You'd need about a 100-500 watt inverter to run any size TV. The exact size will depend on the size and wattage consumption of your TV.
Now let's dive deep into the factors which will determine the right size inverter for your Tv. Also, I'll share some key points when buying an inverter and what size cable you should use.
Short Introduction To Solar Inverters
Batteries store power in DC (Direct current) and the voltage of a DC will be 12, 24, or 48 volts. but our household appliances required 110-220 volts.
The power inverter will converter the low voltage coming from the battery into 110-220 volts so you can safely power your appliances like Tv, fridge, microwaves, etc...
For a better understanding watch this video. This guy has explained it very well.
Do i need an inverter for 12v Tv? the short is No, but you'd need a DC-DC converter to eliminate any voltage fluctuations.
if you have a 12v battery use a 12v DC-DC regulator and if you have a 24v battery then buy a 24-12v DC converter but it will cause power losses.
So i would recommend using an inverter even for 12v Tv or connecting it simply with your Rv or car 12v socket if you have any.
Steps To Calculate Inverter Size For Your Tv
Follow these simple steps to pair the right size inverter for your Tv.
Step 1: Calculate The Power Consumption of Your Tv
The main factor which will determine the size of your inverter is the power consumption of your Tv.
To calculate how many watts your Tv uses, read the product specs sheet (usually located on the backside of the Tv).
power consumption would be mentioned as rated wattage consumption or input power. If the value is not mentioned in watts then look for input voltage and amps.
Use this formula to calculate the watts (watts = volts*amps).
For more accurate ratings i would recommend you buy this electricity power consumption meter. if you're reading this post, I'm assuming you've developed your interest in solar power, this power consumption meter is going to be the best investment for you when it comes to estimating the power consumption of your appliances, especially like fridges or other appliances which has duty cycles.
For your convenience here's a chart on how many watts different sizes and types of Tv use.
Chart - TV wattage consumption
| TV size (inches) | TV type | Power Consumption (watts) |
|---|---|---|
| 18-inch | LED | 18-22 W |
| LCD | 25-32 W | |
| Plasma | 50-75 W | |
| 24-inch | LED | 24-28 W |
| LCD | 36-44 W | |
| Plasma | 75-95 W | |
| 32-inch | LED | 35-40 W |
| LCD | 50-60 W | |
| Plasma | 100-130 W | |
| 40-inch | LED | 40-50 W |
| LCD | 60-70 W | |
| Plasma | 120-160 W | |
| 50-inch | LED | 50-60 W |
| LCD | 75-90 W | |
| Plasma | 150-200 W | |
| 60-inch | LED | 60-75 W |
| LCD | 90-110 W | |
| Plasma | 200-250 W |
how much power does a tv use? chartDisclaimer: This chart is just to give you an idea of how much power your Tv will consume. If you have a Tv with extra built-in features like speakers, etc... it would require more power. Use the above methods to find out the exact value.
Add the wattage consumption of external speakers if you're using any
Step 2: Add extra 20%
Now add an extra 20% to the wattage consumption of your Tv.
Why add an extra 20%? First of all solar inverters are not 100% efficient, there will be some power losses when converting DC into AC. Most of the inverters available are about 85-95% efficient.
So if you have a 100-watt inverter it will draw 110 DC watts from the battery in order to run at its full capacity. So you'll be using your inverter beyond its capacity. which as a result could damage the inverter or even your connected appliances.
For Example
let's suppose you have a 32-inch LCD tv that consumes about 50 watts of power.
50 + 20% or 50 * 1.2 = 60 watt
A 60-watt inverter would be enough to run a 32-inch LCD Tv.
Related Post: Calculate Battery Size For Any Size Inverter (Using Our Calculator)
Modified Vs Pure Sine Wave Inverter: Which One You Should Buy?
There are two most common types of inverters available, pure sine wave and modified sine wave.
To understand the differences between how they work and their output electricity waves length watch this video.
In Simple words, a Pure sine wave inverter provides the purest form of electricity, similar to the grid. on the other hand, a modified sine wave inverter doesn't provide a smooth electricity output which can cause damage to some sensitive appliances like fridges, microwaves, etc...
Can an inverter damage a TV?
An inverter will not damage the Tv but If you're using a modified sine wave inverter it may cause audio buzzing on the speakers.
My Recommendation: I would recommend buying a Pure sine wave inverter instead of a modified sine wave, it will cost a few bucks but is worth the investment.
What Size Inverter Do I Need To Run A Tv? - Examples
Here's a chart on the estimated size of inverter you'd need to Run every size and type of television
| TV size (inches) & Type | Power Consumption (watts) | Required inverter Size |
|---|---|---|
| 18-inch | ||
| LED | 20 watts | 30 watt |
| LCD | 30 watts | 40 watt |
| Plasma | 60 watts | 70 watt |
| 24-inch | ||
| LED | 25 watts | 40 watt |
| LCD | 40 watts | 50 watt |
| Plasma | 80 watts | 100 watt |
| 32-inch | ||
| LED | 35 watts | 50 watt |
| LCD | 55 watts | 70 watt |
| Plasma | 110 watts | 150 watt |
| 40-inch | ||
| LED | 50 watts | 70 watt |
| LCD | 70 watts | 90 watt |
| Plasma | 150 watts | 180 watt |
| 50-inch | ||
| LED | 60 watts | 80 watt |
| LCD | 80 watts | 100 watt |
| Plasma | 180 watts | 220 watt |
| 60-inch | ||
| LED | 75 watts | 90 watt |
| LCD | 100 watts | 120 watt |
| Plasma | 220 watts | 300 watt |
Summary
- you'd need about a 100-watt inverter to run an 18-inch, 24-inch, 32-inch, 40-inch, 50-inch, or 60-inch LED TV.
- you'd need about a 150-watt inverter to run an 18-inch, 24-inch, 32-inch, 40-inch, 50-inch, or 60-inch LCD TV.
- you'd need about a 300-watt inverter to run an 18-inch, 24-inch, 32-inch, 40-inch, 50-inch, or 60-inch Plasma TV.
Some Check List Points When Buying An inverter
Remember these points when selecting the inverter for you.
- Always go for a larger size than is needed: it will give you the flexibility in the future to increase your solar power system.
- Consider Surge Wattage: in the future, if you're thinking about running your appliances that requires a burst of power when getting started e.g fridge, make sure to buy an inverter that can provide surge wattage.
- Battery and inverter input voltage should be the same: use a 12v inverter for a 12v battery bank.
- Go for pure sine wave instead of Modified: This will give you the flexibility to run any kind of appliance with an inverter.
- A 90% efficient inverter is a good option: Don't look for more than a 90% efficient inverter it may sound cool but will cost you a lot and it's not worth it.
- Buy the right size cable with your inverter: use the chart below to find out the right size cable for your inverter.
Inverter Cable Size Chart
Use this chart to select the right size cable, fuse, and circuit breaker for your inverter.
Related FAQ's
Will a 400w inverter run a TV?
Most of the Tv power consumption is less than 400 watts so yes, a 400-watt inverter will easily run any size Tv.
Will a 150-watt inverter run a TV?
A 150-watt inverter will run up to 60-inch LED new technology TVs. A rule of thumb is that you can run any size Tv which consumes less than 120 watts of power with a 150-watt inverter.
Will a 2000-watt inverter run a TV?
a 2000-watt inverter will easily run any size and type of Tv.
