12v satellite vs 240v satellite
Submitted: Monday, Mar 01, 2010 at 13:47
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Linda B
I've been making some enquiries about running a 240v satellite whilst
free camping (thanks to Graham on this site who has also offered advice). We currently are set up to
free camp with 2 x portable 80w solar panels to run two Engels through a thumper (one as a fridge and the other as a freezer), plus we also have another two panels that's on the van (can't exactly remember the watts just now but we won't always have that available if we go off in a tent).
For those of you that
free camp and watch satellite TVs, are you all using 12v systems, eg Strong 4664x (12v) or are any of you using a twin tuner, eg Strong 4910 (240v) which has more ability? Can anybody see any problems using the 240v system if we have enough power, and should we be using a puresine inverter only?
Although I'm learning more about this stuff, I still have a long way to go.
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks, Linda.
Reply By: Gone Bush (WA) - Monday, Mar 01, 2010 at 14:13
Monday, Mar 01, 2010 at 14:13
"running a 240v satellite whilst free camping"
You're going to need one hell of a long extension lead.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Maîneÿ . . .- Monday, Mar 01, 2010 at 14:31
Monday, Mar 01, 2010 at 14:31
Linda,
Pure Sine Wave inverter
Maîneÿ . . .
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Follow Up By: Linda B - Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 08:44
Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 08:44
Thank you for the details Maîneÿ - I checked out your profile and have copied off the info. It is all very comprehensive and clear, so I've printed it off for some reading later today.
Thanks again,
Linda.
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Member - Kevin B1 (WA) - Monday, Mar 01, 2010 at 14:43
Monday, Mar 01, 2010 at 14:43
Satellite set top boxes and TV will run quite OK off a modified Sine wave Inverter. I have also two 80 Watt panels and a 2 KVA 240 V inverter that will run the lot all day as long as there is full sun on the panels. The problem is, you generally watch TV at night with no sun and the two 130 AH Trojans go down at a fair rate. IMO and I have had solar and Sat TV for many years is use a generator at night to run the lot. I can already hear the howls of protest from the generator haters but it's a 100 % sure way to run the whole van. If you find a night
camp with this in mind and use a quiet gen set you should have no problems. What I do is if I am camped up first and someone pulls up near me I tell them I am going to run a generator, it is then up to them if they stay or move on. If someone is there before me I ask if they mind and if they do I then move on and have never had a problem yet.
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Reply By: Member - Barry (NT) - Monday, Mar 01, 2010 at 15:06
Monday, Mar 01, 2010 at 15:06
Linda
we have run Satellite box Strong SRT4653X and 19" Cania LCD TV off 240V through a 400watt SQUARE wave inverter FOR 2.5 YEARS NOW - NO PROBLEMS.
This set up draws 5 amps DC (we measure these things so we know the current draw) from van batteries and is a very low current draw from battery for the application.
We can run TV off 12v direct (drwas 2.5 amps DC) and Sat box off 100w can inverter (beer can size) BUT the 400 watt inverter is used all the time as it is low current draw and convenient
Current draw (as measured) is 2 amps DC run inverter for Strong Box alone
Current draw (as measured) is 4 amps DC run inverter for TV alone
and as stated above current draw for both together is 5 amps
these are genuine DC current figures NOT guesses so they are reliable
Cheers Baz
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Linda B - Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 08:47
Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 08:47
Hi Baz,
Great news that it will work through an inverter and not completely drain it!
Reading the responses here is making us lean towards the 240v one, thanks for your feedback.
Linda.
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Member - peter K (QLD) - Monday, Mar 01, 2010 at 17:45
Monday, Mar 01, 2010 at 17:45
Hi Linda I use my foxtel box in my van and it has a 12v transformer to plug it in at home and on the road so if foxtel use 12v i see no problems in you using the same while
camping PJK
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Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Monday, Mar 01, 2010 at 19:24
Monday, Mar 01, 2010 at 19:24
I think the lady is asking if she can use the 240v box as it has more features than the 12 v one.
Eg can record a different channel to what you are watching.
Personally I have found if you watch a program on the east coast channels and want to watch what has been on another channel at the same time I just swap over to the west coast and watch it later due to the time difference.
Not always possible of course.
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Follow Up By: Linda B - Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 08:51
Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 08:51
Yes you're right Graham. As you'll see from my post, we haven't yet bought anything. Went to the show and saw stuff, but will still proceed with your recommended supplier. By looking at the posts here, I think I've gathered enough info to say that we will have enough power for the 240v box.
We're not TV junkies so don't expect to be glued to the TV, but just knowing that we have the capability to watch/record is a comfort if we go down the 240v road.
Thanks,
Linda.
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Reply By: Member - res.q.guy (Vic.) - Monday, Mar 01, 2010 at 22:18
Monday, Mar 01, 2010 at 22:18
Hi Linda B
We run a satellite system comprising of a Twin LNB feeding both a "Strong" box, (which runs on 12v) for Optus Aurora, and an Austar box (which runs on 240v via a small pure sine wave inverter from Jaycar) for pay TV. The TV is a Kogan which runs on 12v.
Cheers
Neil
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Linda B - Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 08:54
Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 08:54
Hi Neil,
It's interesting you run two boxes - I spoke to my better half about this last week and thought that might be an option. Of course we will try to avoid that if we have enough power though, but I'm glad to see someone is doing it.
Thanks for your feedback,
Linda.
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