Adding TV-out to a Griffin PowerDock

[vrg3]

EnzoTen did some good work figuring out how to make use of the video output functionality of the Sansa View. In his writeup he shows how you can make an A/V cable:

http://www.anythingbutipod.com/archi...-video-out.php

Another option is to modify a Griffin PowerDock to add a video jack. The PowerDock provides line-level audio outputs and a standard mini-USB connector for data and charging, and can be bought very cheaply on eBay.

Make this modification, add a common audio Y-cable and an RCA cable for video, and a cheaply available USB charger, and you've got a great dock to leave on top of your TV set. Examples of parts:

http://www.bgmicro.com/index.asp?Pag...D&ProdID=11177
http://www.bgmicro.com/index.asp?Pag...D&ProdID=10610
http://www.bgmicro.com/index.asp?Pag...D&ProdID=12278

[vrg3]

The needed parts are:

- A Griffin PowerDock for Sansa

- A few inches of two conductors of wire. 28 AWG seems like a good size. I used the first two conductors torn off of an IDE (not UDMA) cable.

- A panel-mount RCA jack. This consists of the jack with a solder lug, a ring terminal with a solder lug, a spring washer, and a nut. I used a gold-plated jack from Radio Shack, part number 274-852: http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2103234

[vrg3]

The PowerDock comes apart easily without tools:

- Gently pry the aluminum frame apart so the black plastic insert can be slid out.

- The black plastic top and back will then snap off, leaving the dock connector and circuit board.

[vrg3]

Now for the modifications:

- Drill a 1/4" hole in the back face of the dock's case.

- Solder one wire to the ground contact of the line-out jack.

- Solder the other wire to the video signal pin of the dock connector, the seventh contact from the left as viewed in the picture.

- Solder the ground wire to the RCA jack's ring terminal.

- Thread the signal wire through the nut, the washer, the ring terminal, and the new hole in the case, and solder it to the RCA jack's center lug.

[vrg3]

And finally put it all together:

- Tighten the nut, trapping the washer and ring terminal and securing the jack to the case.

- Snap the plastic body together and squeeze it back into the aluminum frame.

- Enable TV out on the Sansa View and use it with the dock. The dock's E200 rubber insert fits the View nicely.

[vrg3]

Hmm... All the pictures got shrunken way down by the forum software. Bummer.

These links should yield full-size versions:

[Sciamano]

Interesting. Too bad I have used a soldering iron in my whole life!