How to Add Video to Your Car Audio System

There's a new way to amuse children (and adults!) on long car trips: Add video to your car audio system.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Long Tape Measure
• "red, Black And Green Markers"
• Screws
• Screws
• Putty Knife Or Screwdriver
• Solder And Solder Gun
• Solder
• Nails
• Nails
• Nails
• Toy Saws

Checking the Equipment for an Auxiliary Input

1. Check the radio you now have. Is it the original radio that came with the car? If it is an aftermarket radio, does it have an auxiliary input? If you are using an original radio or an aftermarket radio that does not have an auxiliary input, you will have to obtain an FM modulator. An FM modulator takes the audio from the video system and converts it into an FM signal that can be picked up by the radio. You will have to set the radio at a particular frequency to pick up the signal. The instructions for the modulator tell you what that frequency channel is. If your radio has an auxiliary input, you can add components directly to it.

Searching for Video Components and Laying Out a Plan

2. Seek out the following components: television tuner, videocassette recorder or videocassette player, television antenna and television monitors. There are now television tuners, monitors and videocassette recorders and players specifically designed to work in the 12-volt electrical system of your car. Companies that offer such products include Clarion and Audiovox. The VCRs or videocassette players that are designed to work in a 12-volt environment use 8mm tape format. These products are commonly controlled by a remote control that uses infrared. It is also possible to include a home VCR that works on 110 AC/DC current. The home unit will deliver better sound, but it is larger than the 8mm unit and is not stable when bouncing around.

3. Look for a 100-watt inverter if you intend to incorporate a home VCR into your car's system.

4. Determine where each component of the video portion of the audio-video system will be placed, how many RCA cables and interconnect cables you will need, and where the wires will be routed. Tuners and VCRs are commonly put under a seat. Modulators are usually put in the trunk. Monitors are typically embedded into the back of the front seats' headrests so passengers in the back of the car can view the screen.

Installing the Components

5. Read the instructions that come with the components.

6. Gather the following tools: razor or scalpel, pencil or marker, ruler or tape measure, screws, screwdriver or drill with screw bit, crimps or solder and solder gun, hammer, nails, masonite wood, saw, and vinyl or leather upholstery.

7. Disassemble the VCR and take the infrared eye off the circuit board. Solder a wire to the area vacated by the infrared eye and route the wire up to the dash. Solder the infrared eye to the end of the wire and mount the eye to the dash. This will allow you to control the VCR with the remote control. Reassemble the VCR.

8. Use RCA cable to connect the television tuner to the radio. Plug one end of the RCA cable into the television tuner and one end into the auxiliary input of the radio. If you are using an FM modulator, unplug the radio's antenna and plug the modulator switching device into the radio's antenna input; then plug the antenna into the modulator. Connect the power lead of the modulator switching device to the ignition switch accessory line so that the modulator turns on only when the car is on. Ground the modulator with the other video components. Connect the television tuner to the modulator.

9. Mount the VCR and/or the television tuner under the front passenger seat or in the trunk.

10. Use RCA cable to connect the VCR or cassette player to the television tuner. Plug one end of the RCA cable into the television tuner and one end into the VCR or cassette player. If you wish to use a home VCR, connect the 100-watt inverter to a 12-volt constant source such as the ignition accessory line or a fuse, and to the VCR. Connect the VCR or cassette player to the television tuner.

11. Measure the dimensions of the monitors you intend to use.

12. With the pencil or marker, mark on the back of the front seat headrest where the monitor will be placed. Give the dimensions a few extra fractions of an inch to accommodate a box for the monitor.

13. Using the scalpel or razor, carefully cut out the hole for the monitor, and cautiously take out the foam from the seat so that you don't affect the way the headrest feels for the front seat's occupant.

14. Construct the box that will hold the monitor. Professional installers commonly use masonite. Make accommodations for wires feeding into the box to the monitor.

15. Mount the box into the hole.

16. Reupholster the headrest.

17. Route the wires from the tuner or VCR (commonly under the front passenger seat) through the seat and up to the hole in the headrest.

18. Connect the wires to the monitor, and insert the monitor into the hole in the headrest.

19. Connect the monitor, television tuner and VCR to a 12-volt source such as the ignition accessory line. This ensures that the components do not remain on when the car is off.

20. Ground each component together to a clean surface on the metal chassis of the car.

21. Stick the television antenna to the window of the car and connect it to the television tuner.

Tips & Warnings

• If you want to add video games, Sega offers a 12-volt version of its game system. You need to pull power from the ignition accessory line as well as ground the product where you ground the other components of the video system. You will need an adapter to incorporate a Nintendo or Sony game system. Just plug the adapter into the game system and connect the adapter to a 12-volt source - the ignition accessory line.
• You can set up multiple stations to permit the viewer of each monitor to watch his or her choice of media. To achieve this, you need to use a switching box with multiple inputs and a single output so the viewers can switch from one source to another. Audiovox and Clarion offer a switchbox that accommodates up to four monitors. The switchbox plugs into the auxiliary input of the radio, and everything else plugs into the switchbox.
• Many states have laws forbidding a television monitor from being mounted in the front of the car. Still, many professional installers have created systems that include a front monitor. They use a head unit with a monitor, and include multimedia units offered by Clarion and Alpine. The most careful installers attach this monitor to the car's emergency brake or emergency brake light using a relay. So if the emergency brake is on, the front monitor will work. If the emergency brake is off, the front monitor will remain off. Ask your car audio retail dealer how to connect the relay if you want this feature.
• Don't attempt the installation unless you are comfortable with sawing through your car seats, taking apart your VCR, and so on. If you're not, ask your car audio dealer to install your chosen components for you.