How Many Batteries Do You Need to Power a TV?
When considering the use of batteries to power a television, several factors must be taken into account, including the TV's power requirements and the type of batteries you plan to use. This article explores these factors in detail and provides guidance on how to calculate the necessary number of batteries.
Understanding Power Requirements
The typical modern TV consumes between 50 to 400 watts, depending on the size and technology (LCD, LED, OLED, etc.). Understanding the TV's power requirements is crucial for determining the appropriate battery solution.
Types of Batteries
AA/AAA Batteries
If you plan to use standard AA or AAA batteries, each rated at 1.5 volts, the number of batteries required can be significant. To reach the wattage and voltage requirements of a typical TV, you might need hundreds of these small batteries. This method is impractical and inefficient for powering a TV.
Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Batteries
Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are a more efficient option. A typical configuration might involve using a battery bank capable of providing 12 volts or more. However, the capacity (measured in amp-hours) must be sufficient to power the TV for an extended period.
Example Calculation
To illustrate, let's consider a 100-watt TV powering a 5-hour session:
Total energy required: 100 watts × 5 hours 500 watt-hours. At 12 volts, the amp-hours required would be: 500 watt-hours / 12 volts 41.67 amp-hours.You would then need to determine how many batteries, based on their amp-hour rating, are necessary to meet this demand. For practical use, a larger battery system, such as a deep cycle battery, is more common than individual household batteries.
Personal Experiences and Observations
Reading through various experiences and observations, several factors influence the battery needs:
Portable CRT TVs
Some users recall using portable CRT TVs powered by car batteries at 12 volts. These devices often operated efficiently with this power source.
Portable Gaming Devices
A Gamegear portable device, which also had a tuner, operated on approximately 6 volts, demonstrating the versatility of smaller batteries.
Modern Android Tablets and USB Dongles
An Android tablet and a Pinnacle PCTV USB dongle, both TV receivers, typically use a single nominal 3.6 to 4.2 V lithium-ion battery, showing the efficiency of modern battery technology.
Size of the TV
The size of the TV significantly impacts the power requirements:
A 27-inch HDTV runs on a 12VDC 3A power module. A 12V, 35 AHr battery would last at least 12 hours. A 7-inch TV uses less than 1A, with a 12V, 35AHr battery lasting over 35 hours.Additionally, most TVs do not have an external power module and would require a 12V-to-120VAC converter to be powered from a battery.
In conclusion, the number of batteries needed to power a TV depends on the TV's power requirements and the type of batteries used. Practical and efficient solutions often involve larger battery systems or specialized configurations designed for specific needs.