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Adding 2nd monitor to factory DVD

A

AE_Turbo

Full Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2003
Messages
74
Location
Blue Springs, MO
Anyone done this. I'm thinking it should be pretty easy. I certainly wouldn't be watching while driving but would like to have this.

Specifically:

Does the factory Panasonic DVD have a RCA vid output under the plastic shell? I know I could probably splice it in but this would be easier.

How about adding a tuner, any recommendations? Are the factory input jacks hard wired or are they extensions to the DVD player?

Thanks, Scott
 
NO rca outs there. YOu will have to do a little poking and prodding to find the outputs.
 
kodiakz said:
NO rca outs there. YOu will have to do a little poking and prodding to find the outputs.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Yep, I pulled it down tonight and sure enough, no RCA's. Hmmm, wonder if somebody makes an adaptor. I rather go that route than fishing for a signal and splicing. :rolleyes: Looks like there's a daughter board for the RCA inputs as well. :E:
 
did you ever get this to work, i was wanting to do the same thing
 
BadZ7123 said:
did you ever get this to work, i was wanting to do the same thing
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No, I've been busy on other projects. I'm sure I can do it. It'd sure be nice if someone that already has, could point us to the right wire's to avoid all the experimentation. The input's will be easy for a TV tuner but the vid out is the one that will need probing to find the correct wires. :E:

Scott
 
keep us posted if you do any work on it, i would love to hook up another monitor up front
 
BadZ7123 said:
keep us posted if you do any work on it, i would love to hook up another monitor up front
Click to expand...

Well I bought the monitor and a 20' rca cable today. I'll try to get to it tomorrow night. I do know that it can be done. I talked to a shop who did it for the owner of my dealership's personal Avy. Their tech said he couldn't remember what color wire's he tapped. I'm sure he was just holding out on me. :8: Anybody else tackle this yet? I hate going in blind. :cool:
 
If you can't find the wire let me know--I just did some large favors for my buddy who just happens to be service manager @ chevy store and he can easily pull up a diagram for me.
 
kodiakz said:
If you can't find the wire let me know--I just did some large favors for my buddy who just happens to be service manager @ chevy store and he can easily pull up a diagram for me.
Click to expand...

Thanks, will do.

Forgot to mention, I bought a new front console bezel from GMparts direct($40 shipped). A buddy's gonna re-mold it for the monitor, keeping the dual 12v outlets and cover it in charcoal vinyl to match my interior. He's done some really good custom stuff so I know it'll look factory. :B: Only thing I'm not excited about is having this out in the open when I park in not so safe places.. :rolleyes: I may look at adding a cover or camo of some sort.

I took some reading's off a video out source. Not much to see w/ a VOM. I read around .002v varying. I think I'll be fine as long as I don't send much more than this to my new monitor. I'm thinking of using an old VCR as a test dummy. :0:
 
Remember that the video shouldn't just be "cut in" like a power source tap. You should use a distribution "amp". If you just tap into it, you will load it down (a 37? Ohm load on a 75 Ohm output if two units are connected).
Consumer displays seldom have "loop-through" with a terminator at the end unit, so the distribution amp is necessary. (12 volt units are available, I just don't remember a source.)
N-joy!
 
sperry said:
Remember that the video shouldn't just be "cut in" like a power source tap. You should use a distribution "amp". If you just tap into it, you will load it down (a 37? Ohm load on a 75 Ohm output if two units are connected).
Consumer displays seldom have "loop-through" with a terminator at the end unit, so the distribution amp is necessary. (12 volt units are available, I just don't remember a source.)
N-joy!
Click to expand...

Ratt's. I thought just adding one monitor wouldn't be too much load. Hmmm. My new monitor has a video out. I guess I could come from the factory DVD player to the new monitor and all the way back to the factory screen..... I think the better solution is to use the distribution block but I was thinking of adding a TV tuner. This would have one built in. hmmmmmmmmmmmmm Nothing's ever easy anymore. :E:
 
It's ALIVE! It was easy too. The magic wire is dark blue. It's very tiny and in the plug that goes from the DVD player to the screen. I just grounded the shield to one of the player screws. I didn't use a video amp and don't see a need for one now, with just my 2 screens.

I ran the cable under the headliner, down behind the pillar plastic, under the door sill plastic, under the dash and into the console. I used a 17' cable and it was the perfect length. I just have it laying there now. It slides into the bottom '03 console opening perfectly but I think I'll still have my buddy make a new bezel.
 
TXAVMAN said:
Hey,

Did your buddy ever make the new bezel?
Got any pics?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

He was ready to but I decided I wanted to be able to hide the monitor out of sight. I made a pin style mount. Hard to explain but I can slide the monitor into the lower console cubby when I'm parking somewhere not so safe, and hang it on the pin to watch. It works great and yes, I'll work on getting some pics up. :rolleyes:
 
Here's one
P1011197.JPG
 

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cdn111 said:
did you take any pics of the process? I would be very interested to see this.
Click to expand...

If you meant me, just the ones above. It's really not that hard if you feel comfortable installing a stereo etc. If not, I'd have a local shop do it.
 
Turbo,
How did you splice into the dark blue wire? I don't understand the shielding thing that you were talking about. I just bought my screen and I am needing some help with getting a video signal. I don't think I am going to hook up the audio to the screen, it plays through the factory speakers anyway. I just need a good video signal. Thanks.
 
bluelanche said:
How did you splice into the dark blue wire? I don't understand the shielding thing that you were talking about.
Click to expand...

I shaved the blue wire's cover in a spot, soldered the RCA cable's center conductor to that and grounded the RCA cable's shield to a DVD player chasis screw. This way I didn't have to cut the factory wire. Be sure to tape it up so it won't short.
 
Turbo,

I am going to try this later on this week. I did buy a signal booster (in case I want to add another monitor) and I am going to run the "spliced" video cable into the booster, and then run a video cable to the extra screen. Just so I understand this correctly, You removed the RCA connector end from the cable and soldered the center conductor to the exposed wire. Then you grounded the shield to a metal screw that holds the player up. If that is wrong, please corrent me. I will let you know how it goes!!! Thanks for the help!
 
bluelanche said:
You removed the RCA connector end from the cable and soldered the center conductor to the exposed wire. Then you grounded the shield to a metal screw that holds the player up. If that is wrong, please corrent me. I will let you know how it goes!!! Thanks for the help!
Click to expand...

Yep, that's right. :cool:
 
AE_Turbo was right on. I confirmed this on my 2004 Suburban factory DVD. Dark Blue wire (4th from right on bottom row) on center of RCA and shield to ground will work.

That wire is freaking tiny - you have to be very careful stripping the insulation off when tapping to it. Don't forget to secure the tapped wire to the harness so that it doesn't stress the blue wire and break it.

Photos in the CarDomain link on my sig.
 
OK, I know this post is old but i am desperate.  I can not search this forum (filtered by my work) so i just went through 10 pages of electronic information and this thread is the closest i can find.

i follow all of the information here to add an addition screen or two, but there was talk of adding a video input.  Did you or anyone else ever get a video input to work?

Thanks,

john
 
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