Choosing a TV for a caravan or motorhome is not quite the same as buying one for your living room. The space is smaller, the power supply works differently, and the way you use it changes depending on where you park up. Getting it right means thinking about a few things that don't come up with a standard home purchase.
Start with the power supply
Most caravans and motorhomes run on 12 volts when you're not hooked up to mains power. A TV designed for the home runs on 240 volts, which means it either won't work at all off-grid or you'll need an inverter to make it function, which adds cost and drains your battery faster.
A 12-volt TV is built specifically for this environment. It draws power directly from your leisure battery without any conversion, which is more efficient and far more practical when you're on site without a hookup.
Cello's camping and caravan TV range is designed for exactly this. Every model runs on 12 volts and 240 volts, so you get full flexibility whether you're on hookup or off-grid.
Think about the size of your space
A TV that works brilliantly in a living room can feel overwhelming in a compact van layout. As a rough guide, most caravan and motorhome setups work well with screen sizes between 19 and 32 inches. Anything larger tends to dominate the space and can be awkward to position.
It's worth measuring the area where you plan to mount or place the TV before you buy. Wall mounting is popular in vans because it frees up surface space and keeps the set stable while you're moving. Check that the TV you're looking at has a standard VESA mounting pattern if that's the route you want to take.
Check for Freeview and smart features
If you're travelling across the UK, built-in Freeview means you can pick up terrestrial channels without a satellite dish. Freeview Play adds catch-up services on top of live TV, which is useful when you're parked up somewhere with a decent signal.
Smart TV features are worth having if you're somewhere with a good WiFi signal or a mobile data connection. Streaming services, on-demand content, and apps all work well when the connection is solid. If you tend to travel to more remote spots, a model with a built-in DVD player gives you a reliable fallback that doesn't depend on signal at all.
Look at the picture quality
Most 12-volt TVs in the camping and caravan range come in Full HD, which is more than adequate for smaller screen sizes. The picture is clear and sharp without needing the processing power of a 4K set, which would put a bigger drain on your battery anyway.
Sound quality is worth considering too. Caravan and motorhome interiors reflect sound differently to a house. A TV with good built-in speakers or a soundbase connection makes a noticeable difference in a small space.
Don't overlook the practicalities
A few details are easy to miss. Check how many HDMI ports the TV has if you want to connect a games console, laptop, or streaming stick. USB ports are useful for playing media files directly. A headphone jack is handy if you're watching late at night and don't want to disturb anyone.
Think about where the TV will sit when you're driving. Some people store it away on the move; others have a fixed mount. If you're going fixed, make sure the mount is rated for the weight and that the TV itself is robust enough for regular travel.
Browse the full caravan and motorhome TV range to find the right size and spec for your setup, or get in touch with the team if you're unsure which model fits your needs.
If you have questions about compatibility, installation, or anything else, the FAQs page is a good place to start.