Powering LCD from PSU

Robb@E.P.E · 08-15-2003, 09:36 AM

I'm sure this has been covered here before, but I can't seem to get the search to work. It is giving me errors.

How do I go about wiring my LCD into my OPUS PSU? I asked if this was possible in another thread, and was told that it's dangerous to do, because if you do it wrong, you can ruin your screen. Now I certainly don't want to do that, so does anyone have a diagram of the correct way to wire this puppy? I am not very skilled at electrical work, so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Robb

Rob Withey · 08-15-2003, 10:27 AM

What kind of LCD? What voltage does it take?

Robb@E.P.E · 08-15-2003, 10:48 AM

Sorry, I should have mentioned that!

<~~ noob

It is a DSCUSTOMS 7'' LCD, which I believe is 12V? I really know next to nothing about this stuff, so I apologize for my ignorance.

Rob Withey · 08-15-2003, 12:28 PM

You can hook it up to the yellow and black wires from a spare drive connector. Yellow is 12v, black is 0v.

HereFishyFishy · 08-15-2003, 01:53 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Robb@E.P.E

Sorry, I should have mentioned that!

<~~ noob

It is a DSCUSTOMS 7'' LCD, which I believe is 12V? I really know next to nothing about this stuff, so I apologize for my ignorance.

I have that same screen & PS & have had no problems having the screen powered from the Opus. What people warn about is reversing the polarities (i.e. connecting the + to - and - to +) I had no clue which was what so I took a 50/50 chance & got it wrong...disconnected and put it the right way and viola, it worked. Just connect the + to the yellow wires on the Opus and - to the gnd & you should be good to go.

Robb@E.P.E · 08-15-2003, 02:00 PM

Thanks for the help guys! So let me see if I've got this right (remember, I am a complete noob

)

So I cut open the power cord that came with the screen, and cut open one of the HD power cords from the PSU, and splice the + to the yellow wire, and the - to the black wire? That's it?

Now, please correct me if I'm wrong, but the + wire on the monitor cord will be the one that has writing on the outside of the wire? I feel so dumb having to ask all this, but I just want to do it right

Thanks again!

HereFishyFishy · 08-15-2003, 02:14 PM

You sound like you have it, pretty simple huh? You're assumption about the writing being the positive side is in most cases correct. However, I do remember hooking mine up incorrectly the first time, so you may want to wait on someone else to verify this with the DigitalWW screens. If no one else knows I'll dig through my wiring and let you know when I get the chance.

Ask as many questions as you need, without them this forum wouldn't be here! (Why aren't my smilies working? grrr)

orangewhip · 08-15-2003, 02:25 PM

Ohh also, I am NOT a noob here, I have been here for many years and I was about to ask the very same question!! I know I had read it somewhere in the forums before but I don't think it was 100% answered....so that is why I was going to ask. That is what we are all here for!

Robb@E.P.E · 08-15-2003, 03:18 PM

Excellent! I was worried that wiring this puppy up was going to be more than I could manage, but as usual, this kind of stuff is just more intimidating than it is difficult.

Just for clarity though, is my screen gonna fry if I hook these up reversed? HereFishyFishy you say you hooked yours up wrong, and then switched them and it still worked ... did you just get lucky or is not something I need to worry about?

foreal429 · 08-15-2003, 03:23 PM

I am going to wire mine up this weekend. I will let you know how it goes and post some pic's to clarify everything.

Rob Withey · 08-15-2003, 06:40 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Robb@E.P.E

did you just get lucky or is not something I need to worry about?

You should definately worry about this particular aspect. Reversing the polarity can be very bad. If you are lucky you'll get see no damage or blow a fuse. If you are unlucky you'll have to repair your screen or buy a new one.

Not trying to scare you, just making you aware.

Rob

orangewhip · 08-15-2003, 07:15 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Rob Withey

You should definately worry about this particular aspect. Reversing the polarity can be very bad. If you are lucky you'll get see no damage or blow a fuse. If you are unlucky you'll have to repair your screen or buy a new one.

Not trying to scare you, just making you aware.

Rob

Maybe Dave from DSCustoms could give us the scoop on the wiring for the screen??

gork · 08-16-2003, 11:31 AM

To determine the polarity, just look at the AC adaptor that came with the screen. It has a little diagram on it that tells you if it's the inside tip or the outside ring that is positive. And for the love of all that is holy, BUY A VOLTMETER/MULTIMETER! If you had one, you wouldn't have to guess even if there was no diagram! If you are wiring anything in your car and you don't even have a voltmeter, you are asking for trouble.

On the DSCustoms screen, ring (outside) is GND and tip (inside) is +12V. On the computer PSU's drive connector, Yellow is +12V and black is GND.

If you slice up your AC PSU for the connector, use your multimeter's continuity test or a continuity tester to figure out which wire is which. Splice +12V yellow wire from the PSU into the wire that runs to the inside tip and splice the GND black wire from the PSU into wire that runs to the outer ring.

I tend to never know when I could use a decent AC adaptor, so I never chop them up just for the plugs. You can buy a DC power barrel plug that fits at radio shack for like 30 cents. If you go buy a plug, just do the same wiring -- 12V yellow to barrel plug tip (center), GND black to barrel plug ring (outside)