDROP!!! |
Posted By: sdc143
Date Posted: 24 Sep 2014 at 2:04pm
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Budward - Can you please explain (maybe a pic) of how to "wire it up"? I most certainly am electronically challenged, but would like to understand it. Thank you! ------------- R-Podimus Adventures Abound! '14 182G HRE '14 Toyota Sequoia 2 little boys and 2 yr old mutt |