i can install a DVD player using an RGB Converter (http://www.converters.tv/products/co...erters/43.html).

I was wondering if anyone has successfully done this. I tested out the converter by tapping into the stock navi wiring that goes to the stock unit. I tapped into the Red Signal, Blue Signal, Green Signal, Ground and Sync. My problem is that is works great when i remove the wiring to the stock DVD (or just the plug that has the power to the stock navi DVD). When I have all the plugs in and the navi running in the background I get allot of flicker.

It seems like the power to the stock DVD is causing the flicker. Any help would be great if someone pulled this off this way. I can't see where else to tap into the screen.

 

well, your problem is that you are trying to feed 2 video signals to the screen at the same time... that is why it works when you unhook the dvd player.

To fix this, you need somthing, like a set of relays, or better yet a 4PDT relay to switch between the two video sources....

This is what I used:
relay
relay socket

Try that and see if your picture gets any better. After that, you can start looking into video problems from wiring problems and alternator noise.

Hope that helps
e_lectro

 

i can see where to run the RGB and Sy. i take it you still connect the signal grounds together. what do you use to switch the screens back and forth? a rocker switch?

 

The relay switches the R,G,B,Composite signals. The grounds just get hooked together. If this bothers you, you can always get a second relay to switch the ground as well.

Any type of switch will work to flip the relay back and forth. Wire the relay so that the normal position feeds the screen the navi video and the switched position feeds it the dvd video.

Just make sure to use a power source for the switch that feeds the relay is not constant, but turns off with the car. Otherwise if you leave it on it will drain your car battery.

-e_lectro

 

thanks for the help, well appreciated. that site where you got the relays has some great stuff.

have you explorered the VSA switch? i am going to see how it works, i got the TSX service manual. i see that there are two open button slot next to it. i think it would give the car a stock look if i could get another VSA from Acura and add my own label.

 

The VSA and sunroof buttons are momentary contact switches, not latching. I bought a sunroof switch and wired it up with a set of relays to make it work. I push the top button to switch to DVD, the bottom button to switch back to navi.

As a side note, due to clearance issues in the dash, a VSA or sunroof switch will only fit in the 3rd spot. The 4th spot has a metal piece in the way.

e_lectro

 

that sounds like a good idea. i'm going have to pick one up.

 

What if you just turn the navi screen "off?" Go to setup and then where it gives you the option to set it to "Off, Day, Night, or Auto," set it to Auto. I think that just cuts the output that feeds to the screen, and then a "power save mode" kicks in on the screen, shutting off the backlight. I dunno tho. I'm probly retarded.

 

When you turn off the screen, that is all you do, turn off the screen. The navi unit is still feeding the video out, you just don't see it.

 

so does this mean that i can order this thing instead of the $600 avelectronics kit? and it work the same, just without a tv tuner?

also, if this is true, what else do i nedd to get it working in my car?


if my thinking here is correct, THIS IS GREAT NEWS!!!

half the price of the av kit!!!!

 

yes, this can be used, it is what I am using now. The biggest catch is that it is NOT plug and play like the AV unit. You will need to cut into the wires to make this work, and they are pretty brittle wires prone to breaking. I had alot of problems with the wire for the RED video, it kept cutting in and out.

Another problem I had was noise in the video when the car was on. I ended up getting a large power filter from radioshack to fit it.

-e_lectro

 

what all would i need?

would i still need the snhod3 thing? biger power wire? gli?

e_lectro, sorry to be bugging you, but your an expert when it comes to these things and, i would love to hear another option besides the av kit.

thank you.

 

As far as a parts list and a guide, here is what I remember:

parts-
*RGB converter
*relay and socket
*switch to turn relay on and off
*wire to connect relay for video, I used good CAT5 wire, you can use some other wire
*wire for switch to relay
*Good Video RCA cable, not Audio cable, there is a difference. I used Monster Car video cable.
* project box to fid relay and RGB converter into.
*misc wire connectors.
*Radioshack power filter, for alternator noise in video.
*SHOND3 for sound
*Honda cable for SHOND3 mod.

suggestions-
*you can mount the RGB converter and relay in a project box behind the passenger side carpet wall. There is plenty of room.
*if you have wire problems with breaking and etc, you can use the leftover wires from the Honda cable to replace them.
*if you do not have power ran for amps already, you can get power from the 12V outlet in the center console storeage bin.


If I can think of more, I'll post them later

-e_lectro

 

thanks for the help!!!

 

man, after checking all of this out, i think i might be getting in over my head......

what are the relay and socket for?

 

ok, im starting to peice all of this together here.......


the rgb converter plugs into the gps unit in the trunk....what kind of cables are needed?

from the rgb, use cat 5 wire into the relay, and then from the relay to a switch mounted on the dash........where does the other end of the switch go to?

does the dvd player plug into the rgb converter using video rca wires? how does video get into the nav screen?

using the shnod3 and the honda harness, run audio wires from the dvd player into shnod3 for audio.......

also, what is the socket for?

i know im a noob, sorry man.

 

check the 2nd post from teh top, its to switch between the navi video and dvd video.

 

that's basically how i am setting up mine. i used a project box to house the converter but i also added a fan since it is mounted in the trunk wall behind the carpet.

it is allot of work and allot of pieces to buy. it helps that i have the TSX service manual that shouws all the details of the wiring and the rest of the car. it would be much easier to buy the pre-made converter for $500, but it wouldn't have been any fun.

 

what about all of this........

any ideas here?

thanks guys.

 

>>the rgb converter plugs into the gps unit in the trunk....what kind of cables are needed?
the RGB converter has a 5 wire output (check the link to the site). these get connected to the relay. the relay is tapped into the R, G, B, and Syn wiring that goes into the GPS DVD. you will need to cut these.

>>from the rgb, use cat 5 wire into the relay, and then from the relay to a switch mounted on the dash........where does the other end of the switch go to?
the switch is needed to turn on/off the relay. the Cat5 is used because it has enoug wires inside on shielded cable (4 twisted pairs) to use for the RGB and Syn

>>does the dvd player plug into the rgb converter using video rca wires?
there is a RCA in that is on the converter (check the site)
>>how does video get into the nav screen?
the signal from the DVD goes to the converter as composite over the RCA cable. the converter converts it to RGB, which is what the monitor needs. a switch is used (using the realy) to switch the two signals (DVD and Nav), which is the reason i started the thread.

>>using the shnod3 and the honda harness, run audio wires from the dvd player into shnod3 for audio.......
yes. you can then use the AUX button on the radio to get sound out of the DVD player. in my case my DVD player also plays CD's and MP3's

>>also, what is the socket for
the socket holds the relay.

 

i've only gone as far as testing the video, my audio parts are on order. also, i only tested the video without the navi runing as i also have the relay on order.

 

keep me posted!!!

if this works, im ordering it ASAP!!!

 

also, 2 more quick questions.....

1. the power/ground from the rgb goes into the relay, right?
2. on the swith in the dash, only power is hooked up and the relay wire.......why would i need a 3 prong switch? wouldent a 2 prong switch be ok?

thanks.

 

>>1. the power/ground from the rgb goes into the relay, right?
what goes in the relay is only the R, G, B, and Syn wires from the converter and the navi DVD, these are the signal wires. the "Signal" ground for the converter gets spliced to the signal ground of the DVD navi line. the power and ground for the relay and converter comes from the car. the website for the converter has a complete spec sheet.

>>2. on the swith in the dash, only power is hooked up and the relay wire.......why would i need a 3 prong switch? wouldent a 2 prong switch be ok?
this i don't know, i would have to see the relay and realy socket when it comes in.

 

awesome dude, thanks for the help!!!!

 

If you are using a normal, latching switch, you only need a two prong switch. In the off position, the navi plays... in the on position, the dvd plays.

Where did you get 3 prong switch from? From my comment about the sunroof switch? If so, the sunroof switch is a momentary contact button, not latching. I used it with a circuit so that the top button is the 'on' and the bottom is the 'off'. You do not need to do it that way.

e_lectro

 

e_lectro, how diffacult is this?

also, this is the way your have it setup?

 

How hard? Well, that is a matter of view. If you're wanting things to go as easily and as smooth as possible, go with the VAelec unit. If you like to fiddle with things and dont spend the time working out problems and etc, go with this unit.

It's time vs. money



Yep, this is exactly what I did.

 

for me its about doing it myself. honestly i don't really have a need for a DVD player in my car (i don't even own DVDs). i just liked the project idea and wanted to be able to do it myself. i will be also planning other meaningless projects as hobbies.

my next project will be getting all four power window buttons on the drivers side to be one touch up down. that should be difficult but fun to try. another planned is automatic headlights that turn on/off like Lexus has

 

the buttons would be awesome!!

we already have the headlight thing, just leave them on when you turn your car off, they will turn off after about 30 seconds. i beleive when you unlock your car again, they turn back on!

its pretty cool!!

is there any way one of you guys could post a quick install guide? i would rather do this than buy the av kit, but i just wana make sure i do it right, this first time.

thanks!

 

the lights on my Lex turn on when it gets dark. they are auto lights. they are daytime running when it is light out but when it gets dark or you go in a tunnel they turn on. as soon as you gt out of the tunnel they turn off. they never need to be tocuhed.

as far as a install guide, i'll try to get one if i have time, but i can't promise anything.

 

I got my converter a few days ago and am in the process of gathering the info to do this. The only think I'm lacking is how to pull the video from my OEM rear DVD system. I figured out the audio part and am now running it through a sound gate adapter but am still looking for help with figuring out which wires are the video signal. Anyone know how to test to see what wires are the video signal wires?

D.

 

any word on this yet?

 

Would this be a good start for the window project?

http://www.crucialconcepts.com/cc/Au...age-ac-68.html

 

http://www.convergegroup.net/tsx/1.jpg
http://www.convergegroup.net/tsx/2.jpg
http://www.convergegroup.net/tsx/3.jpg

sorry about the bad scans, i don't have a good scanner

locate on the back of the DVD navi. there are 3 plugs. find the black plug that looks like the one in the first pic. the wires that go to the screen are 1,2,11,12,13. these are where you connect the corresponding wires from the converter (pic 3 is my layout).

you need to put the relay somewhere in between the DVD navi and the screen. i choose the area behind the back seat so it is easy to work with, could hide the wires, and could easily patch them up and concel the job if i ever remove the system. the converter wires go into the relay also.

the two top terminals on the relay are for power. the rocker switch goes in between the power from the car to the relay so you can "rock" the power on and off. when powered off the DVD navi signal goes straight through. when the switch is on the relay switches and allows only the converter signals through.

i recommend (as per great advice from e_lectro) that you use a really good cat5 wire to run the wires from the splice to the realy.

 

if i can get my hands on a digital camera, i'll take some pics.

 

thats great..thank you!

also, how is the picture quality?