Tuesday, February 16, 2016

RV TV rerun

Dear Dr. R.V. Shrink:
The flat screen TV in our rig just went berserk. When we turn it on, it turns itself off and back on every couple seconds.

My husband wants to take it to a repair shop. I said, "It's cheaper to buy a new one." He says this one was engineered to fit in the trailer.

To me it looks like the same TVs they sell at Walmart. Is there something special about RV TVs? Am I being unreasonable? I know we live in a throw away society, but part of the reason is the cost of fixing an appliance compared to replacing it.

We are not that handy. If something breaks, my husband usually hits it several times, then I run down and buy a new one. Any help with the TV, or my husband, would be greatly appreciated.
--Hit and Run in Roswell

Dear Roswell:
There is nothing special about a TV in an RV. Buying a new replacement or fixing what you have should be a personal decision after exploring the cost, warranty, and hassle of doing each.

My first suggestion would be to try to figure out what is wrong with the unit you now have. TVs are now much like computers. Before you do anything rash, like hitting it, unplug the power cord and count to sixty before plugging it back in. You would be surprised how often that reboots everything and magically fixes a glitch your device might be experiencing.

That procedure could also work with your spouse.

If you do decide replacement is necessary, you will most likely get an upgrade from the set you now have. Technology continues to improve TV quality, and prices continue to drop. You should have no problem finding a unit that will fit perfectly into the space that now holds your present TV.

Take special care when mounting a new device. Fastening it securely is very important in a vehicle, especialy if it's located above the cockpit. Everyone wants to be on TV, but no one wants to be under one.

--Keep Smilin', Dr. R.V. Shrink

5 comments:

Unknown said...

I believe Jensen offers some TVs that are powered by 12VDC instead of the "standard" 110VAC. If that's the case, NO a "standard" 110VAC set purchased at Walmart (or anyplace else) will not solve these folk's problem. If their TV IS a "standard" 110VAC model, in addition to your good advice about "rebooting" I would also try to plug the TV into a different AC outlet (on a DIFFERENT circuit). This could easily be done using an extension cord. I'd also try a different video source too before giving up on the old TV.

Fred said...

Our 4 year old Sharp 32" Aquos quit working while on Padre Island, so I took it to a local tv repair in Corpus Christi for an estimate. It needed an $80 part and $40 labor. I priced new ones and the cheapest was around $200 and the better Quality $400. I decided to gamble and have it repaired. It has worked flawlessly since the repair over 2 years ago.

Bbadwolfe said...

I agree with the advice given by jkoenig24. The main reason for a TV rebooting, is that it does not think it is sensing a signal. You may resolve the problem quickly without having to purchase anything.

Unknown said...

I may have missed it, but just case....when things flicker on and off, sometimes the problem is simply a loose connection. Check both ends of the power cable and check where the video or antenna cable is connected. As mentioned already, if there is no signal or power, TVs can appear to fail. If connections or circuits are loose, they will flicker on and off....particularly when RVs bounce down our highways.

Unknown said...

Finding a replacement that fits perfectly is not always possible if the original is the old tube model and built into a cabinet. In fact, is say it is downright IMPOSSIBLE. Today's TVs are the 16x9 format, not square like the old ones. Therefore, getting one that fits width-wise will leave a large area height-wise in the cabinet. What I did, after figuring out how to install a mount inside the cabinet, was to use that left over space for storage. It could be used for shelf space or install a drawer. And don't forget that there will be lots of space behind that new thin flat screen to use as a hidy-hole.