12 Volt TV/DVD

[camaraderie]

I went to the polaroid site and opened the manual. It says it is 12V and 5 amps on pg. 53.
Note...it still plugs into wall power...but the "brick" converts it down to 12V for TV operation. Here's the manual:
http://www.polaroid.com/service/user...930b_ug_en.pdf

You may also be able to simply buy a DC/DC cigarette lighter plug adapter if the TV DC plug is standard. Otherwise, you have to cut the wire at the brick and install a cig plug or wire into one of your 12V circuits that can handle an additional 5amp load.

[US27inKS]

Originally Posted by camaraderie

Here's the Poloroid in a 15" set at Target! ...and it is also a 12V power supply.
Polaroid 15.6" 1080i LCD HD TV with DVD - TDX-01530B : Target

I bought and installed this same TV last weekend. Works great, but I havn't used it with just 12 volts yet. I need to find an old power supply that I can cut the cord off of, then I have to route the wires behind the trim. That's on the list of projects this weekend.

The set cost $299 here in KC, and I bought a small mount that tilts for $29 and the extended warranty for $30. I don't usually get extended warranties, but since it's not in the best of TV environments, and I don't have to do anything to activate the warranty I gave them my money.

[hellosailor]

Cam, bear in mind that "ships power" is not simply 12-volt power.

It is nominal 12-volt power, actually 14.4 when the alternator is running, sometimes higher if other power sources are running, 12.5 with a good battery bank and 12.1 when the house batteries are halfway depleted.

Whether a "12 volt" electronic device will be happy with all that is unpredictable. ICOM's ham radios are designed for mobile use--but at 13.8VDC, and they often have performance problems at 12VDC. "Close" just often isn't good enough. In fact one of their radios is infamous for being desinged with components that are underated for 14.4VDC use, sometimes they simply fail when used in vehicles because 13.8 is marginal and the normal 14.4 is beyond marginal. And that's from a name brand of 'expensive' electronics.

You can either gamble the price of the device, or check with the maker (who will usually say "Huh? Oh, we don't warranty that.") or use a dc-to-dc converter, set for 12VDC output if that's what the gizmo wants.

Something that ships with a car lighter adapter--not just a 12VDC wall wart--is more likely designed to work with the whole voltage range, no gamble needed.

Polaroid, btw, has no relation to the old Polaroid film company. They went broke,liquidated, sold off all the assets including the name. The new owners are a totally new outfit.

[danielgoldberg]

Originally Posted by camaraderie

I went to the polaroid site and opened the manual. It says it is 12V and 5 amps on pg. 53.

It's on page 52.

Just curious, why are you opposed to the non-HD models, such as the one sold at West Marine? It's not like you're going to be getting HD TV anytime soon on the boat, and HD DVDs now have been discontinued (Toshiba gave up).

My problem with the West Marine model is that it's a no-name, and I've not had good luck with less than name brand TV's, stereos, etc. for the boat. Indeed, we have a Jensen DVD player wired to our TV, and it just doesn't work that well. And Jensen is a bit of a name, at least for Marine electronic gear. We've had much better luck with Sony and Toshiba, but finding a 12V model is not so easy. I never really thought of converting an AC model by cutting the wire on the TV side of the brick, but will give that a shot next time we are in the market.

[artbyjody]

Originally Posted by danielgoldberg

Just curious, why are you opposed to the non-HD models, such as the one sold at West Marine? It's not like you're going to be getting HD TV anytime soon on the boat, and HD DVDs now have been discontinued (Toshiba gave up).

Consider it a better investment as by next year analog broadcasts will be discontinued. Which will mean if you by a non-HDTV, then you will have to get a converter box (and even on the RV sites there is no 12V version of such). most if not all of the newer HDTVs have built in HD over air converters thus getting rid of the additional box to do so.

Not sure if the Polariod mentioned does - but that will be at least one thing I'll be looking into....

[xort]

All broadcasts will be DIGITAL by next year. You will need a digital tuner to receive over the air signals. Note I did NOT say HD. The vast majority of these digital signals will be HD but they do not have to be. Best bet is to buy a TV with a DIGITAL tuner so you do not need a digital to analog converter box. Most DIGITAL tuner TV's are HD but they don't have to be.

Next, I recommend you buy the DVD player separately. Blue-Ray is about to take off and soon all rental DVD's will be Blue-Ray HD. Are the all-in-one TV's Blue Ray DVD or are they standard definition DVD? Eventually you will want a Blue Ray DVD player. Also, if the DVD player breaks down, you take the player in for repair or replace it. If the combo unit DVD breaks down you send in or replace the whole thing.

[camaraderie]

All TV's made since march 2007 HAVE digital tuners built in....by law!

The all in one TV's are all standard resolution (400lines) on DVD's. Eventually all DVD's will be blue ray...but you can also buy one later and plug it in to your dvd/tv if it has an HDMI input.

[ccollins0601]

Bluray players are far more expensive than DVD players right now, and on a 15 inch screen you won't really be able to notice the difference between 480 (Standard Def) or 720/1080 (High Def) resolution that much, nor the difference between watching a DVD vs Blu-Ray. As cam said, if you get a brand-new TV the tuner will definitely be digital.

I would get an HD screen if the price is not a lot more but if not won't be a big deal, so long as the 12v power works as noted in the other posts. As for a player I think you'd be better off getting a separate DVD and if you want you could upgrade to Blu-Ray in a year or two when prices have come down.

[AnnaDor32]

I have followed these coments. I bought a 15" Toshiba w/ DVD about two years ago. It's not HD, but by going to the company's web sight I was able to determine that was a digital tuner thats meets the new standard for receiving signal without the 120V a/c box. Like the posted advisor I noticed the 12Volt power supply while looking at the TV in a Best Buy store. I purchased the extended warrantee because uncertainty about connecting directly to the boat's 12 volt house bank. It works great!
My question relates to the new digital signal. Will my old UFO antenna work?

[artbyjody]

Originally Posted by AnnaDor32

Will my old UFO antenna work?

Yes it will - its still over the air and its the decoder that does the work. There are "HD" antennas - but they are marketing scams.