I have the Microvison TV screen in my dash. How can I hook up two video sources to it at the same time. Sources being PS2 and a reverse keyhole camera. I looked into video source switches but they were big and looked like the ones you use at home. Is there any other option out there? All I need is a switch to select the different input source on the screen.

Let me know, Aaron

 

Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuump

 

DIY but create a 'tiny' version of this with a simple 'on' and 'off' switch where the 'on' can be the PS2 and the 'off' can be the camera?

http://www.elephantstaircase.com/wik...e=RCASwitchBox

I am also curious about this as well.

 

go to Walmart(or Best Buy... i don't remember exactly where I got it)... they have an input selection made by Terk. It's tiny, and can hold 4 different feeds. I went ahead and measured it for ya... 1 1/2" tall, 6 1/2" wide... pretty small, you can fit it anywhere...

EDIT - here's a pic of one of the Terk's... this one is a little larger than mine, but basically the same layout.

http://cgi.ebay.com/TERK-MOD-41-VIDE...QQcmdZViewItem

 

Thanks for the input guys. I will need something that I can easilt get to so I can switch the signal. What does everyone do?

But for 99 cents can I go wrong?

 

There are switches that would allow you to do this.

They are only a couple dollars.

 

Where would I be able to buy the switch?

 

I would imagine some sort of rocker switch, the kind that has 3 prongs.

The middle prong that is always in contact with the rocker would be the common "output." The top and bottom would be the "inputs"

something like this:


Check some auto parts stores, maybe they will have it.

 

Is wiring RCA video cables any different then regular type wires? For example, I would connect the PS2 video wire to input 1 and the camera video wire to input 2? Seems very easy. I will have to try it once I get my reverse camera...

 

RCA's have a power and ground. You wire the power wires to each lead, then use a common ground.

You know, you COULD just use a y-adapter from radio shack. With this, just make sure one source is off before you turn the other one on.

 

Thanks for helping me out man. Really a simple subject, but can get rather complicated. You know your stuff.

I don't really understand that. Where will I connect the ground to each source?


I knew I could do that, but for something like the camera I don't want to shut off the PS2 just for a quick second.

 

Ok, sorry, I'll break it down a bit more.

Look at your RCA's...Hopefully you're using something of decent quality and you can see through the main insulation. You will see 1 of 2 things inside that main insulation
1. Two wires both in insulation. Typically they're twisted together.
2. One wire in insulation, the other on the outside.

Here's what you do:
Scenario 1: You have to test/try to figure out which is positive. The positive lead is connected to the middle pin on the RCA plug. If you don't have a meter, try to disassemble the plug itself to see which wire is connected to the middle pin. This may involve razor blades to slice open the plug. The negative is the outer ring on the plug.
2: The insulated wire is positive. The other is the ground.

Then,
Take both the negative wires, twist em together, and ground em somewhere, same place as your micro screen/HU, etc etc.

You will have two positive leads left. Each of these goes into the "input" from the diagram above.

If you have any more questions, IM me, sn is in my profile. Good luck...

 

Oh your the man! I got it now. Same type of thing with my power inverter. I had to cut that plug off and look at the board to see which one was positive and negative. But you told me the middle lead is the positive. Excellent, I will look for a rocker type switch and test it out. I might want to plug in an aux input too for a digital camera. Oh I got some ideas. I'll probably end up hitting you up on AIM.

 

The only thing I'm not 100% positive about is using a common ground. I know that RCA is a variable signal, but I think that's only on the + side, not the -. I'm 95% sure but that little bit is giving me doubts. I'll try to double check and verify before you go cutting up your RCA's

If only micro took two inputs, lol.

 

Okay, sounds good. I love my Microvision, this is probably the only negative about it.

 

That and how it picks up electrical engine noise.

 

I don't notice that too much.

 

It was there enough to bother me...

 

Common ground????

 

What about it?

 

Are you 100% sure yet?

 

From the people I've spoken to, you can just ground the (-) of the RCA wire. I've also sent this link to Don, he can provide some insight as well.

 

Oops.... anyways.... The sheilding on the rca is the ground and the middle rod is the +. The source selector really is the easiest way to go.

 

Way to answer a question that's already answered, spanky. Get back to work.

 

Here's the easiest thing to do, get an rca y adapter for the video input, and put a swich on one of the y's then u can switch on and off the video signal to the PS when the reverse cam is on.

 

Just spoke to Don to try to get some insight. He personally has never heard of putting toggle switches on RCA's. He said it MAY work.

So there's no harm in trying, but if it doesn't work, get a video switcher. You can ones that are pretty small.

 

I will try hooking up a toggle switch. I would rather have that so I can mount it into my center console. If I got a video switcher, then I would have to place it somewhere. I need it easily accessable.

Thanks guys...

 

Could this switch work?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Lot-of-20-On-Off...QQcmdZViewItem

 

Does "double-throw" mean anything special?

 

Or this switch if I had several video sources. This is a rotary switch. I would be unsure about how to wire that up though...

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=family

 

Stay away from Radio Shack. That switch is rated at only .3 amps, a very low amperage, like many of their switches.

 

Gotcha, I will go to AutoZone tomorrow. I will report back.