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Carputer project

K

kovermours

Limp Gawd
Joined
Dec 24, 2003
Messages
287
I got sick of burning more CDs every time I wanted new music in my car so I decided to put a computer in my car. It's a 1983 Mustang LX hatchback, and I'm doing nothing to the body (except for window tint) so I don't think that anybody will be stealing it anytime soon.

First step was the stereo, it's almost done. Two 3 1/2" JLs in the front, two JBL 5x7" in the vinyl next to the back seat, two JL 6x9" 3-ways in the back, next to a 10" JBL (LCS-1050, off of ebay shiny new for $20!) To top that off, I'm saving up for an Audison LRx 5.600 (http://www.audison.it/prodotti.asp?lang=eng&idlinea=1&idprodotto=2), $1450. Prices are Canadian btw, for you foreign folks. Add 14.5% tax too. A Phoenix Gold TiMX10K ($200) capacitor will tie it together. All the speakers I have and are installed, and the whole thing looks stock, thanks to some nifty cutting and fabrication on my part. The 5x7" need grills though.

Just behind the handbrake is an armrest that folds up. Underneath there is an aluminium plate I had made. On that plate is a series of very cool James Bond-style buttons; you flip up the armrest, flip open the plastic covers, press the buttons which light up red, flip the plastic closed again, and close the armrest. Very nifty. One of them controls the amplifier remote switch, the other controls a relay for the inverter (I'll get to that in a minute), and there's some pushbutton switches for the computer. I'm thinking of putting a Griffin Powermate (http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/powermate/) in there as well.

Ok, time to get to the computer... once I get the amp I'll start on it. Here's my tentative parts list:

Via Mini-ITX M2-10000 or 12000 (12000 is hard to find)
512mb SODIMM
60gb laptop drive
200gb desktop drive
14" lcd
Zippy EL610 kb
Lucent pcmcia wifi + amp + roofmount omni antenna
Aopen 200w psu
Slimline dvd burner
USB Webcam
USB GPS thingy
Some kinda mouse
Some kinda small UPS
Some kinda small case

Link to a review of the Zippy kb:
http://www.ninjalane.com/display.aspx?docname=zippy-610

That just seems sooo useful at night.

Fortunately I'm getting the laptop HD, ram, and dvd burner from my rich uncle who spilled wine on his high-end Vaio. Not sure if the VIA board uses SODIMMs or regular ram, if it's regular I'll pick up some cheap samsung ram somewhere.

The 120v system will work like this:

I have a 400w inverter which will be powered off of the 60-amp-fused wires at the back, for the stereo. A relay will be put in so I can turn it on and off from the front. Plugged into it will be the UPS, as inverters are supposed to be used only for power tools, and not sensitive electronics. The LCD and PSU will plug into the UPS. (Yes I have room for all this crap.) From there it's fairly routine, except for the HDs which will be mounted vertically so the heads won't hit the platters if I go over a bump. The LCD will be somewhere in the dash.

The webcam will be for reversing, I can mount it in the rear bumper.

I'm also considering taking a gel-cell I have lying around and purchasing a battery isolator; this will let me watch movies for a few hours with the car off without worrying about having to start my car up again.

Anyway, I want your suggestions!! What kinda case should I use, will all this crap even work, did I forget anything, should I have a biometric ignition... I want to hear from this community about this project and any other possible mods!!

Kovermours
 
I'd be careful about running the UPS on the inverter unless you have a way to turn it off (via it's own power switch). Not only because every one of them I've ever had beeps non-stop when power is cut off to it until the battery dies from its own beeping, but also because UPS batteries are not designed to be discharged and recharged more than a few times in its life. Unless you can turn the UPS off every time you get out of the car, I wouldn't go with it.

It also sounds like you'll have quite a bit of money in the DC to AC and back to DC power system... For not much more you could probably just get an OPUS and have all of your problems solved, plus it's a whole lot more efficient.
 
I'm sure I could wire up another switch and the 2nd half of that relay to the existing power switch on the UPS. Thanks for the advice.

I've looked into the OPUS, but I need 120v for the lcd. It's also nice to have a regulated 120v line in a car... isn't it?
 
kovermours said:
I'm sure I could wire up another switch and the 2nd half of that relay to the existing power switch on the UPS. Thanks for the advice.

I've looked into the OPUS, but I need 120v for the lcd. It's also nice to have a regulated 120v line in a car... isn't it?
Click to expand...

Ah... Well, it sounds like you have a situation that might warrent using an inverter. Of course, if it were me (and I had the money), I'd grab an inverter for the screen AND get an OPUS for the actual computer. That might be going a little overboard on expense though.

OPUS pretty much just helps to make the install easier. You don't have to worry about the shutdown controller, adding noise into the line, surviving the crank (starting up the car), and sometimes, non-stop power draw can burn out a low quality inverter.

Also, OPUS uses less power than an inverter. Staying in DC is obviously more efficient than going from DC, to AC and back to DC again. From what I've read, an OPUS PSU is about 90% efficient. The PSU is about 60% efficient, and the inverter is about 70% efficient. That's quite a bit more power loss thanthe OPUS

Over all though, IMHO, OPUS is a good choice if you're just putting in the average computer system and want it to work right the first time with no hassle. It just works. However, it seems you have unique needs (the AC LCD), so as long as you don't mind playing with it some (Who doesn't? You wouldn't be posting on [H] if you didn't love tinkering with stuff :p ), I'd imagine the inverter would probably be most cost effective for you.

To me it looks like you'll have a pretty good system going. Good luck man, be sure to post some pics when you're done . :D I've been doing research on carputers for last 6 months, just about time to start on my own... I'll be ordering parts for it soon, just have to make a few last hardware decisions before I get to build it (pretty much just what amp/subs to get, as I'm going to do the carputer and stereo upgrade at the same time).
 
kovermours said:
Yeah, I did. They're not as [H]ardcore as this forum, though.
Click to expand...

Cough*
Some of us are members both places. I am a mod there and also the author of FrodoPlayer :)
Cough*

Anyway, a UPS will not run off an invertor unless you get a pure sine wave invertor, which
will cost more.

Your 14" LCD most probably runs off a brick powersupply which is 12v, if not, you might
can wire it up internally.

I also suggest using an OPUS. Do it right the first time. Then add your invertor in for
the gravy.

Frodo
 
FrodoBaggins said:
Some of us are members both places. I am a mod there and also the author of FrodoPlayer :)
Click to expand...

Yes, but MP3car doesn't have square brackets around it, does it now? :D

Looking at the OPUS it seems I now realize why it's so popular. Also I won't have to use a VIA TC (12v input) like with a CarNetix psu; they cost a lot more than their M-class counterparts.

I just hope it doesn't cost toooo much. They don't list prices on their website, and no local business carry them.

Yes, I will post pics when I'm done! Unfortunately I'm unemployed and broke right now (taking a bartending course) and that amp I mentioned costs almost twice as much as what I paid for my car. Luckily a friend bought a 1966 Mustang convertible (289 ci!) and is commissioning me to dick around with his stereo, which should earn me a couple bucks.

I had some trouble with the current crappy amp in there; turns out the battery terminal cables had eroded away so I went and replaced pretty much every 12v line under the hood.

The LCD does run off of a brick power supply but I don't know if it's 12v. If it's not I guess I could buy one of those bloody expensive Lilliput screens.

Thanks for everyone's pointers so far.
 
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