How Do I Hook Up Monitor Screens and DVD Player in 84 TMC II

[nwabattle1@gmail.com]

I have an 84 TMC Crusader II that we use for our semipro football team. I want to hook up monitor screens and DVD player so we can watch game film on the road. It used to have them in it but were removed when we got bus. I have no idea where to start with this 24v system.
We only paid $5500 for it and have it on 9 road trips with no problem but we dont want to put a lot of monney in it. I have 6 flat screens that were donated and a DVD player.
Any advice appreciated.
Thanks,
James NWA Battle Football
www.nwabattle.com

[lvmci]

Hi nwa, do you have a generator for 110v ac, or a 12v dc invertor on board? Lvmci...

[Boomer]

REI (Radio Engineering) makes all the audio/visual equipment for the bus manufacturers and has the 24V equipment. They may have used or trade in stuff.  Or you might try Caylor Supply for that stuff as he is a big parts and wrecking company for MCI coaches.  If you want to use 120V household equipment you will need an inverter

[nwabattle1@gmail.com]

Thanks guys. So if I bought an invertor I would need a 24v invertor that has plugs on it for the DVD and monitor screens?

Oh, one more. If I want to run a 12v dc for a car stereo is there someting I would connect to the batteries that would step down from 24v to 12v?

Thanks again,
James (the greenhorn...lol)

[B_K]

Your best bet would be to install a "Vanner" (most common brand name) battery equalizer which will keep your 12V draws equalized to both batteries and then you can get a 12 V inverter to run the monitor screens and DVD player off it.

As Boomer suggested REI (and others) make video equipment specific to motorcoaches. However I noticed your trying to do this on the "cheap" and already have free equipment available.

Also yes there are 24 V inverters out there (NAPA sells a nice small one that I personally have used), but since your looking to do a 12V stereo the "vanner" is the proper way to go and if you have 12V for a stero from a vanner why not utilize it for an economical inverter also?

Also worth suggesting are the 12V jumper boxes that have built in inverters in them. You could use them to power up while on the road and plug them in to charge them when at games/hotels/home!
  BK 

[nwabattle1@gmail.com]

Thanks B-K! I think I have all the info I need now. This forum is great. If I run into any problems hooking all this stuff I'll be sure to get ya'lls advice.
If ya'll are ever in Arkansas hit me up at nwabattle.com for some free tickets to a game.

Thanks again,
James

[Bryan]

B_K, or anyone else. I love the idea of a jump box with a power inverter built in. If we wanted to use it for power inverter and also as a jump box, how big of one would we need?

[eagle19952]

Most if not all DVD players will play Cd's.....unless you want to watch film and hear music.

[B_K]

B_K, or anyone else. I love the idea of a jump box with a power inverter built in. If we wanted to use it for power inverter and also as a jump box, how big of one would we need?

Bryan,
If I understand your question correctly, your going to be disappointed to find out that they don't build one as big as you'd need.

If your talking about using it to power a whole conversion / camper it ain't gonna happen. They just aren't that big.

The reason I suggested it to James is because he has a seated coach with limited need of electrical power.
  BK 

[nwabattle1@gmail.com]

Hey BK (or any other smart dudes out there),
I have two 12v 1500w power inverters. I saw a picture on line where the 12v headlights are wired in series with a balance wire between them. Could I not do the same with the 2 inverters in series?
Heres what I need to power
640 watts - (4) LCD Moniters @ 160w ea
90 watts - Laptop (Im going to bridge monitor connections to tie to my laptop plus we can play DVD's on lap top or our game film down loaded to laptop.)
Few watts for guys to charge their phones and Ipads.
I really dont intend to use the other power inverter but have it so thought I could put it in for the 12v needed in series and have it just in case.
Think this will work?
OR, can I install the Car Stereo as the other 12v in series and kill two birds with one stone.

Got a long road trip to Wichita this Saturday so I wanna see if this works.
BTW, we won 19-2 on Saturday and it looks like we might get Mitch Petrus (6-6 310lbs) who was cut by the NY Giants to add to our offensive line!!!!

Thanks,
James

[nwabattle1@gmail.com]

Nevermind on my last post. I understand that the draws on the batteries would not be equal.
Thanks,
James

[boogiethecat]

Hey forget the Vanner things... use these- they work really well and totally eliminate the battery balance thing.  And you can use more than one, of course, for different 12 volt doodahs you need to power, including headlights and trailer lights....

eBay item number:
120764253229

If you don't trust sending your money to China (I've never had any problem as long as you use paypal)  get this one for a little more $

eBay item number:
300951070425