Yes, you can power a TV with a car battery, but it requires a crucial piece of equipment: a power inverter. A standard car battery provides 12V Direct Current (DC), while most household TVs require 110-120V Alternating Current (AC). The inverter's job is to convert the DC power from your battery into the AC power your TV needs.
The key factor is how long the battery will last. This depends on the capacity of your car battery (measured in Amp-hours or Ah) and the power consumption of your TV (measured in watts). You can find your TV's wattage on a label on the back of the set or in its manual. A typical 32-inch LED TV might draw around 30-50 watts.
To estimate runtime, use this formula: (Battery Ah x 12V) / TV Watts x 0.85 (for inverter efficiency loss). For example, a standard 50Ah car battery powering a 40-watt TV would theoretically last: (50Ah x 12V) / 40W = 15 hours, then multiply by 0.85 for a more realistic 12-13 hours.
It's critical to avoid completely draining your car battery. Deep discharging a standard starting battery can permanently damage its ability to hold a charge. If you plan to do this frequently, a deep-cycle battery (like those used in boats or RVs) is a better investment as it's designed for this type of prolonged, partial discharge.
| TV Size/Type | Average Power Consumption (Watts) | Estimated Runtime on a 50Ah Car Battery (hours) |
|---|
| 24-inch LED | 25-35W | 14 - 20 hours |
| 32-inch LED | 30-50W | 10 - 16 hours |
| 42-inch LED | 50-70W | 7 - 10 hours |
| 55-inch LED | 60-90W | 6 - 8.5 hours |
| 32-inch OLED | 55-75W | 6.8 - 9.3 hours |
For a safe connection, always attach the inverter cables directly to the battery terminals, not the cigarette lighter port, which can't handle the high current. This is a great solution for tailgating or camping, but be mindful of your battery's health.
