After changing my head unit up to an Alpine IVA-D900 earlier this week, I decided to pick up a slim PS2 for installation in my car. I tried a couple of different places for installation, and settled on the center console. Putting it there required the least modification to my car (only had to make 2 holes in the bottom of the compartment), it fit the best (the lid closes WITH the controllers plugged in), and it seemed like a logical spot. In fact, the test fit in there made it look like it was meant to be, it's almost perfect.
This took under 3 hours, from start to finish. That included taking both the driver's seat and center console out, and also installing an Alpine KCA-420i (which only took about 5-10 minutes), which arrived today as well.
Comments are encouraged and welcomed!
So here's how I did it...
Here you get an idea of how I wanted to mount the console. It still leaves me with enough space to keep everything in there that I need (but I did have to give up some random junk that was sitting in there). What you can't see is how it is almost flush with the top of the compartment.
I put 2 small marks with a white-out pen on the back of the console so that I could mark the holes that I had to drill for the plugs to come through.
I started the holes with a drill from the top, and then dremelled it out from underneath until it was just big enough for the power connector and AV adapter to fit through, filing and sanding it smooth once it was done.
Here is the hardware I picked up to connect it. I opted for a small AV adapter so that I could neatly mount it underneath the center console with double sided tape, and then run a wire to the D900 brain. I also went with a cigarette lighter adpater for a power supply, to allow the unit to run on 12 volts and eliminate the need for a bulky power inverter. Originally, the plan was to get the cigarette lighter power supply, and cut off the lighter part and hardwire it in. I learned however, that there was a power regulator inside the cigarette lighter part, so instead of cutting it off, I bought a 12v power socket which I wired into switched power, and then plugged the power adapter into that.
The AV adapter mounted underneath the center console. Neatly tucked away and secured with heavy duty 3M double sided tape (molding tape).
The assembled power adapter and power socket assembly mounted to the back of the inside of the center console with double sided tape. Power is run under my driver's seat to a distribution block which is on a relay that draws power directly form the battery via a 10 awg line that is used to power my headrest screens, video amp, sirius tuner, underglow, and now the PS2.
Similar to the first pic, but now mounted in the car. The cables are long enough to stick up from the bottom to allow me to plug them into the back of the PS2, but then they drop back through the holes, putting the PS2 right on the bottom of the compartment. I just used a small bit of double sided tape to secure it to the side of the compartment.
As I mentioned earlier, I can connect both controllers, and still close the lid on the center console. I don't know if it will close with a memory card installed, as I don't have one yet. I just picked up this PS2 yesterday, which actually isn't even mine. I have one in shipping from somebody on the board, but since I am going to a car show Sunday, I wanted to expedite the process and get one installed.
This took under 3 hours, from start to finish. That included taking both the driver's seat and center console out, and also installing an Alpine KCA-420i (which only took about 5-10 minutes), which arrived today as well.
Comments are encouraged and welcomed!
So here's how I did it...
Here you get an idea of how I wanted to mount the console. It still leaves me with enough space to keep everything in there that I need (but I did have to give up some random junk that was sitting in there). What you can't see is how it is almost flush with the top of the compartment.
I put 2 small marks with a white-out pen on the back of the console so that I could mark the holes that I had to drill for the plugs to come through.
I started the holes with a drill from the top, and then dremelled it out from underneath until it was just big enough for the power connector and AV adapter to fit through, filing and sanding it smooth once it was done.
Here is the hardware I picked up to connect it. I opted for a small AV adapter so that I could neatly mount it underneath the center console with double sided tape, and then run a wire to the D900 brain. I also went with a cigarette lighter adpater for a power supply, to allow the unit to run on 12 volts and eliminate the need for a bulky power inverter. Originally, the plan was to get the cigarette lighter power supply, and cut off the lighter part and hardwire it in. I learned however, that there was a power regulator inside the cigarette lighter part, so instead of cutting it off, I bought a 12v power socket which I wired into switched power, and then plugged the power adapter into that.
The AV adapter mounted underneath the center console. Neatly tucked away and secured with heavy duty 3M double sided tape (molding tape).
The assembled power adapter and power socket assembly mounted to the back of the inside of the center console with double sided tape. Power is run under my driver's seat to a distribution block which is on a relay that draws power directly form the battery via a 10 awg line that is used to power my headrest screens, video amp, sirius tuner, underglow, and now the PS2.
Similar to the first pic, but now mounted in the car. The cables are long enough to stick up from the bottom to allow me to plug them into the back of the PS2, but then they drop back through the holes, putting the PS2 right on the bottom of the compartment. I just used a small bit of double sided tape to secure it to the side of the compartment.
As I mentioned earlier, I can connect both controllers, and still close the lid on the center console. I don't know if it will close with a memory card installed, as I don't have one yet. I just picked up this PS2 yesterday, which actually isn't even mine. I have one in shipping from somebody on the board, but since I am going to a car show Sunday, I wanted to expedite the process and get one installed.
