Whats it cost to get EHU free?
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Bakers a little confused about what TV you have got. If it has a mains 13amp plug wired straight into the Tv then you will need mains voltage to power it. You could do this by a 12 to 230v inverter. Alternatively if your TV has an external power supply like a laptop computer you should with the correct lead be able to plug into your 12v system. The Samsung Tv we use claims it needs 14.something volts. It doesn't it works fine off the caravan battery. So don't worry too much if the power supply doesn't say exactly 12v.
The picture of your plug worries me because it seems that they are parrelel pins with live and neutral printed on the socket. This means unlike the plug illustrated in BB's post which has angled pins, you could plug it in the wrong way arround and wreck your TV. This is a lesson that cost me £150 to learn. The cost of a replacement TV but I pass it onto you for free because I'm a nice guy. If it were me I would replace that 12v socket.
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Wow I'm more confused than ever 😋😢
TV only has 'normal' electric wire from the back with 3 pin plug on. I believe it's an Alba but not at the van so can't check. Don't want to keep having to change the plug on the end, hence question regarding making an 'extension type socket' with that plug. Thought he would be easier than using a long extension cable.
Re the angle of pins our socket has parallel slots that's why I went for that rather than BB suggestion that has angled ones. Will angled ones fit?
Typing this I realise how ignorant I am about this.
I'm nervous about clipping the crocodile clips on the battery (it might hurt 😉) and it's a trip hazard, more hurt 😃. Hence I thought I'd solved it this way.
If the cigar type will fit is it OK to charge phone etc as you would in the car?
Our cab has cigar lighter and a slightly larger empty hole of similar nature marked 18v (I think). No idea what that's for either.
I don't want to make expensive mistakes so grateful for your tip Boff 😃. I'm not even happy to buy both types of plugs at a tenner 😂😂. But that's more about greater damage!
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Ok. It sounds to me that your TV is mains only. So you have 3 choices.
1. Don't watch any TV
2 Buy a 12v compatible TV either as a specialist TV, Avtex are the market leaders, but very expensive. Or buying a standard TV with an external power supply, this is what I did, but these seem to be getting fewer and fewer. I am not sure what is currently available
3. Buy an inverter that will convert 12v battery to mains voltage. Disadvantage not neccessarily very efficient in terms of power usage and something that would draw 1 amp from the mains will need 20amps at 12v so you might need special wiring, though you would probably get away with it with a Tv ~40 watts ish.
Cigar plug type chargers. Can you use these in a van. Yes absolutely. We regularly charge 2 iPads 2 kindles and three phones from these types of charger as well as using them TV and a Radio.
The plug illustrated by bb won't fit, but is better because it will go into a socket one way. The socket you illustrate looks like the plug would fit either way.
Never simple is it?
Just a thought. What is the thing to the right of your 12v plug? Does it look like a cigar socket but is too small? If so then it might be a German hella type plug. What is the make of your m/h?
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Thanks Boff.
We do have an invertor that we use, knew is was hungrier than just plug into a socket.
The hole socket next to 12v is the TV aerial. Goes from TV through a booster attached to back of that partition.
We'll continue to use the invertor when off grid. So long as the sun us out we can have a few hours if tv if we want it only phone and kindle need power too. Just thought it would be tidier. If we decide to do more off grid I think we'd get it sorted but for now, 4 or so days spring to autumn, it's fine.
Thanks to all those who've helped. CT at its best. There's so much knowledge among members and they're happy to share.
Our motorhome is now 15 years old, we've had it for 11 and no plans to change as it suits us 😆. But at the same time is it sensible to pay someone to do the wiring in of batteries and put 12v sockets in?? All food for thought 😂😂
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bakers, what Boff says is all good stuff (i didnt notice youre parallel plug pins....).
it would be ver simple for any auto electician to replace your TV socket with one that has a cogar inlet and an aerial socket (and even fit a couple of other 12v cigar sockets (and usefully USB SOCKETS) elsewhere. they could also hard wire your inverter permanently to the leisure battery, so no more croc clips..
However, none of this would enable you (when off ehu) to plug your tv in (unless to the inverter as now) as its a mains only TV.
So, you would need to change your tv as described again by Boff.
only you can decide if any of this is worth it.
IMHO, the most useful would be some new USB sockets as ypu would be able to charge phones and tablets without the inverter when off ehu.
good luck.
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The socket Bakers has is a Clipsal
These ARE polarised (one pin is wider than the other). IMHO these are the most satisfactory of the 12v sockets commonly used in caravans.....far superior to the horrid 'cigar-lighter' type. (Which of course was designed for ....cigar-lighters .....and never really intended as a general purpose 12v socket).
My caravan has the Clipsal type sockets, and I have changed the plugs on all important 12v items to this type. I only use a cigar lighter adapter cable for very occaisonal, very low current items.
If Bakers is going to plug in an inverter to power the TV, I would strongly advise getting and fitting a Clipsal plug directly to it.
(NOTE: the polarity of the pins + and - is marked on the plug, but I would still advise checking with a meter that the socket is in fact wired the correct way around).
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