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Best 12-Volt TV For RVs in 2024

(Camp Addict does NOT accept payment from any company to review or endorse their products.)

Contrary to popular belief, even when camping, many RVers enjoy watching something on the TV.

A 12-volt RV allows you to catch a show while not having to rely on 120-volt power to bring the picture to life.

You might want to replace the TV that came with your RV.

If so, that begs the question- what RV TV should you choose?

What 12-volt television is going to give you the best bang for the buck?

If you have questions about what you should be looking for in a 12-volt television, first read our Guide to RV Televisions to find the answers.

Otherwise, read below to find out what TVs we recommend.

Guide To RV Televisions

What is so special about RV TVs?

Do you really need to spend a lot of money on a 12-volt TV made specifically for RVs?

Read our Guide to RV TVs to learn what you need to know before you buy a new television for your rig.

12-Volt RV Television Reviews

We chose Supersonic as our overall best 12-volt TV brand.

Why? By and large, they offer the best availability for a wide variety of screen sizes and have comparable (if not better) consumer ratings than the competition.

Without further ado, here are our reviews for which brands of 12-volt TVs are best overall.

Best 12-Volt TV

Supersonic 12v LCD TVs

Supersonic SC-1511 12 volt TV

Pros

  • Price
  • Good/Great picture
  • Wide choice of screen sizes
  • Come with 12-volt 'cigarette' adapter from the factory

Cons

  • Sound quality
  • Low volume
  • Narrow viewing angle (13 & 15" models)

When it comes to a 12-volt TV for RVs, the Supersonic 12-volt TV line is an affordable way to go.

They offer RV compatibility right out of the box with their 12-volt 'cigarette' lighter style power adapter (all but 22" TV) that plugs into an available 12-volt outlet. 

Choose Screen Size

Continue Reading Supersonic 12-Volt TV Review

Best 12-Volt TV/ DVD Combo

Supersonic 12v TVs with DVD

Supersonic SC-1512 12 volt TV DVD combo

Pros

  • Built-in DVD player
  • SD Card slot
  • Price
  • Good/Great picture
  • Wide selection of screen sizes
  • Come with 12-volt 'cigarette' adapter from the factory

Cons

  • Sound quality
  • Low volume
  • Narrow viewing angle (13 & 15" models)

Supersonic has a full line of 12-volt TVs with a DVD player built- in. 

The advantage of going with a 12-volt TV/DVD combo is that you get the benefit of having a DVD player without one taking any extra space in your RV.

Choose Screen Size

Continue Reading Supersonic 12-Volt TV DVD Combo Review

Best Made for RV TVs

Jensen 12-Volt RV TVs

Jensen JTV2815DC 12 volt RV TV

Pros

  • Made specifically for RV environments
  • Larger screen sizes in a 12-volt TV

Cons

  • Price
  • Poor viewing angle
  • Very few screen sizes
  • Probably overkill for most people

Jensen 12-volt RV TVs are fairly common in the RV world since it is the go-to brand for motorhome, travel trailer, 5th wheel, and toy hauler RV manufacturers.

They are the only manufacturer of 'true' RV televisions.

With this in mind, you are going to pay a lot for the 'pleasure' of having a Jensen RV TV in your rig.

Continue Reading Jensen RV TV Review

RV TV Wall Mount Bracket (VESA)

If you install a 12-volt RV TV where there wasn't one before, consider getting a VESA mount with an articulating arm.

The articulating arm allows you to adjust the angle of the TV for best viewing from all angles.

Marshall's VESA Arm

Below are pictures of Marshall's Jensen RV TV mounted on an articulating VESA arm. He can watch from his bed or while he's cooking, at the other side of his RV. This installation was done at the Lance factory.

The arm locks against the wall when the trailer is moving so the TV doesn't flop around.

VESA RV TV mount out

TV Tilted Down To View From bed

VESA RV TV mount stored

TV In Locked Position

Master Mount VESA TV mount 404L
Quick VESA Arm Facts

The above Master Mount RV TV VESA has a locking arm suitable for TV storage when your RV is in motion.

Also, the Master Mount VESA TV mount comes in a different arm lengths. We show the 14.5" and 25" extension here. Marshall has the 25" extension in his trailer.

Keep in mind that the distance you need the mount to 'reach around' a corner (if you need it to at all) will determine the length you need.

Model 2311L - 14.5" Extension

Model 404L - 25" Extension

Conclusion

If you are in the market for a 12-volt RV TV, you DO NOT have to get one specifically made for RVs.

Consumers (as well as RV builders) have been putting regular brand televisions in RVs for decades without issue.

The key is to get what you are comfortable with and one that works for your RVing lifestyle.

Always make sure you have the room to mount it in your RV and that it is securely mounted.

It's that easy.

Read our Guide to RV Televisions to learn more about what to look for in a TV for your rig.

So, now on your lazy days or your rainy days, you can enjoy that 12-volt TV in your RV.

If you have any questions, please read the comments below. If you don't see your question (we don't answer the same question over and over), pop it into the comments!

We do our best to answer relevant, reasonable questions for you.

Camp on, Addicts!

Kelly Headshot
Kelly Beasley

He-llllo. I'm the co-founder of Camp Addict, which my biz partner and I launched in 2017. I frigging love the RVing lifestyle but in December of 2020, I converted to part-time RV life. Heck, I lived in my travel trailer for over 5.5 years, STRICTLY boondocking for pretty much all of it. Boondocking is a GREAT way to live, but it's not easy. Anyway, I'm passionate about animals, can't stand campgrounds, I hardly ever cook, and I love a good dance party. Currently, I can be found plotting and scheming whether or not to start collecting farm animals (or plotting my next RV trip!) at my beautiful new 'ranch' named 'Hotel Kellyfornia', in Southern Arizona.


Marshall Headshot
Marshall Wendler

Camp Addict co-founder Marshall Wendler brings his technical expertise to help explain RV products in an easy to understand fashion. Full-time RVing from April 2014 - December 2020 (now RVing about 50% of the time), Marshall loves sharing his knowledge of the RV lifestyle. Marshall spends the majority of his RVing life boondocking. He is the part of Camp Addict that knows 'all the things'. He's good at sharing his technical knowledge so you can benefit. 

  • I have two of these Supersonic TVs, a 12 inch and a 24 inch. The 12 inch is an under the cabinet tv in my home kitchen. The 24 inch model is the TV in my trailer. Since it has a headphone jack for the sound, I just run a cord to the AUX jack on the radio to use the trailer’s built in speakers. This is a good hack to improve the quality of the sound out of the Supersonic TVs.

  • Good article. I have to make one correction: The Supersonic TV you list as “Best 12-Volt TV” does NOT come with a car cord. Their TV/DVD combo DOES come with the car cord. A number of purchasers/reviewers on Amazon have reported difficulty in finding the correct cord to use in an RV. I contacted the manufacturer and they referred me to an eBay item as correct for their TV, at $19 including shipping. Note that their TV/DVD combo is available elsewhere for only $30 more than the TV alone with separate car cord.

    • Hi Michael,

      Thank you for that information! We need to go through this page and update it to make sure that the listed TVs are still the best option. Good to know about the cord!

  • Hi Mike,

    My question is about TV’s for RV’s. Do they make a TV that is 12v/120v? We camp in some remote campgrounds with no hookups. We like to watch a movie sometimes at night but don’t want to run our generator because it will bother other campers and your not allowed to run them after 9:00PM. So I would like to have a TV that is 12v and then when we camp where there are full hookups we would run the TV on 120v.
    I hope that makes sense. The one we have now is 120v with a built in DVD player.

    Thank you for any information, John

    • Hi John,

      In this case, you’d just go with a 12-volt TV, which would remain plugged into a 12-volt power source.

      When you are plugged into shore power (120-volts), your RV’s converter takes some of that 120-volt power and converts it into 12-volts. This ‘converted’ 12-volts is used to power your 12-volt systems (including your TV), ‘assisting’ the 12-volt battery(ies).

      This way you have a TV that runs on 12-volts all the time. It’s the source of the 12-volts of power that varies. When you are dry camping, the 12-volts comes from the batteries. When you are plugged into shore power, the 12-volts comes from the converted 120-volts.

      Hopefully this answer helps!

      Thanks for checking out Camp Addict.

        • Hi Laurie,

          Most 12-volt TVs (if not all) come standard with a 12-volt cigarette-style plug. If you don’t have one of these in your rig, you can either have someone install one at an appropriate location, or you can use a portable power station (lithium battery pack) that has one. The portable power station option can be expensive, so that might be a last resort option.

  • There’s also some RCA, Furion and other no name brand TV’s that advertise running on 12v. I’ll betcha there’s also some other TV’s that do it but don’t list or advertise it. A short while ago I was looking for a smart Blu-ray that runs on 12v and finally found a decent Sony model that was reasonably priced but had to do a bunch of leg work to figure it out because manufacturers are putting out less and less spec information on their products these days.

    • Hey Mike,

      Thanks for the comment! Yes, exactly – there are definitely some TV manufactures that put out units that can, some way or another, run on a 12-volt system. As you mention, the key is figuring out which ones can. Knowing what to look for. And where to find the information (good luck with that!).

      It’s definitely possible. Just hard, as you said.

    • Hi Lori,

      Yes, that TV looks like it might fit the requirements. Unfortunately I cannot find any actual details about it on the Skyworth website.

  • Hello! Sorry if I somehow missed it here but do not see any info does a 12v Smart Tv exist? Looking for something with built apps in that connects to my WiFI hotspot or any worse case a version that I can stream onto from iPad…phone etc

    Thanks in advance for any responses!

    • Hey Darren,

      I have covered the lack of 12-volt smart TVs in various comments below, so you definitely aren’t the only one looking for such a beast.

      Bottom line is that I don’t know of any smart 12-volt TVs (probably too niche of a market?), but there are some ways to bring smart TV capability (at least some of the basic capabilities) via a Roku or Apple TV. That will cover the streaming bits and do connect to WiFi hotspots.

      I use a Roku with my 12-volt TV and I don’t miss any of the other ‘smart’ capabilities. Then again I’ve never owned a smart TV, so maybe I just don’t know what I’m missing out in.

  • We purchased a used 2019 Class C Forester 24.5′ Motorhome and on our fist family outing, the plastic VESA mounting points on the back of the TV that came with the motorhome (40″ Continu.US) broke. My kids pointed out that the TV was hanging oddly (only 1 bolt was left holding it up) and plastic shards from the TV back panel were on the floor.

    We know the 40″ screen that came with the RV is overkill for the size of the unit. We want to replace it with a more robust option, but are hesistant to purchase just any 12 volt TV given this expierence.

    We are also wondering if the rigid swing-arm style wall mount may also be partially to blame. Any recommendations on if the mount needs to be replaced?

    Could we get away with a standard TV, or should we shell out for the reinforced models?

    We don’t want to overspend on a TV, but we also don’t want to find a cheaper model, only to have to replace it within a year due to another broken frame.

    • Hi Joe,

      Forest River put a 40″ television in a 24 foot Class C RV? Whoa! I guess they wanted to razzle dazzle buyers. But that’s a lot of weight to hang off a VESA mount on a vehicle that bumps its way down the road.

      Was the 40″ a 12-volt or a 120-volt (household) TV?

      If it was a 120-volt TV, did that work for your style of camping (plugged into shorepower)? If so, go with another 120-volt TV of MUCH smaller size that won’t be such a dead weight bouncing up and down on a VESA mount.

      Or, go without a TV and enjoy nature and family time? Yeah, I know, there are times when a TV comes in handy, so maybe go with a cheap 120-volt TV and see if it stands up to the rigors of travel so you don’t have to sink a lot of money into an RV specific TV.

      Not sure what you mean by rigid swing arm style mount. Unless I’m mistaken, that’s the kind we show on this page. Which is the kind that I’ve had for 6+ years in my rig, using it full-time. And haven’t had an issue with the mount itself (just the way it’s mounted to the wall).

      • Thanks for the response, I agree the unit was oversized for our Class C. It was a 12 Volt unit and we’re replacing it with a 32″ Jensen as it has more solid mount points.

        But now we have to find a new mount because the one that the old TV mounted on does not match the VESA system.

        The primary use for the TV will be during long, boring rides and if there are wet rainy days. I fully endorse the kids spending more time taking in the sights out the window, but there are some times where a TV distraction can be a handy thing with young kids.

        • Trust us, Joe… we live in our RVs, and TVs (or for me, other devices) are used on a VERY regular basis! ????

          No judgment here from Marshall or from myself! I hope the new mount works fine for you and please let us know if you have any other questions.

  • Hey thanks, this clears up a lot of questions I had. Been RVing for years and have always had a standard 19 in. combo TV, even boondocking. I just bought a brand new rv and was thinking I might go the 12 volt route but now I’m thinking if I need to watch anything I’ll just set up an inverter. Thanks for the info.

    • Hi Mike,

      Great, we are glad this helped you out! Yes, you can use an inverter to power your TV. Just remember that an inverter itself digests power, so make sure you have enough of a battery bank to not kill your batteries while using the power you need.

  • Horse Pucky. The Jensen is the pits. At one time they were great, but that was when the price was over a grand. Now, they suck to high heaven. Before I’d buy another Jensen I would buy an inverter and a 120 Volt TV. My Skyworth has worked pretty good as well.

    • Hi Miles,

      What exactly are you referring to when you say ‘Horse Pucky’? This page isn’t all about Jensen RV TVs.

      You certainly can use a non-RV specific TV in your rig. If it’s not a 12-volt TV, then you will need to have an inverter, assuming you aren’t plugged into shore power.

      We cover all of this in the accompanying Guide to RV TVs.

  • Thanks for the great information! My RV stays at a remote property with no utilities and no cell service. I would like to install a 12v tv to watch a movie in the evening without running the generator. Netflix and Prime allow you to download movies to a mobile device, which would be a very convenient way to bring new movies from home. Is there a way to mirror my iPhone to the tv without an Apple TV device (which would require ac)?

    • Hey JB,

      You can get a lightning to HDMI cable that you use to connect your iPhone to the TV via an HDMI cable.

      I haven’t personally done this, but a quick Google search makes it look like you can mirror from an iPhone to an Amazon Fire TV device, which comes in a USB ‘stick’ version that doesn’t require 120-volt power. Not 100% sure how easy it is to do this, but Google will be your friend here.

    • Your TV needs to be able to read the “mirror” so needs internet to do that. But, depending on phone you have you can possibly use a HDMI cable ($6) worth a try…. Works at my cabin without internet….

  • Hi, I’ve gone through 4 or 5 12 volt only and some 120 ac tv’s. For some sillly reason the volume is very low. On the 0-100 scale that’s widely in use once you hit 30-40 the volume stays the same. Not sure what’s up with the engineering with the sound. Any hacks I can try to improve volume? Thanks.

    • Hey Paul,

      My TV’s sound runs thru the trailer’s stereo system, so I don’t use the TV’s speakers. You might consider getting some sort of external sound bar or other speaker setup to help out in the volume department.

    • Hey Wolfe,

      Yep, we mention in the guide that you most certainly can use a regular TV. A plug-in inverter is definitely one way to power it, if your rig doesn’t have a built-in inverter.

      Of course anytime you are using an inverter, you are using more electricity than you would if you used a 12-volt TV plugged directly into a 12-volt power source. Inverters aren’t 100% efficient so there is always a power loss. But they definitely do the trick if excessive power loss isn’t an issue with your battery setup.

  • If the “RV TV” is the “only option,” why do they refuse to keep current with the rest of the TV technology/convenience of Smart TV’s??

    • Hi Andrew,

      We don’t say an RV TV is the only option. In fact, the above guide makes it very clear that it’s OK to use a ‘normal’ TV in an RV.

      Now if you specifically want a 12-volt TV, then yes, the options are limited. And yes, the technology may not be cutting edge. The market for 12-volt TVs is FAR smaller than the overall TV market, so obviously TV manufacturers are going to concentrate on 120-volt TVs. Put their money where the money is.

      If you want to/can run an inverter to power a 120-volt TV, or are plugged into shore power all the time (120-volt power), then a ‘normal’ TV will do you just fine.

      Happy Netflix watching while you are exploring the country in your RV!

  • I’m still not clear on all the differences between 110v and 12v. Which one draws less power from the solar system? I have an inverter so I could run the 110v but is it easier on the system if I get a 12v?

    • Hi Rebekah,

      Sorry for the confusion. Hopefully I can clarify the power draw question.

      Anytime you are running an inverter, you are having a certain amount of wasted power. The process of changing 12 volts of power (the inverter input voltage) to 120 volts of power (the inverter output voltage) results in loss of power (as heat). The inverting process isn’t 100% efficient, so you will always have a loss of power in this process. In other words, there will be wasted energy.

      So anytime you can use a 12 volt appliance and avoid having to use your inverter, you will always be ahead in the power usage game.

      For those RV’s electrical systems that have a big enough solar array and enough battery capacity, this loss of power thru the use of an inverter is not big deal. But for those RVs that have ‘just enough’ solar and battery reserve to do ‘normal’ things, the loss of power due to the use of an inverter does make a difference.

      So ideally you’d use a 12 volt TV for the most efficient use of your RV’s energy system. But in some cases (lots of solar and/or batteries) it doesn’t really make a difference. And there are definitely a lot more choices in 120 volt TVs than there are when it comes to 12 volt TVs.

      Hope that helps!

      • Thank you for the clarification. We plan to have an inverter but is it possible to install 12v plugs between the battery bank and inverter?

        • Hi Rebekah,

          Yes, you can install 12-volt outlets in your RV. I’ve installed several throughout my rig as the only place Lance seemed fit to install one was for the 12-volt TV.

          It’s best to use an empty fuse in the 12-volt power panel to feed this new 12-volt outlet. Assuming you have an empty fuse.

          If you aren’t comfortable doing 12-volt wiring modifications on your rig, you might want to hire someone, or find a friend who like to do this kind of thing (and knows what they are doing).

  • I’m curious about how to connect to the internet through my smart tv so we can watch movies while boondocking. I have a cell phone but how do I get the tv to access internet if there’s no wi-fi here? I do have a strong signal on my cell phone. it seems to me that this area of technology is under served. Connecting to the internet when travelling or camping away from a wi-fi signal. what do you think? any ideas that are not expensive like satellite communications? Stojan in BC Canada.

    • Hi Stojan,

      I don’t have a smart TV, so I’m not an expert here, but I believe they function much like my stand-alone Roku device does. In other words, they just want a WiFi signal to connect to. I use my cell hotspot as a WiFi network which my phone, computer, and Roku all connect to.

      Now if you just have a phone, you could turn the hotspot functionality on which creates a WiFi signal. Then you should be able to connect your smart TV to your phone via the hotspot functionality.

      This is a great way to eat up your hotspot data, so better make sure you have unlimited if you are going to be using your phone as a hotspot for your TV.

      For all the answers to all things connectivity while on the road, we HIGHLY recommend the Mobile Internet Resource Center. They offer free info as well as a reasonable annual subscription to access all their information.

      Best of luck watching all the things while on the road!

    • Hi Shannon,

      Hey, we are happy we could help you decide what will work for you! We aim to serve, so check back here any time you need something. Hopefully, we can get more content up soon so we can help people more often and in more categories. Camp On, Shannon!

  • Interesting information, I’ve wondered for a while about RV vs regular TV’s. One thing I noticed is you didn’t mention Furrion TV’s. Maybe it’s just the area I’m from, but most of the campers I’ve seen, including my own, even at RV shows, have Furrion installed. Just curious what your thoughts are regarding that brand.

    • Hey Rick,

      Furrion is definitely a brand that is showing up more and more in new RVs. From audio systems, to TVs, to stoves, Furrion is there.

      The Furrion TV seems to have some of the same vibration and climate ‘features’ that Jensen does. But, as we explain here, you don’t necessarily need a ‘made for mobile life’ TV.

      You are going to pay more (one of the Furrion TV models I looked up compared to a similar Supersonic brand cost twice as much) and for most people, that extra price isn’t worth it.

      But RV manufacturers will continue to put ‘made for RV’ TVs in their rigs. And if they are options, you will be shocked at the price you are paying for this ‘pleasure’.

      Thanks for the comment!

  • can I use a Sony TV that runs on 12 volts according to Best Buy he says it as a Step Down Transformer from 110 to 12 volts from the 110 outlet

    • Hey Robert,

      Sure. If you can get a 12 volt adapter that fits the TV. And if indeed the TV runs off of 12 volts.

      Then, in theory, it would work.

      But since I don’t know what exact model of Sony TV you are looking at, I can’t help answer the question definitively (assuming the information would be available from Sony’s website). So all we have to go off of is the word of the Best Buy person. Unless you can verify what you were told.

    • Hi Kathy,

      You are wanting to use an inverter to do this. And inverter changes 12 volt electricity to 120 volts.

      Inverters come in a couple of different styles – you can get a permanently mounted on inside your RV that provides anywhere from 1000 to 3000 (and more) watts of 120 volt power from your RV’s 12 volt battery bank.

      You can get a much smaller inverter (in the couple hundred watt of power output range) that is portable and plugs into a 12 volt power outlet (the round, cigarette lighter style) that you can use to power small 120 volt appliances. Just make sure that your 12 volt outlet is capable of powering the inverter and the inverter itself is capable of powering your TV.

      A third option is a relatively new product that uses a lithium battery pack in a portable package. You can get these power stations in various sizes (battery capacities) and some of them come with a built-in inverter so that they can power (reasonably sized) 120 volt appliances. Again, you have to make sure the power station is capable of providing the amount of power you require.

      Hope that helps!

  • Thanks for creating and maintaining this wonderful site. This particular 12v VS 120v and RV TV vs ‘regular’ TV article and discussion answered most of the questions that I had. I wasn’t finding clear answers anywhere else. Your precise, detailed explanations and clarity are very much appreciated!

    • Hi Bettina,

      Thank you kindly for the appreciated positive comment! I have learned so much from Marshall, and I regularly go back to CA pages to find the answer I need. (Actually, I usually just ask Marshall cause he’s usually right there, lol!!)
      But I HAVE referenced pages!

      Glad we could help you get the answers you were looking for, Bettina! We really appreciate you taking the time to comment! ????

      Wait- you said “most” of the questions you had. Is there something in particular we can answer for you?

  • Hi Guys,

    My friend had a Jensen and upgraded it to a Majestic and after seeing the difference between the two there is a HUGE difference in what is out there now. These guys from Majestic are putting a pile of cool features in their TV, the screen was much brighter, viewing angles were great, plus you cannot your phone and tablet to it, USB with movies and much more it would be good if you could do a review on their TV’s so we could see what you think of them.

    Because my husband and I really liked what our friend got.

    • Hey Pauline,

      Majestic looks interesting, though they don’t offer that many models compared to the competition.

      My to-do list has the investigation of a couple different 12 volt TV brands that we don’t include to see how they stack up. I’ll get to this when I’ve tackled a couple of other higher priority projects.

      So much to do and so little time when there are only the two of us working away on this site!

      Thanks for the comment, and Camp On!

  • I have a 19″ RCA TV/DVD combo that plugs into 110 V AC but the TV actually runs on 12 V because of the converter on the plug itself. Can I cut the plug/converter end off and just hard wire the TV into my 12 v system?

    • Hey Ward,

      Great question! And the answer is maybe…

      It depends on what voltage the TV ‘accepts’ directly into it. Where the existing power plug goes into your RCA TV it should say what input voltage that plug (on the back of the TV) accepts.

      For example, older Insignia TV’s used to say 12 volts, so you could easily purchase an adapter that plugged into a 12 volt outlet (cigarette lighter style) with a round plug that was ‘inserted’ into the TV itself. Because the Insignia TVs accepted a 12 volt power source, it was doable. I believe newer Insignia TV now require a slightly higher voltage, so you can’t do this anymore.

      So check your TV’s power input. If it says 12 volts, you are golden! Just hunt down a 12 volt plug with the right adapter to go into your TV.

      If the TV says something other than 12 volts, it probably won’t work.

      Thanks again for the question and Camp On!

  • Fantastic info, I’ve used a regular insignia 22″ and 24″ 12v tv’s in my RV for 4 years now. Wish I had seen a website like this when I first started researching about getting one.

    • Hi Scott,

      Thank you for the very nice comment! I feel just the same as you do- I wish there had been a Camp Addict when I hit the road!

      Great to hear your regular TVs are working fine for you. I have a regular ol’ one from Best Buy in my RV. Works great! Anyhoo, thanks again for the back scratch, it gives us all the feels!

  • We just bought a new trailer and it comes with a 40” Jensen TV. We have two 12 volt batteries. Are we able to watch a 2 1/2 hr movie using battery power only?

    • Hi Pam,

      Congrats on your new rig! Sounds like you’ve got a nice sized TV in it. Watching a movie on battery power should be no problem. I often do this with my Jensen (though it’s much smaller).

      Without opening too much of a can of worms here, the key to running off batteries is understanding what your typical electrical consumption is overnight, and having the ability to recharge your batteries during the day,

      A great way to keep track of your electrical consumption is by using a battery monitor.

      If you aren’t plugged into shore power, your two options for recharging your batteries are either solar panels or a portable generator.

      I hope that helps! Enjoy your new RV and Camp On!

  • I found a TV that had an external (fat snake) power supply. I bought a 12V power supply from a laptop off EBAY, hooked it up, and have been using it for 5 years. Let me get a larger TV than is available as a 12V specific model, and cheaper too.

    • Hey Daniel,

      Yep. I hear you. Though there are some ways you can make your TV smart as I addressed in the July 23, 2018 comment below. I personally use a Roku that brings many ‘smart’ features to my 12 volt TV.

  • how long could I expect a 12 volt 24” tvto run on a deep cycle marine battery between recharges? Will only have a chance to recharge battery every 2-4 days.

    • Hey Tom,

      Can’t answer your question, because there are too many variables. Just one battery? How man amp-hours is the battery rated for? How many amps does the TV use? Are you running anything else off the battery (as in, is this your RV’s house battery)?

      There’s a huge difference between how long a battery will go between charges if it only has a minimal power draw (you most likely could go 2-4 days between charges) versus if it has a large power draw because it’s your main RV house battery (in this case, a single battery would be doing good if it lasted a day between charges).

      The first place to start is to figure out the amp-hour consumption for this particular battery. Then figure out how many usable amp-hours your battery has. And then do some math to figure out how long between charges.

      Might be a case of needing a portable solar panel.

      Sorry that there is no direct answer to your question. Like I mentioned before, there are too many variables and each situation is different.

      Best of luck figuring out your power needs and Camp On!

      • Thank you for input Marshall. Would also share that USB input on Supersonic is limited to pictures/photos. If you have a movie (.mov or .avi) on your USB it won’t play on the TV. Thanks again. —-Tom—-

        • You are very welcome!

          Great catch! I’ve updated the ‘features and specs’ section of the Supersonic 12 volt TV review to reflect that USB is for photos and music only.

  • I run off solar power but have a generator I use for back up. A cord with a “b” end(Android phone b charging end) to a usb plug for to plug in 12 volt TV.

    • Hey Jason,

      I’m not familiar with such a cord (not an Android user) but maybe someone will see your comment and chime in.

  • I already have a 12 volt TV in my cabin. I’m looking for a cable that I can plug into the 12 volt TV from my phone an watch movies I have downloaded. Does anyone offer a cord like this. This is my home I live off-grid back in mountains

    • Wow! That really stinks! What was Supersonic’s response (how did they handle) when you contacted them for replacement under warranty?

  • I just picked up my new-to-me Class C and am learning how to use it. Can my son watch a 12V TV while I’m driving if I don’t have a generator?

    • Hey SLC,

      A 12 volt TV doesn’t require the use of your generator. It draws power from the RV’s 12 volt system (the house battery), which normally is recharged by the motorhome’s engine as you drive (or the generator or shore power or solar – if equipped – when the rig’s engine isn’t on). So, yes, the TV should be able to be used when the vehicle is running (assuming it’s safe to do so).

      Enjoy your new-to-you Class C and camp on!

    • Hey Dan,

      Sure! The TV won’t care what voltage the DVD player is. You just have to make sure the DVD player has the right outputs (video/audio) that are compatible with the TV.

      I assume you are talking stand-alone DVD player? If so, assuming the outputs work with your TV, all is good!

  • I resently purchased a 27 inch Samsung LCD TV. for my 2011 jayco trailer since it had a manufactures standard tv mount all fine and good it was over kitchen table and seats so I figured all well and good but luckily on our first trip on paved roads the tv fell mounting bracket and all onto seat not hurting tv the LCD TV only weighs in at 20pounds the screws pulled out of wall had to put extra wooden plate on wall all is well so far. I’ve got 2 lcds in trailer the other one didn’t fall and the mounting bracket is one I installed and it was the one I was worried about. Long story short check the mounts to make sure the manufacturer does it right

    • Hey Mike,

      Awesome reminder! Late last year, I had an issue with my Lance travel trailer’s TV mount (after 4+ years of living it in full-time). The mounting hardware pulled out of the wall so the mount, and TV, ended up on the floor. No damage to anything, but what a PITA! Turns out Lance didn’t use the right kind of hardware (shocking, I know!) so the mount was able to pull out. Easy fix, but, still…. ?

      Great advice, Mike! Keep the TVs on the wall and Camp On!

    • Hey Wade,

      What capabilities are you looking for in a smart TV? Finding a smart, 12 volt TV with a built-in DVD might be a bit tricky. However, depending on what you are looking for (if you want Netflix, Amazon Video, etc), you can always get a Roku Player and use it with any TV to make it ‘smart’. You can learn more about the Roku Player by visiting the Luxe RV Accessories page of Camp Addict.

  • Thank-you for the very well written article that answers so many questions about RV TV’s.

    There is another thing to consider when buying an RV TV:
    Broadcast TV Reception.
    Many times we get to a campground and find that we are not near many TV stations. The quality of the tuner in any TV, whether 12 volt or 120 volt, makes a big difference in how many stations are received.

    I’ve done some comparisons on various brands. The top brands generally have the best reception. The LG, Vizio, & Sony TV’s that I tested were very good. Samsung, Sharp, & Insignia were not quite as good in the tuner department, but still pretty good all around TV’s. Most of the very inexpensive TV’s (Westinghouse, Phillips, Funai etc.) did not have a very good tuner.

    I’d be interested to hear reception comments on the popular 12 volt TV’s like Supersonic, RCA, Jensen, Majestic, Axxess, Skyworth & Naxa.

    Mark in Massachusetts.

    • Hey Mark,

      Great points! We reviewed 12 volt TV’s (obviously), so you are kind of limited as to what is out there. If you are in the market for a TV that runs off 120 volts, then the world is your oyster, so to speak.

      There are so many factors that come into play when dealing with reception. Not just the quality of the internal tuner. The antenna. How good of a job the RV manufacturer did with the wiring from the antenna to the TV (both in the actual wiring and if they used the proper components). Where the transmitter is versus where you are. Etc, etc, etc.

      That’s the long way of saying, yes, I agree with you. The tuner is probably the key ‘ingredient’ here. And yes, it would be awesome to line up all the 12 volt TVs and do a test. Of course to properly do this one should really have a few electronic ‘toys’ that accurately measure signal strength, etc. Not something that is likely going to happen while boondocking in the middle of nowhere in a 24 foot travel trailer. ☹️

  • I currently have a 19″ Jensen 12volt tv in my rv. I was watching a dvd and the sound made a low popping noise and since I have no
    sound. Is this common, I read where Jensen TV’s have sound issues. I plug in a separate speaker and have sound?

    • Hi Carl,

      I am not familiar with any sound issues with Jensen TV’s. My Jensen TV utilizes my trailer’s stereo system and therefore doesn’t use internal speakers.

      Yes, you should be able to connect external speakers to your Jensen TV. You didn’t mention what model you have, so I cannot point you in the right direction, but the owner’s manual will discuss how to do this, if it’s possible.

      • I have a 19 inch Jensen 12 volt in my motorhome & sound is definitely an issue. The sound quality is not good & then after 10 to 15 minutes I don’t have any sound.

        • Hey Pat,

          Sorry to hear that the sound on your Jensen just gives up the ghost. Have you considered attaching a sound bar (or other external speaker setup/system) to the TV?

  • I use a 120 volt TV. On rare occasions when I do not have shore power, I use a small 100 watt inverter to run the TV.

    • Hi Robert- Yes, that is a very easy and viable way to power a 120-volt TV when shore power is not available. We use small inverters in our own rigs to do things like charge computers, portable batteries and iPhones. Works great! Thanks for commenting, and Camp On!

  • your review regarding the lance travel trailer using a “Master Mount” L403/L404 is enactuate the pre mounting holes and the Master Mount do not match up your review cost me time and money$$. The Lance is using a 5 hole mounting pattern for a wall “PLATE” not a bracket, kindly remove the review stating Lance is using the L403/L404 Master Mounts for their Travel Trailers.

    • Hi Woody.

      Sorry for the confusion. In the VESA wall mount section of this page I state that my Lance travel trailer came from the Lance factory with a Master Mount TV mount installed. I did not say that this is the case for all Lance trailers, or that this system would work on any or all past or present Lance trailers.

      RV manufacturers are constantly making changes to what components they use, and how components are mounted. It sounds like Lance has changed the way they mount TVs (assuming your Lance is newer than my model year 2014). This is why I only stated that MY Lance came equipped with this mount. And I didn’t say all Lances come equipped with this exact TV mount.

      Any RV that is setup from the factory to accept a TV mount will need to have a mount that is compatible with whatever plates or mounting system the factory chose to install at time of manufacturer. If no TV mount prep was performed at the factory, then any mount is a candidate to be used, including the Mast Mount that we feature above.

  • What about 12 volt TV/DVD combos. I want to buy one but a lot of reviews are saying the fuses blow when you try to run the dvd player with the 12 volt.

    • Hey Brad,

      I’m not seeing a lot of reviews talking about fuses being blown, just a couple. I also see that there is a comment about how it’s easy to blow the fuse if you plug the power cord into a 12-volt outlet before plugging it into the TV (it is common practice to connect electrical devices the other way – power cord to the device first then plug into the outlet).

      So I’m not sure what would be the cause of a fuse blowing, but it doesn’t seem to be a widespread problem. These TVs only draw a couple of amps, so I’m assuming they probably don’t have too large of a fuse in them. You can check the wattage or amperage rating of your particular TV and make sure the fuse is appropriately sized to handle to power. There is always the possibility that some are shipped from the factory with a fuse not properly sized, but I don’t have first-hand experience with this.

      Thanks for the question and Camp On!

  • what about a 12 volt smart TV, any company that is making these. I am often hooked up with free wifi and would want to be able to use netflix.
    thanks

    • Hey Lin!

      I’m not aware of any 12-volt smart TV’s, but the good news is you don’t need a smart TV in order to stream Netflix. You can simply by an affordable device to use with a 12-volt TV that allows you to play Netflix thru your television. I personally use a Roku to do this. Other options include an Amazon Fire TV device or an Apple TV.

      So it’s actually pretty easy to make any TV capable of streaming Netflix (or Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video, or whatever streaming service you like) without having to specifically purchase a smart TV.

      Camp On!

    • Hey Stephen!

      Great question! No problem! All 12 volt appliances are designed to run off a certain voltage range. The ’12 volts’ part just means the nominal system voltage.

      I’ve been running a 12 volt TV with my solar setup (which will go up to 14.4 volts during the bulk phase of charging) for years and have had no problem.

      Even when you are plugged into shore power, the charge converter that keeps your batteries topped off does so at higher than 12 volts.

      In other words, no worries! ????

      Camp On!

  • I’ve been looking to upgrade the 120 volt ac TV in our trailer. We boondock A LOT! Our existing TV is an LCD. I’m looking to get an LED 12 volt TV. I see in your comparison above that the TV comes with an “LED-Backlit LCD Screen”. Just exactly what does THAT mean? I’m confused.

    • Hey Tommy!

      Sorry for the confusion! Any of the 12 volt TVs we recommend will work for you and will be a lot better with power consumption than your existing 120 volt TV.

      So the LED part is how the TV is lit. Back in the day LCD TVs used to be lit with fluorescent technology (cold cathode fluorescent, or CCFL to be exact), which drew a lot more power than today’s LED backlight technology.

      LCD is the screen technology itself – what is used to create the picture. Plasma is another technology, but it isn’t used in any of the TVs that we recommend.

      So LED-backlit LCD screen is what you are looking for. I have a 12-volt LED-backlit LCD TV in my Lance Travel Trailer, and I boondock exclusively. It doesn’t draw very many amps. Works very well when you are off the grid.

        • Hey Joel!

          I have a Jensen 24″ that came with my Lance travel trailer. I actually had the option to delete the TV (I put a down payment on the trailer before it was made, so I had the ability to choose my options) but I didn’t know better and kept it. And paid thru the nose for it. I’d definitely do it differently next time, and not opt for the expensive factory TV if at all possible.

          Thanks for the question, Joel, and Camp On!

  • Will the 12 volt pick up signal without an antenna We are off the grid with no antenna on our RV.
    Thanks in advance
    Marilyn

    • Hi Marilyn,

      These 12 volt TVs work exactly like a 120 volt TV that you would use in your house. They have internal tuners but require an external antenna. The fact that they run on 12 volts doesn’t change their basic operation. So you will need to have an external antenna mounted either on the roof of your RV, or you could purchase a ‘portable’ one you can mount inside your rig. But you DO need an antenna if your rig doesn’t come equipped with one.

  • I have purchased a log cabin that is off grid. I’ll have solar power and a back up propane generator. My lights are 12v rope lights and I haven’t even thought about buying a TV until now. What is better? A 12 volt TV, or a regular TV running off an inverter? I plan on expanding my solar power with more panels and batteries. The lights draw very little, and they are the only thing that is drawing power from my batteries. So, which one makes more sense?

    • Hey Jim,

      Because your cabin is run off 12 volts, it makes sense to have a 12 volt TV. The problem with inverters is that they are not efficient. By that, I mean you lose a certain amount of power when you are converting 12 volt to 120 volt. So if you can bypass the need to use an inverter as much as possible, your batteries will last that much longer.

      Have fun with the cabin! Off grid sounds nice…

        • Awww, thanks, Rick! But Camp Addict wouldn’t exist without Kelly’s help. It’s a true team effort!

          We are both extremely happy that Camp Addict fills a need and provides information that isn’t otherwise out there. That’s our goal and we will keep the good stuff coming!

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