Installing Alpine Overhead DVD...

[Bonthron]

In our "new-to-us" 06 Mazda5 I will be installing an Alpine PKG-RSE2 Overhead DVD player this week. I have bigger plans for adding to this system in the summer when things warm up a bit outside, but until then I need to get this installed for my kids because we will be spending a fair bit of time on the roads this holiday. So I just have a couple of questions...

1. This Alpine unit only needs four electrical connections for basic operations. The ground and door connections should be easy in the ceiling, but is there 12V constant and a 12V switched wires in the ceiling or at the base of either side B-pillar? Or do I have to take these off terminals under the dash, or from the passenger-side fuse panel?

2. Is there an easy way to drop the headliner a bit? I've read the Mazda5 OEM DVD installation PDF someone posted here, but I'm wondering if I need to go that far. I'm going to try to get away with cutting the headliner as little as possible slit for the power connector and four holes to attach the unit to the mounting plate between the headliner and roof metal.

3. Are there any free online resources for detailed 06 Mazda5 wiring diagrams? If not can you recommend the best paper or electronic manual available?

Any info you can provide to make this install go any faster in these freezing temperatures would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Chris

 

[skyhawk]

It is winter time.. If It was me I will make do with temporary wiring (using cigarette liter outlet)
until spring when you can do it properly. Plastics also seem to break easily when it is cold.
Something to consider when working on these cars, and prying out plastic panels.

But if there is a heated garage,
Here are some of the diagrams for a MAZDA5.. found in the net before:

1. http://www.msprotege.com/members/skyhawk/interior/electrical1.JPG

2. http://www.msprotege.com/members/skyhawk/interior/electrical2.JPG

3. http://www.msprotege.com/members/skyhawk/interior/interiorlightwd1.JPG

4. http://www.msprotege.com/members/skyhawk/interior/interlight2.JPG

I'm curious what is the 'door connection' for?.

 

[Heat]

Be sure to take some pictures of the process / finished product, I was thinking about the same DVD player at one time. Still might do it in the future but right now I've got a lot of other expenses (new house).

 

[Bonthron]

It is winter time.. If It was me I will make do with temporary wiring (using cigarette liter outlet)
until spring when you can do it properly. Plastics also seem to break easily when it is cold.
Something to consider when working on these cars, and prying out plastic panels.

But if there is a heated garage,
Here are some of the diagrams for a MAZDA5.. found in the net before:

1. http://www.msprotege.com/members/skyhawk/interior/electrical1.JPG

2. http://www.msprotege.com/members/skyhawk/interior/electrical2.JPG

3. http://www.msprotege.com/members/skyhawk/interior/interiorlightwd1.JPG

4. http://www.msprotege.com/members/skyhawk/interior/interlight2.JPG

I'm curious what is the 'door connection' for?.

The door connection is for the built-in dome lights that on some installs require the removal of the stock rear dome light. In my case they didn't need to cover them so now I have both. Now I just need to find white LED bulbs to replace the "now very orange looking" incandescents that are in there.

Thanks for those links (they will be handy in the future) and the suggestion about potential panel breakage. Didn't even think about that.

The Alpine PKG-RES2 that I snagged on eBay had a bad display with poor picture quality. Thankfully the seller accepted my return.

I ended up popping around to a mobile audio place I've worked with in the past to see what they could do for me. They are also an Alpine dealer and said they've seen too many problems with the Alpine unit, although they still sell it. They actually recommended the Clarion units because they've had very few problems with them and they're a better value. Lower price, two pair of better headphones, smaller/thinner unit and better controls. The only advantages the Alpine is it has a button on the front edge to make it easier for the driver or front passenger to pause/play media, and also the disc slot is in the back edge in the middle, on the Clarion it's on the passenger side of the unit.

 

[Heat]

What I am wanting to do is to use an iPod product (Touch or Nano) to process the movies / TV shows in the Mazda5, sending the signal to a roof-mounted video monitor which would then have a couple of audio jacks for headphones.

The cost of the monitor should be around $200 or $250 and the cost of the iPod Touch is about $200. I wouldn't have DVD capability but I could rip my DVDs onto the iPod using software available online and of course could buy TV shows for $1.99 each and movies for a little more through iTunes.

Have you ever heard of a setup like this? Any ideas on which monitors would work? My conclusion on the Alpine unit you were looking at is that it is a very neat setup, but too expensive for what it is. Though compared to an OEM DVD player setup it is a bargain.

 

[Bonthron]

What I am wanting to do is to use an iPod product (Touch or Nano) to process the movies / TV shows in the Mazda5, sending the signal to a roof-mounted video monitor which would then have a couple of audio jacks for headphones.

You could easily do that, but here are some things to think about...

1. Do you want your backseat passengers (kids?) using your iPod to control the video? I might trust my 9 year old but not my 5 year old. Would you use the iPod for other things?

2. Do you want the hassle of potentially storing 4 sets of wired headphones? And where would you plug them in? Would you run a 3.5 mm jack to each seat position?

3. You would need to purchase/install a headphone amplifier since, most of the displays I've seen don't have integrated 3.5 mm headphone jacks, so you would need to take audio off your iPod directly and amplify it if you wanted more than one set of headphones.

4. Do you want the added hassle of ripping/converting your DVDs for iPod use?

I was thinking the same as you in a previous vehicle, but the pros (cost) did not outweigh the cons. To the best of my knowledge, there are no name-brand overhead LCD displays, therefore you will be dealing with an off-brand like Pyle, Gryphon, or Soundstorm anyway. One of these brands with no DVD is only about $50 to $75 cheaper than with a DVD, plus you will get additional inputs for iPod video or other sources, a remote control and most likely IR transmitters for wireless headphones. Some may even come with a pair of them, and additional ones can be had for $20 online.

So really it's up to you if you're happy with off-brand electronics, then you're not saving to much by taking the monitor/iPod video route, and you're losing convenience.

BTW, many of the display only units I've seen also have IR transmitters for wireless headphones, but none that I saw come with them.