PS2 In the Explorer. (Pics) Where My Geeks At?

[mp88]

Ok, first off let me say that I do not have money. Otherwise this would probably look cooler. But I do have a quesiton.

When the car starts up, it automaticlly shuts down the DC outlet for a period of let's say 1 second. Just enough to shut down the PS2. Is there some way I could stop the car from shutting down that particular outlet during ignition?

Used in this monstrosity was:
DC to AC power inverter
Sony PS2
Audiovox Portable 8" DVD Player
Appropriate wires included with each product
Extension cord
Several zip ties

Anyway. Here are the pics.

Belted down for extra protection.

Power up

This is why I'm nerd

 

[MountaineerGreen]

You could install a hardwired larger inverter, wire it directly to the battery, place the plug in in a more suitable location for your devices. Wired directly to the battery, there will be no shutdown when cranking.

My inverter install:

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=175037

 

[mp88]

Wow. That's a really nice job on that inverter installation. I may just have to try that out.

 

[zukman]

lol but Wii want to play to!
Sorry just had to post:

 

[aznboi3644]

I would hardwire the inverter and hide it behind the rear drivers side panel...12 gauge speaker wire directly to the battery will work...fused of course

You can wire up a relay to the inverter and use a switch to turn it on and off.

 

[jluv]

I have two PS2s in my X along with headrest monitors and wireless headphones. This way each rear passenger can play their own game, own CD, or own movie independently. They also can both play/watch/listen to the same thing or be controlled by what I am playing up front. I used a hardwired 750w power inverter mounted under the front passenger seat. It has a switch and since it's hardwired, it stays on unless I switch it off, even if the engine is not running. I sometimes use it to charge a laptop or even friends' cell phones on road trips if they did not bring a DC charger. It is also handy for a drop light on the side of the road at night. Th PS2s are mounted under the rear seats, but I am still toying with ideas for better ways to mount them where they will still have easy access for the passengers while I'm driving.

 

[mp88]

Really good ideas so far guys. Would any of you mind sending me a picture of where you installed the inverter and/or picture of where you hardwired the piece?

I used a hardwired 750w power inverter mounted under the front passenger seat. It has a switch...

Jluv, I am especially curious of how yours looks and works. It sounds like a really cool location

So far I plan on ditching or relocating the 80W inverter and picking up say a 300W power supply.

What I'd like to know though, is which wires you used to hardwire the unit to the battery and ground. Did you pick any positive wires directly from the battery from under the console? Run speaker wire all the way from the inverter to a terminal off of the battery terminal? Ground the inverter to the metal floor?

Would it be safe to install multiple, (say 2 or 3 inverters)?

 

[jluv]

Really good ideas so far guys. Would any of you mind sending me a picture of where you installed the inverter and/or picture of where you hardwired the piece?



Jluv, I am especially curious of how yours looks and works. It sounds like a really cool location

So far I plan on ditching or relocating the 80W inverter and picking up say a 300W power supply.

What I'd like to know though, is which wires you used to hardwire the unit to the battery and ground. Did you pick any positive wires directly from the battery from under the console? Run speaker wire all the way from the inverter to a terminal off of the battery terminal? Ground the inverter to the metal floor?

Would it be safe to install multiple, (say 2 or 3 inverters)?

I'll try to snap a pic of it for you soon. Mine is wired to power distribution just like an amp would be. I have 4 amps and tons of other equipment getting power via distribution blocks and eventually to the battery. The inverter is hardwired with 8 ga wire to a block that leads to another block using 4 ga wire which leads to the battery with 1/0. Then it is grounded much the same way through distribution blocks to a common ground with 1/0. The inverter itself sits nicely under the front passenger seat with the switch facing forward. With the seat all the way back (where it normally is in my ride anyway), you can lean over and see the switch just under the front and reach it pretty easily. I have even forgotten and left it on before overnight and it doesn't really drain the battery unless you're using something that pulls from it. It has two outlets just like in the house, and I have seen some with 3 outlets and a lot more than 750w. I think you would be better off geting a big one with multiple outlets vs several smaller ones.

 

[SilverSPL]

sorry it's a late comment but you don't need an inverter for the ps2 if you don't want to.

You can hardwire it for 12V. I did it on mine and it worked without any problems. sorry I didn't take any pics. But there is a power board and a processing board inside and there is 4 pins that go from the power to the processing they are 2 for +12v and 2 for -12V Just solder a wire onto one of the + and one of the - and your set.

I have the wire come out the expansion bay and put a household plug on the end for easy disconect.

I used it for months like this without any probles with the car on and off.

 

[jluv]

Jluv, I am especially curious of how yours looks and works. It sounds like a really cool location

Here is the seat in its normal position, you can't see the inverter without putting your head down in the floorboard area..

Here is the view if you lean over to see under the seat...

Another, from ground level in the front flooboard looking back...

From the back, with the seat moved all the way forward. The slacked wire you see is slacked on purpose. It belongs to the headrest monitor for that seat, and it needs slack so the seat can be moved forward and back. You can see the power and ground wire leading to the inverter...

And here is the view from the back with the seat in its normal position. The inverter is out of sight...

 

[TeckNine4]

O yea , I want to put my ps2 in the glovebox near. Mount that joint under the dash somewhere, I would hardwire that DC inverter To 2 strap (cheap) screens for the rear headrests or maybe do some cutting into the headrests.

 

[jluv]

O yea , I want to put my ps2 in the glovebox near. Mount that joint under the dash somewhere, I would hardwire that DC inverter To 2 strap (cheap) screens for the rear headrests or maybe do some cutting into the headrests.

The problem with mounting it under the dash is that the older style is way too big, and the newer, smaller style opens from the top. If you're only mounting one, a slim would go great in the glove compartment or even the center console. I have two, and really want the rear passengers to have easy access to them. Mine currently sit under the rear seats, but I am looking for a better solution.

 

[TeckNine4]

Howd u wire the screens? Is that easy?

 

[jluv]

Howd u wire the screens? Is that easy?

For my headrests, I have the Alpine PKG-M780 which comes with the two screens, a video switcher, and wiring. The wires for the headrests run down the inside of the seatback, out the bottom, under the carpet, and into the back of my truck where the switcher is mounted. The switcher has three sets of RCA inputs. I hooked up both PS2s and for the third set of inputs I ran RCAs from the AUX ouput of my head unit. This way, each backseat passenger can use either PS2 independently to play a game, listen to a CD, or watch a movie. Or, they can tap into whatever I have going up front. I have a separate DVD player with a built-in TV tuner hooked up to the AUX input on my head unit, so I can send a TV signal or yet another CD/DVD signal back to them. It can all be controlled from the headrest monitors or from the front head unit. Of course, the headrest screens can both play the same signal from a shared PS2 for two-player games if they want. The package came with wireless headphones as well.