mp3 player new location/hardwired
11-24-2004, 04:53 PM
#1
retired moderator
Thread Starter
iTrader: (38)
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Burke, VA
Posts: 27,289
mp3 player new location/hardwired
as some of you may recall I did a "custom" hardwire of the FM modulator to Bose setup using an Alpine XM receiver and my Dell jukbox MP3 player....works great, but decided I didn't like 3 things:
1. the location.....kind of had to lean forward to reach it
2. the location worried me if my passenger airbag ever went off, I might get an mp3 player going 500mph toward my face..
3. too many loose wires, especiallyl when using the cigarette lighter charger.
(you can see these in the 2ND pic below)
So i made a new bracket, a little nicer looking than the old one, painted the Dell holder, relocated it to a different area, and hardwired the charger directly into the cigarette lighter's wiring behind the dash (lighter still works, of course). While I was at it, I also hardwired my cell phone car charger and ran it so it comes out on the left of the console where my phone holder is (not pictured). I'm probably gonna relocate the Alpine face unit to inside the storage compartment between the seats, but that' s a project for another day.
bottom line: minimized ugly wires, relocated MP3 player in a better location
First pic is the new setup, second pic is the old setup.
old setup:
1. the location.....kind of had to lean forward to reach it
2. the location worried me if my passenger airbag ever went off, I might get an mp3 player going 500mph toward my face..
3. too many loose wires, especiallyl when using the cigarette lighter charger.
(you can see these in the 2ND pic below)
So i made a new bracket, a little nicer looking than the old one, painted the Dell holder, relocated it to a different area, and hardwired the charger directly into the cigarette lighter's wiring behind the dash (lighter still works, of course). While I was at it, I also hardwired my cell phone car charger and ran it so it comes out on the left of the console where my phone holder is (not pictured). I'm probably gonna relocate the Alpine face unit to inside the storage compartment between the seats, but that' s a project for another day.
bottom line: minimized ugly wires, relocated MP3 player in a better location
First pic is the new setup, second pic is the old setup.
old setup:
11-25-2004, 12:50 AM
#2
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 628
nice irish. deffinetly looks better this way. no wires runnign along the daash.
i was thinking of doing something similar with my ipod.
but saw a kit for the car which plugs directly into the cigarette lighter doulbes as a charger/fm transmitter/ and has a swiwel arm to adjust to your comfort. no wires at all. if that doesnt work .. i might do something similar to yours. thanks for ideas.
i was thinking of doing something similar with my ipod.
but saw a kit for the car which plugs directly into the cigarette lighter doulbes as a charger/fm transmitter/ and has a swiwel arm to adjust to your comfort. no wires at all. if that doesnt work .. i might do something similar to yours. thanks for ideas.
11-25-2004, 06:31 PM
#3
retired moderator
Thread Starter
iTrader: (38)
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Burke, VA
Posts: 27,289
yeah you mean the transpack thing that they sell...I thought about that, but heard that the FM modulator doen'st work all that clearly, though the design of it is very nice and convenient. The setup I have is actually wired INTO the Bose antenna for a clearer signal than a transmit FM modulator....
I still plan on cleaning up the wiring a little, but this is "stage 2" of the setup I guess.
I still plan on cleaning up the wiring a little, but this is "stage 2" of the setup I guess.
11-25-2004, 07:45 PM
#5
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 628
Originally Posted by irish44j
yeah you mean the transpack thing that they sell...I thought about that, but heard that the FM modulator doen'st work all that clearly, though the design of it is very nice and convenient. The setup I have is actually wired INTO the Bose antenna for a clearer signal than a transmit FM modulator....
I still plan on cleaning up the wiring a little, but this is "stage 2" of the setup I guess.
I still plan on cleaning up the wiring a little, but this is "stage 2" of the setup I guess.
11-25-2004, 08:12 PM
#7
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 628
Originally Posted by irish44j
yeah if you have a pioneer, you should be able to plug the ipod into the rca inputs via a cable you can buy at radio shack.....
11-26-2004, 07:17 AM
#10
Originally Posted by irish44j
as some of you may recall I did a "custom" hardwire of the FM modulator to Bose setup using an Alpine XM receiver and my Dell jukbox MP3 player....works great, but decided I didn't like 3 things:
1. the location.....kind of had to lean forward to reach it
2. the location worried me if my passenger airbag ever went off, I might get an mp3 player going 500mph toward my face..
3. too many loose wires, especiallyl when using the cigarette lighter charger.
(you can see these in the 2ND pic below)
So i made a new bracket, a little nicer looking than the old one, painted the Dell holder, relocated it to a different area, and hardwired the charger directly into the cigarette lighter's wiring behind the dash (lighter still works, of course). While I was at it, I also hardwired my cell phone car charger and ran it so it comes out on the left of the console where my phone holder is (not pictured). I'm probably gonna relocate the Alpine face unit to inside the storage compartment between the seats, but that' s a project for another day.
bottom line: minimized ugly wires, relocated MP3 player in a better location
First pic is the new setup, second pic is the old setup.
old setup:
1. the location.....kind of had to lean forward to reach it
2. the location worried me if my passenger airbag ever went off, I might get an mp3 player going 500mph toward my face..
3. too many loose wires, especiallyl when using the cigarette lighter charger.
(you can see these in the 2ND pic below)
So i made a new bracket, a little nicer looking than the old one, painted the Dell holder, relocated it to a different area, and hardwired the charger directly into the cigarette lighter's wiring behind the dash (lighter still works, of course). While I was at it, I also hardwired my cell phone car charger and ran it so it comes out on the left of the console where my phone holder is (not pictured). I'm probably gonna relocate the Alpine face unit to inside the storage compartment between the seats, but that' s a project for another day.
bottom line: minimized ugly wires, relocated MP3 player in a better location
First pic is the new setup, second pic is the old setup.
old setup:
Not good for electrical system...
11-26-2004, 05:06 PM
#11
retired moderator
Thread Starter
iTrader: (38)
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Burke, VA
Posts: 27,289
Originally Posted by Igor911
I hope you didnt plug all of those things into the cig. lighter wiring without using an addt'l relay...
Not good for electrical system...
Not good for electrical system...
just out of curiosity though, why would wiring both into the cig lighter be a problem? In my old car I had one of those double adaptors for the lighter and used to run my discman and my cellphone on it at the same time...no problems. I would think that if there was a problem, the fuse would blow, right? Anyhow, didn't do that, but curious as to why you say that. What/where would you add a resistor?
11-26-2004, 05:57 PM
#13
retired moderator
Thread Starter
iTrader: (38)
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Burke, VA
Posts: 27,289
Originally Posted by EvilRoadsVictim
In V3 you should tuck the wires behind the stereo. I have wires routed there, behind the headliner, side panels.. it's a pain sometimes but worth it.
11-26-2004, 11:59 PM
#14
Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 55
Here's my old iPod setup:
No pics of the new setup yet, but it's not much different, except the iPod is completely hidden now. I recently upgraded my HU to an Alpine CDA-9833, so I added the KCA-420i to the mix. Nice unit, although it's tough getting used to browsing my MP3s via the HU controls instead of on the iPod itself. Since I didn't need to have the iPod exposed anymore, I routed the cables into the top part of the armrest so the iPod is now completely out of view.
No pics of the new setup yet, but it's not much different, except the iPod is completely hidden now. I recently upgraded my HU to an Alpine CDA-9833, so I added the KCA-420i to the mix. Nice unit, although it's tough getting used to browsing my MP3s via the HU controls instead of on the iPod itself. Since I didn't need to have the iPod exposed anymore, I routed the cables into the top part of the armrest so the iPod is now completely out of view.
11-27-2004, 03:43 PM
#16
retired moderator
Thread Starter
iTrader: (38)
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Burke, VA
Posts: 27,289
you guys with the automatics have it good....room to put stuff right in front of the shifter 
us 5-speed/6-speed guys would end up with bloody knuckles with the players mounted there 
us 5-speed/6-speed guys would end up with bloody knuckles with the players mounted there
11-27-2004, 07:43 PM
#17
Nice work on the "home-made" mods once again, Josh.... I think its pretty darn neat and clean as it is.... ... although I gotta say, with all those receivers and MP3 players, ya sure must listen to a lot of crap when ya drive.... 
Hope ya had a good Thanksgiving....
... although I gotta say, with all those receivers and MP3 players, ya sure must listen to a lot of crap when ya drive.... Hope ya had a good Thanksgiving....
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post