| rwx |
I am installing a flip down LCD monitor on the roof. The unit has a switch which I can put it under passenger seat I think. I have read all the thread about video/DVD/... install that tell you to use the accessory power and I have never done any work on car before. I just don't know where and which wire I can use.
Where can I get accessory (ACC) power from? Do I simply look for the closest wiring and find a wire which is controlled by ignition? Also, there are close to 10 different wire colors in the MDX. Any clue which one is good for me.
Finally, once you found the wire to use, how do you connect to it. Do you tap into it or cut it and reconnect it or anything?
Many thanks. |
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| TheyCallMeBruce |
quote:
Originally posted by rwx
I am installing a flip down LCD monitor on the roof. The unit has a switch which I can put it under passenger seat I think. I have read all the thread about video/DVD/... install that tell you to use the accessory power and I have never done any work on car before. I just don't know where and which wire I can use.
Where can I get accessory (ACC) power from? Do I simply look for the closest wiring and find a wire which is controlled by ignition? Also, there are close to 10 different wire colors in the MDX. Any clue which one is good for me.
Finally, once you found the wire to use, how do you connect to it. Do you tap into it or cut it and reconnect it or anything?
Many thanks.
I encourage people to learn by doing. But you start small and slowly work your way up. If you have never performed interior and electrical work on any car before, I suggest that you do not undertake a custom job like this. Nobody cuts up a new luxury car without years of prior experience. All the posts you see here are either written by people with varying levels of installation experience, or have contracted a professional to perform the task. Based on your stated experience level, I recommend you take your MDX to a stereo installation vendor. Any vendor will have more experience than you, and will likely create a safer, more reliable, and hopefully, a more cosmetically integrated final product. Just some friendly advice. Don't do it. |
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| R Stevens |
rwx,
I concur with TCMB's recommendation. I have well above average do-it-yourself skills including installation of my home theatre system with in wall wiring, finishing a multi room basement, etc. But I had no experience in car a/v installation so I had a professional install shop do my aftermarket video and audio sytem to include a flip down RES.
My interior was almost completly stripped down to bare metal. I saw personally that the MDX has (IMHO) complex electronics and wiring systems. It would be very easy for somebody with no experience to do major damage to these systems. Also, you need to know how to properly disassemble the headliner and other interior components to install the RES and hook it up to the appropriate power source and ensure there is no electrical noise.
A $40,000 vehicle is not a good place to start a "learning by doing" project. |
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| rwx |
quote:
Originally posted by R Stevens
rwx,
I concur with TCMB's recommendation. I have well above average do-it-yourself skills including installation of my home theatre system with in wall wiring, finishing a multi room basement, etc. But I had no experience in car a/v installation so I had a professional install shop do my aftermarket video and audio sytem to include a flip down RES.
My interior was almost completly stripped down to bare metal. I saw personally that the MDX has (IMHO) complex electronics and wiring systems. It would be very easy for somebody with no experience to do major damage to these systems. Also, you need to know how to properly disassemble the headliner and other interior components to install the RES and hook it up to the appropriate power source and ensure there is no electrical noise.
A $40,000 vehicle is not a good place to start a "learning by doing" project.
Being a novice, I probably won't do this myself. But having done my own fender flare does give me a big boost in confidence in doing my own flip down video install.
Actually, I have already completed the monitor install. I basically follow cdawg's video install
My monitor has a long (8 feet) S-Video look alike cable and it connects to a control box. The control box can is where all connections go: 2 Audio/Video input, 1 Audio/Video output, 1 to monitor and 1 to 12V power.
I have tested it, both before and after the install, with an DC -> AC power inverter plus an AC -> 12V DC transformer and everything works. Now I just need a power source (just behind the central console near the floor). I have searched a bit and it seems that people just tap the 12V wire to any existing wiring close by, most commonly the map light which has is a switched power. I think I understand what type of quick connect connector to use and how to do it. But I want to be extra careful before I proceed.
In summary, I need advice/help to connect 12V wire to a switched power source near behind the central console on the floor. Could someone help me out?
Thanks all. |
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| rwx |
quote:
Originally posted by Tom-TX
Take a look at:
http://www.acuramdx.org/forums/show...6573#post126561
and:
http://www.acuramdx.org/forums/show...6810#post126810
I used a 18 - 22 ga. (red color code) splice connector that you can get at any auto supply store. They can tell you how to use it, but if you never used one before, they can be a little tricky to get a good connection on your first try.
I finally got the time to try this again. I did what you suggested and went to an auto supply store to ask for hep. The guy there was very helpful. I got a few 18-22 ga. splice connectors and connected them to the harness for the central console auxillary power socket.
But I was a little amazed at how thin (look like 20 gauge) those wires at the harness are. Since the fuse is 15A, that means they can support up to 15A of current, seems a lot for these thin wires.
Anyway, thank you all for the great help.
-- Ronald |
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| kimsta |
quote:
Originally posted by rwx
I finally got the time to try this again. I did what you suggested and went to an auto supply store to ask for hep. The guy there was very helpful. I got a few 18-22 ga. splice connectors and connected them to the harness for the central console auxillary power socket.
But I was a little amazed at how thin (look like 20 gauge) those wires at the harness are. Since the fuse is 15A, that means they can support up to 15A of current, seems a lot for these thin wires.
Anyway, thank you all for the great help.
-- Ronald
Ronald,
Where is the harness for the central console power?
Thanks,
Charles |
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| rwx |
quote:
Originally posted by kimsta
Ronald,
Where is the harness for the central console power?
Thanks,
Charles
It is beneath the penny in this photo: |
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| jedi_gras |
quote:
Originally posted by rwx
It is beneath the penny in this photo:
Ok..so how do you get that plood cover off?
I went to go look...this is what I am thinking...
Unscrew the shifter...take out cup holder..pry off? I don't want to damage it.
Or..just take off side trim on driver side of center console...and try to get to it from the bottom.
What did everyone else do? |
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| norcalchuck |
quote:
Originally posted by jedi_gras
Ok..so how do you get that plood cover off?
Here's the info |
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| jedi_gras |
Damn.. thanks for the instructions!
I was kinda impatient so I just ripped it right out...used my pocket knife at one corner (after i took out the cup holder) and pryed it up...
I think I damaged the plood just a little bit, but you cant see it because the cup holder covers it up.
Now to install the connections to Sam's AV unit.
Anyway, after reading about wire splices and all of that...my local autozone didn't have any....so being the impatient kind of person I am...I just used my pocket knife again and cut a bit of plastic all the way around each wire to expose the metal... then I took my other wires and wrapped it around and twisted tightly..then taped with electrical tape. It does work now, but if it comes loose I will probably have to drop a bead of solder on there.
now I just have to figure out the reverse trigger...(maybe I wont even do this)...and where to mount the unit. I found that it does barely fit under the 2nd row seats..but I think that the wires may create an unsightly buldge under the carpet...so I may just try to keep it under the front passenger seat...(I have waaayy too much extra wiring...the wire bundle is bigger than the unit!! :) )
So it does work..but I'm getting a little interference right now...the LCD image is slightly waavy. It might be the DC/AC converter, the ungrounded AV unit chassis, or poorly shielded power cables... I will try to figure this out too.. |
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| kimsta |
| I get some interference with the image too (lines in the image). I think it might be improper grounding, just haven't had time to reground it. |
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