need to hook up lcd screen

noomski · 10-07-2006, 07:06 PM

Hi my car is a Honda civic coupe (99). I've been reading the forums for a straight answer but everyone seems to have a different idea. All I want to do is hook up this http://www.veba.uk.com/productsNew/av70mbs.html and a 12 volt inverter for a playstation2 to a 12 volt supply somewhere in the car so that power to it is turned off when I turn the ignition off.

I've heared that going to the wires behind the cigarette lighter is a popular idea. However I am still going to need to use the cigarette lighter when charging my phone or when someone wants to light a cigarette

, would this cause a problem to the screen?? I've also been told to put a 10amp fuse between the cigarette lighter positive wire and the screen, is this true? Also I've noticed that there are three wires attached to the back of the cig' lighter: black, red and yellow. I am guessing that red is 12v, black is ground and I have no idea what yellow is (3.3v possibly?)

I am pretty tech savvy but have zero experience with powering devices in vehicles. I just desperately need someone to tell me, bluntly, where I can get power for these devices so that when the ignition is switched off I can get a good nights sleep without worrying that my car is burning to the ground outside.

After all the conflicting advice I've read I offer my undying gratitude to anyone who can give me a straight up answer. Many thanks and I'll be back with pics when it's done.

noomski · 10-07-2006, 10:03 PM

Ok guys 24 views and nothing! I've read the faq's and it gets me nowhere closer to finishing this install - I thought it was a pretty straight forward question, if I'm missing some vital piece of info please let me know. You can't imagine how frustrating it is to be driving around with a screen in your car that's all set up and wired in except for a decent place to get power from. If you want to hear a grown man begging on his hands and knees for some information then I'll do it. I'm so frustrated at trying to get some decent help I feel like crying.......

noomski · 10-08-2006, 12:18 AM

Ok i've been reading all day and all night - I've come to the conclusion that I have to attach the positive wire to the 'ignition' wire. I've read that the best way is to get into the fuse box on the drivers side and somehow (solder to an existing fuse?) get a wire from there to attach to. However I understand that there is also an ignition wire behind the stereo, could I use that?? Also I have been told I would need to put the a 10 amp fuse between thie 12 volt wire and the screen and also between the 12 volt wire and the inverter, does this sound right? I've had 40 views on this topic now and no replies whatsoever - would someone PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE point me in the right direction as I am going out of my mind with confusion and frustration.

XC-C30 · 10-08-2006, 12:23 AM

look mate, yeah people are viewing your topic, including me. does that mean they/I know an answer to your question? overhere in belgium it's 6AM now, people are still sleeping, or in america watching tv/getting ready to go to bed/whatever. you posted your first reply in only 3 hours of time, and then again after 2 hours..... relax (and stop whining)! you'll get your answer but don't get in a rush!

noomski · 10-08-2006, 12:51 AM

Ok I understand what you are saying it's just that i've spent a long time collecting together all the parts and now everyting is set up in my car, it's looking really clean and I just can't wait to see the screen light up.

There doesn't seem to be anybody here without some kind of monitor and media player installed to which they have, at some point, sourced and connected 12v power. I know i'm at the stage where I just have to connect 2 wires +/- and i'm all done. I just need to know that what I connect them to isn't going to fry my beutiful new equipment. It seems like such a simple task that with 40 plus views I cant help but feel i'm being totally ignored for being a noob.

I've been through the faq's countless times and used the search function but I can't see a single guide on the best way to source safe power. I've googled terms like 'Headrest monitor installation guide' , 'Supply power to headrest monitor' etc and I just get endless pages of people showing me how to cut into a headrest.

I'm sorry for whining about it but when I've seen the knowledge some of your members posses I was really hoping one of them might throw me a bone.

I apologise

XC-C30 · 10-08-2006, 12:56 AM

I understand. I'm still in the "collecting everything-phase" for over 2 years now, so i know how you feel, but just be patient. By the way, i know about computers, but i know **** about electronics, so I too have to let my brother take a look at it to wire it up correctly. Being a nOOb isn't something bad, we all were once....

words of whisdome from a snotty 20 YO

Wiredwrx · 10-08-2006, 02:45 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by noomski

Ok I understand what you are saying it's just that i've spent a long time collecting together all the parts and now everyting is set up in my car, it's looking really clean and I just can't wait to see the screen light up.

There doesn't seem to be anybody here without some kind of monitor and media player installed to which they have, at some point, sourced and connected 12v power. I know i'm at the stage where I just have to connect 2 wires +/- and i'm all done. I just need to know that what I connect them to isn't going to fry my beutiful new equipment. It seems like such a simple task that with 40 plus views I cant help but feel i'm being totally ignored for being a noob.

I've been through the faq's countless times and used the search function but I can't see a single guide on the best way to source safe power. I've googled terms like 'Headrest monitor installation guide' , 'Supply power to headrest monitor' etc and I just get endless pages of people showing me how to cut into a headrest.

I'm sorry for whining about it but when I've seen the knowledge some of your members posses I was really hoping one of them might throw me a bone.

I apologise

Make belive you are powering a carputer, and follow that faq. Fuse at 150% of the total max amps of the screen (which is probably 1 amp) and the playstation.

Michael

noomski · 10-08-2006, 06:45 AM

Thanks Wiredwrx, I followed this http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/faq-emporium/51038-faq-connecting-your-car-pcs-power-speakers.html Where it's being advised that for my screen and ps2 I should run 4-8 guage wire directly from the battery. However I only want the power available when the ignition is on, the tutorial advises me to find the acc line to do this but then what is the purpose of running a cable directly from the battery?

tn6478 · 10-08-2006, 11:10 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by noomski

Thanks Wiredwrx, I followed this http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=51038 Where it's being advised that for my screen and ps2 I should run 4-8 guage wire directly from the battery. However I only want the power available when the ignition is on, the tutorial advises me to find the acc line to do this but then what is the purpose of running a cable directly from the battery?

get an adapter and hide it. there should be alot of cig adapters at your local walmart, pep boys, autozone. and just wire it to it.

Wiredwrx · 10-08-2006, 03:09 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by tn6478

get an adapter and hide it. there should be alot of cig adapters at your local walmart, pep boys, autozone. and just wire it to it.

Don't listen to him. Do not take power from the cigarrette lighter. Lighter circuits are most often fused at 10 amps MAX. That means it can safely handle 6 or so amps. Your system will probably draw more then that. Of course, you still want to use your phone charger and things like that.

You need to run to the battery. The FAQ refers to DC-DC PSs. This is a CARPUTER forum, something which the playstation is not. You therefore have to modify the system a little.

Read how to use a Relay. Look at www.the12volt.com

Michael

XC-C30 · 10-08-2006, 03:37 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Wiredwrx

Look at www.the12volt.vom

Michael

this might work a little better than the specified link above

Wiredwrx · 10-08-2006, 05:29 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by IC-C30

this might work a little better than the specified link above

Oooops, corrected.

Michael

tn6478 · 10-08-2006, 09:54 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Wiredwrx

Don't listen to him. Do not take power from the cigarrette lighter. Lighter circuits are most often fused at 10 amps MAX. That means it can safely handle 6 or so amps. Your system will probably draw more then that. Of course, you still want to use your phone charger and things like that.

You need to run to the battery. The FAQ refers to DC-DC PSs. This is a CARPUTER forum, something which the playstation is not. You therefore have to modify the system a little.

Read how to use a Relay. Look at www.the12volt.com

Michael

He wanted to do something simple so I gave him a simple suggestion.

XC-C30 · 10-09-2006, 01:22 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by tn6478

He wanted to do something simple so I gave him a simple suggestion.

yeah, but not a good one, so you're not helping the guy at all...

Bugbyte · 10-09-2006, 11:26 PM

Right. Here's what you need to know. Like Wired said, find out how much power the combination of Playstation and monitor draws. That is, add up the amperage.

This information is on the power supply for the Playstation and it ought to be in the specs for the screen.

In my car, the little cover over the cigarette lighter says "110 watts max". Watts = Amps X voltage. Your car puts out about 14 volts when running, so my cigarette lighter can handle about 7 amps of draw.

If you try to pull more than the rated amount, one of two things will happen, possibly both at the same time. Either the fuse will blow or you will begin to smell and perhaps see smoke underneath your dashboard. If you are really unlucky, before the fuse blows you will ignites something flammable in your dash and possibly burn the car up.

NOW. The reason that happens is because the wires to your cigarette lighter aren't thick enough. Wire thickness is referred to as gauge. Going back to your power draw, if you can't comfortably use your cigarette plug, you'll have need thicker gauge wires to wire around it and THAT'S why you need to go straight to the battery. There is a FAQ in the FAQ emporium that explains how to properly gauge your wiring. (My guess is that a playstation will do just find with 8 gauge wiring but I could be wrong about that.) No harm in going a gauge higher just to be safe and thus the reason some have suggested to you that you use 4 gauge wire.

As Wired suggested, find a relay that is rated at the proper amperage to switch the power on and off by wiring the trigger line to the accessory switch of your car.

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