The size of the inverter required to operate a TV is determined by the power consumption of the TV, which is determined by the TV’s size and kind.
Will a 400-watt inverter, for instance, power a TV?
A 400-watt inverter can most likely power any TV, particularly the more modern and effective models.
But you definitely don’t need that much inverter power unless you’re also attempting to use other devices, like a PS4.
What size inverter is required to power the TV, then?
In this post, I’ll explain how to estimate your TV’s power consumption and use that information to estimate the size of the inverter you’ll need to power it.
How Big Of An Inverter Do I Need To Power A TV?
Any LCD, LED, or OLED TV may be operated with a 200W inverter in most cases since modern TVs are energy-efficient and often need less than 150 Watts of electricity.
However, any plasma TV larger than 40 inches would generally need an inverter with a 300–400 Watt rating.
The following table provides an estimate of the power consumption of various TV kinds and sizes as well as the size of the inverter needed to operate them.
| TV size | TV Type | Average Power Usage in Watts (W) | Required Inverter Size in Watts (W) |
| 18in | LCD LED CRT | 25-32 W 18-22 W 60-75 W | 75 W 75 W 150 W |
| 24in | LCD LED CRT | 36-44 W 24-28 W 75-95 W | 100 W 100 W 200 W |
| 32in | LCD LED OLED Plasma | 50-60 W 35-40 W 45-50 W 100-130 W | 100 W 100 W 100 W 200 W |
| 40in | LCD LED OLED Plasma | 60-70 W 40-50 W 55-65 W 120-160 W | 150 W 100 W 150 W 300 W |
| 50in | LCD LED OLED Plasma | 75-90 W 50-60 W 70-80 W 150-200 W | 200 W 150 W 150 W 300 W |
| 60in | LCD LED OLED Plasma | 90-110 W 60-75 W 90-100 W 200-250 W | 200 W 150 W 200 W 400 W |
Observe that the values shown in the table are approximations.
To calculate the size of the inverter needed to power your TV, just multiply its power consumption by 1.5:
Inverter Watts (W) > TV Watts (W) x 1.5
The 1.5 factor results from the inverters’ typical efficiency range of 70% to 90%.
For instance, this 42-inch Panasonic LED TV consumes around 60 Watts of electricity when it is switched on, according to EnergyStar.
The Continuous Power rating of an inverter needed to power this TV should be greater than 90 watts (60W x 1.5).
This television can be powered by a 200W inverter, but because larger inverters are more costly and we don’t really need 200 watts of inverter power, we may go for a 100W inverter, such the Ampeak or the Energizer 100W inverters.
In any event, figuring out your TV’s precise power requirements is the best approach to decide the proper inverter size.
This leads us to the next part.
What Wattage Does Your Television Use?
A TV’s power consumption is often influenced by:
- Size (in.)
- The display industry (LCD, LED, Plasma, etc..)
- Model
Additionally, there are generally 3 ways to calculate that power usage:
- Examining the TV’s specification sticker
- Making use of the TV’s EnergyGuide Label
- Using a monitoring device for electricity
Let’s begin with the simplest approach:
#1. Examining The TV’s Specs Sticker:
You may often discover a technical specification label with a variety of details about your TV on the rear.
When you find the specification label, search for the TV’s power consumption in Watts (W).
A 32-inch LCD TV’s specification label, for instance, reads as follows:
As you can see, the TV’s power consumption is stipulated by the manufacturer to be 65 Watts.
The EnergyGuide label is the next choice if you can’t locate the spec label.
#2. Making Use Of Your TV’s EnergyGuide Label:
After 2011, TV models were produced with an EnergyGuide (yellow and black) badge that calculates the TV’s yearly energy usage (kWh).
The formula below may be used to determine the power use (watts) of the TV using this yearly energy consumption estimate:
Power Usage (W) = Yearly Energy consumption (Wh) ÷ (Daily Run Time (hours) x 365)
Here is an EnergyGuide label from a 50-inch LED TV as an illustration:
According to the manufacturer’s estimate on the label, the TV will use 94.3 kWh (94300 Wh) of energy annually if it is on for 5 hours every day.
We can calculate the power consumption of the TV using these 2 pieces of information:
Power Usage (W) = Yearly Energy consumption (Wh) ÷ (Daily Run Time (hours) x 365)
Power Usage (W) = 94300 Wh ÷ (5 hours x 365)
Power Usage (W) = 51.67 Watts
Therefore, when turned on, this specific TV consumes around 52 Watts of electricity.
The final resort is to employ an electrical monitoring gadget if your TV’s EnergyGuide label is missing.
#3. Making Use Of An Electricity-Monitoring Tool:
The Kill-A-Watt meter or another energy monitoring tool is the most precise method to figure out how much power your TV consumes.
Simply connect your TV into the monitoring device and the gadget into an outlet to get started.
The power consumption of your TV in Watts will subsequently be measured and shown by the device.
These gadgets also have the benefit of correctly measuring the energy usage (kWh) of your TV over a predetermined time frame.
Here is a picture that demonstrates how this works:
Please refer to this page for a more detailed description of these procedures: What is the wattage of a TV?
As previously said, you may use the method below to estimate the size of the inverter you need to operate your TV after determining how much electricity it consumes:
Inverter Watts (W) > TV Watts (W) x 1.5
What Size Inverter Is Needed To Power A TV And PS4?
You would need a 400-500 Watt inverter to operate both since PlayStation 4 consoles consume between 150 and 200 watts of electricity while in gaming mode, and you may assume that your TV needs 50 to 100 watts.
But be careful to measure the power consumption of your TV using one of the techniques described above, add 200W (the power consumption of the PS4), and multiply everything by 1.5:
Inverter Watts (W) > (TV Watts (W) + 200 W) x 1.5
Let’s imagine, for instance, that your TV consumes 65 watts of power:
Inverter Watts (W) > (TV Watts (W) + 200 W) x 1.5
Inverter Watts (W) > (65 W + 200 W) x 1.5
Inverter Watts (W) > (265 W) x 1.5
Inverter Watts (W) > 397.5 Watts
A 400W inverter, such the Ampeak 400W inverter, will work well in this situation.
How Long Can An Inverter Power A Television?
The power consumption of the TV and the battery’s useable capacity determine how long an inverter can power a TV.
For instance, a 50W TV may operate for up to 20 hours on a 12V-100AH lithium battery and inverter.
However, a standard automobile battery can only support a 50W TV for 8 to 10 hours until it runs dry.
