Re: Battery power television

In article <1127959718.730100.93330@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
brotherjohn <brotherjohn1948@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> On another poster's bug-in list a battery powered tv caught my eye.
> This is an item that I have not considered because in the past if the
> electricity went out in my area the television stations generally are
> not broadcasting either.
> However, since we now have satellite this would be a nice thing to have
> IF there is a battery powered tv that will connect to the satellite?
> Does this exist? Anybody have one? Recommendations?

First, yes, some of us have battery-powered t.v.s. Mine is a Casio LCD
portable with 3-inch screen. About $100 these days, probably with a
larger screen. Search any online site selling such things, or visit a
local Best Buy or Circuit City...they always have a display case filled
with small, battery-powered t.v.s (popular with the sports event
people, who watch the game on t.v. from the bleachers).

Second, these are in fact useful even when local power is off. Because
television studios often are a) outside the power off zone, b) they
have generators at both their studios and transmitters (which are often
well outside the power off zone). For example, in several of the recent
power outages, the stations in cities such as Monterey, Salinas, and
San Jose--some of the t.v. cities nearest to me--would be unlikely to
be affected.

The time I most wished I'd had a battery-powered t.v. (I didn't, then)
was after the 1989 Loma Prieta quake. My power was out for 2 days, but
was on in several of the cities mentioned above, so I could've seen
what was happening. As it was, I used my various radios to _hear_ what
was happening.

Third, your satellite option will need power for the receiver. Not much
use in having a battery-powered t.v. if the receiver is off.

Fourth, as it happens, I used a power meter to measure the power needed
by my DirecTV/Microsoft/Sony satellite receiver: 24 watts. Which is
easily powered from an inverter attached to a "Booster Pack" type of
lead acid battery (or from a car battery, however arranged).

Fifth, I haven't measured my 15-inch LCD t.v., but I would expect it to
be not a whole lot higher than this 24 watts...certainly not as high as
what it takes to run a big CRT t.v. Meaning, it might be feasible to
run both the satellite receiver and a flat-panel t.v. (LCD, not
plasma!) off of an inverter on a 12-volt source.

(Not for too long, though. Standard issue of volt-amps and hours.
Lead-acid batteries, especially ones that are not "deep discharge,"
should not be drained beyond certain levels, or irreversible damage may
result.)

Were it me, I'd forget about using the satellite receiver and instead
just see what local stations are up. As I said, in the '89 quake
nearly all stations were on, even though my own power was out. And in
Katrina, many residents with battery-powered t.v.s saw coverage from
stations with generators, or from outside the downed grid area.

Also, shortwave radios and even conventional AM/FM radios are fine as
substitutes for t.v. (I like the Sony ICF-2010, which runs on 3 D-cells
for many, many hours. Even more with ear buds.)


--Tim May
.

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