Question on TV with ac/dc "brick"

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stevek
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Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2012 5:33 pm

Question on TV with ac/dc "brick"

Post by stevek »

I just bought a 24 inch Samsung TV 760p.... at Costco.
It has a "brick"....110 volt AC to 14 volt DC/ barrel connector.
Do you see any problem using this in my BF and just operating the TV on the 14 volt DC? Thanks.

Interesting about TVs at Costco.
1 year warranty plus Costco adds another year for free, so total 2 years.
If you are an Exec member double that to 4 years.
Pay for 3 more years for 30 bucks.
So a total of 7 years warranty for 30 bucks.
Not a bad deal deal if you have a 1000 dollar TV :mrgreen:

My TV I bought was $94 on sale, if you need a TV for your BF or a spare. Thanks.
Steve
2011 Born Free 22 foot RSK, rear side (corner) kitchen, E350, 29k miles.
Our first motorhome. Lots to learn. Thanks.
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whemme
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Re: Question on TV with ac/dc "brick"

Post by whemme »

Steve,

The only potential problem with running your new TV directly off of the 14 vdc power from your coach and not using the 110 vac-to-14 vdc brick is this. The 14 vdc output from the brick is probably tightly regulated to a specific voltage range such as maybe 14.0 + or - 0.2 vdc, in other words the voltage may be controlled to be within 13.8 to 14.2 vdc. If you power that TV input instead from the coach's battery bank power source, that voltage could range as low as 11.2 vdc to as high as 14.4 vdc and the TV may not operate properly over that wide range of DC voltage.

You may just have to try it out and see if you new TV works OK on that varying amount of DC voltage.
Bill Hemme - Spencer, Iowa
E-mail: whemme@earthlink.net
2002 Born Free (Ford E-450 V10) 26' RSB
2016 VW Golf GTI - toad
tomzleapin
Posts: 485
Joined: Sun Jun 20, 2010 9:15 am

Re: Question on TV with ac/dc "brick"

Post by tomzleapin »

Your TV most likely will work fine. If it doesn't you would want to use a DC-to-DC converter typically called a buck/boost converter. It will put out a constant 14 volt regardless of the input voltage.

Here's one available on eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Auto-DC-DC-Cons ... Sw3ydVraCS
Tom
2005 24' RB
Towing 2016 Mini Cooper convertible on tow dolly
New Hope, MN
oliverpsmile
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Re: Question on TV with ac/dc "brick"

Post by oliverpsmile »

Almost all TV sets (computers and other electronic equipment), manufactured now days, have internal circuits that compensate for irregularities (at least +/- 10-15%) of the input power. The implementation cost is negligent and eliminates a lot of possible complaints.
Oliver P Smile
2005 26ft RSB
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stevek
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Re: Question on TV with ac/dc "brick"

Post by stevek »

Thanks everyone for great info.
Next question..why do they even make such a "brick" TV?
It is not advertised as a ac/dc TV.
What not just have straight 110 volt.
I have even seen a 32 inch TV at Costco with a "brick".
Steve
2011 Born Free 22 foot RSK, rear side (corner) kitchen, E350, 29k miles.
Our first motorhome. Lots to learn. Thanks.
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Mike Jean Bandfield
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Re: Question on TV with ac/dc "brick"

Post by Mike Jean Bandfield »

stevek wrote:Thanks everyone for great info.
Next question..why do they even make such a "brick" TV?
It is not advertised as a ac/dc TV.
What not just have straight 110 volt.
I have even seen a 32 inch TV at Costco with a "brick".
The TV mfr can sell the same TV design/unit into all the world markets irregardless of their power specs; simply throw the appropriate power converter (obtained from the appropriate power converter 3rd party supplier) into the box. This saves the TV mfr a ton of money and streamlines everything from design thru manufacturing. -Mike

PS. I'd check the manual - not just the label on the brick - for the correct DC voltage. If they are different you might infer a built-in range of voltage tolerance. If the manual emphasizes a narrow TV DC voltage range, buy the extra Costco coverage 8)
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