Battery powering a DTV converter

[mkaras]

I have a small B&W tv that I take camping. It runs on "D" batteries,
plug into car lighter, or on AC with an outlet transformer.
Next year when everything goes to digital tv, I may as well toss this
tv in the trash, unless I only use it where there is AC power.

Currently all the DTV converters are AC only. Maybe someone will come
out with a battery operated one in the future, but until then, has
anyone opened one of these converters and found if any can be run from
a battery? Almost all modern electronics step down the voltage and
rectify it to a low voltage DC, and I don't assume these converters
draw much power. Can any of them be modified to run on batteries or a
car 12v system?

If anyone modifies one, please post the info and schematics.

Yes, I know my battery operated tv will need external rabbit ears, or
a modification to the built in antenna so it exits with a coax long
enough to go to the converter.

How about going the other way and fetching yourself a 12VDC to 120VAC
inverter module. These plug into the likes of a cigarette lighter plug
and have
a 120 VAC outlet on the other end. Make sure to get the type that
produces
a step simulated sine wave output. These inverters are useless of
appliances
that tap into the 60Hz AC signal for timing purposes like some clocks
do.

 

[[email protected]]

I have a small B&W tv that I take camping. It runs on "D" batteries,
plug into car lighter, or on AC with an outlet transformer.
Next year when everything goes to digital tv, I may as well toss this
tv in the trash, unless I only use it where there is AC power.

Currently all the DTV converters are AC only. Maybe someone will come
out with a battery operated one in the future, but until then, has
anyone opened one of these converters and found if any can be run from
a battery? Almost all modern electronics step down the voltage and
rectify it to a low voltage DC, and I don't assume these converters
draw much power. Can any of them be modified to run on batteries or a
car 12v system?

If anyone modifies one, please post the info and schematics.

Yes, I know my battery operated tv will need external rabbit ears, or
a modification to the built in antenna so it exits with a coax long
enough to go to the converter.

 

[Arfa Daily]

How about going the other way and fetching yourself a 12VDC to 120VAC
inverter module. These plug into the likes of a cigarette lighter plug
and have
a 120 VAC outlet on the other end. Make sure to get the type that
produces
a step simulated sine wave output. These inverters are useless of
appliances
that tap into the 60Hz AC signal for timing purposes like some clocks
do.

That would be my idea as well, but as this poster says, do pick a 'good' one
that has at least modified sine output, and preferably full sine. The reason
I say this is that although your old TV will have a linear supply, the
digital STB will have a switching supply, and switchers don't like the
'rough' output of some inverters, up 'em. I have seen the results first hand
of some camper owners' attempts to run gear with switching supplies, from
cheapo inverters that they have bought out of the Sunday papers or from
shopping TV ...

Arfa

 

[RobT CEO NQW Greens]

Not in the trash please! At least recycle it.

www.storyofstuff.com

 

[Jim Yanik]

[email protected] wrote in

I have a small B&W tv that I take camping. It runs on "D" batteries,
plug into car lighter, or on AC with an outlet transformer.
Next year when everything goes to digital tv, I may as well toss this
tv in the trash, unless I only use it where there is AC power.

Currently all the DTV converters are AC only.

that seems to be incorrect;
http://www.freelabs.com/~whitis/electronics/dtv_converters/
check out the comparison table farther down;
I see two converters that accept DC power,one 9v and one 12v.
A third gets power from a wallwart,doesn't say whether DC or AC input.

 

[Stan]

[email protected] wrote:

}I have a small B&W tv that I take camping. It runs on "D" batteries,
}plug into car lighter, or on AC with an outlet transformer.
}Next year when everything goes to digital tv, I may as well toss this
}tv in the trash, unless I only use it where there is AC power.
}
}Currently all the DTV converters are AC only.

Check these models:

Artec T3A 12 vdc
DigitalSTREAM D2A1D10 9VDC
MicroGEM MG2000
Sansonic FT300A
Sansonic FT300RT

Stan.