Car computer fun

[M pro]

Well for some time I have had a computer installed in my car but I didn’t do a very good job installing it…

It was really just for a test when I originally installing the computer so nothing fancy was needed.

But as time went on and setting it up and getting it to work with remote control, it started to be a part of the car so it was time to do things right

So out came the shabby install I did of the screen as that was the thing you see the most

As you can see……… it’s not the best…


There where many things I was going to do here, one was to sand down the metal and spray it black but I scraped the metal for black plastic as its less messing around and doesn’t look to bad, its also easier to work with then the metal


getting the screen just right was also tricky as the screen has a large board so if lined up incorrectly the board would hit the heater controls and that’s a bad thing


As the screen looked a little… how should I put it naff with just the plastic I got hold of a sheet of Perspex “spelling” the bit that annoyed me was that I had to buy a large sheet of the stuff and all I needed was a bit 14.6cm x 9.4cm and not a massive sheet.

After cutting and rounding all the sides then drilling the holes a buff up was needed, it came out not to bad


Now when this is all done there will be 4 rounded nuts holding the Perspex on about 5mm above the plastic which in turn will be holding the screen on.

But for now to see what it would look like I just used stuff laying around


Ok here it is with the all the bits on “loosely” to see what it will look like
When I have it finished there will be 2 blue led’s on ether end of the Perspex shining into the Perspex “not shining at you” doing that should give an affect of a blue glow on the sides of the Perspex when the computers not on and you turn on the lights


Well that’s all for now, I’ll post more when I get a little more done

[Leviathan]

Ive been thinking about doing exactly the same sort of thing, what sort of kit will you be using? Mini itx motherboard?, what sort of screen is it you got? also how you ging to control it? I would love to get a touch screen in there, 7" screen will just about fit in

[M pro]

I have a standard P3 board in the boot in a custom made case “needs work on the case” eventually it will be much smaller

The PC at the mo

P3 700mhz
Some Abit MB
60gb hd for mp3 and films
cd rom
voodoo3 with tv out
SBlive
Soon to have GPS

I control it all using infrared remote control, I got the circuit layout for the infrared receiver and the software from http://www.lirc.org/receivers.html

The screens a PSone LCD that works well and for £45 cheep too

[stoofer]

an Epia motherboard is perfectly suited.

tiny, low power, low heat

[Leviathan]

Ah but have you seen the Nano-itx motherboard
HOW small

[M pro]

Ok more progress for ya

It didn't matter how hard I looked I couldn't find smooth toped screws to hold on the Perspex in place so I opted to Alan key tops instead

And continued to build the screen

Pics with the power on




In this pic you can see the large circuit board at the back of the screen


That’s it for now

Coming up next, trying to find the right blue led's

[M pro]

Well here are some before and after pics of the screen

As you can see the metal didn’t look so hot




But the black plastic on the other hand look good enough for me, just look how good it looks…… hold up a sec!


AHhhh that’s better


If you look at the ashtray your see two buttons on it, ones for volume up and down and ones for mute as travaling at speeds and using a remote are not good things





I’m a little surprised with the lack of interest in the whole car computer thing as I was told there where lots of interested 200sx owners out there that where thinking of doing the same thing.

Maybe I posted this on the wrong board?

[formula]

not many people look in here

i've been reading, just not posting

is cool though.. well done.. is it touch screen?? if not, how do you interface with it??

james

[M pro]

It’s not touch screen but it’s controlled all with a little infrared remote control

I use the control to control the mp3 software on the computer as will as the volume and to shut the computer down.

I do have a little touchpad hidden away if I ever need to install new software at anytime though. But so fare the infrared remote control does everything

[RohanC]

I looked at doing this b4, but stumbbled at the pricing....

There was no way i was going to use an inverter to power the thing (Car DC12v to AC240v back to DC12v for the PC isnt good!)

I found a device that could use 12v DC but i could afford it at the time and gave up completely!

How did you power yours??

[M pro]

Sadly I have to also use an inverter for the computer to work.

You can now get PC power supplies that work of 12 volts though and I’m thinking of getting one as there about the same price at a normal PSU

I’ll have to find a link for ya

[JonnyBoy]

Looks the dogs danglies mate, but may I ask why you've done it? Does the computer do anything else than play MP3s?

[steve(s14a)]

That looks real bling bling!

But as JonnyBoy says, what are you going to use it for?

[yeager]

this looks excellent.. I may well be asking you some advice in the near future once my own computer install gets closer to fruition

[RohanC]

Forgot to praise your work!!

Does look v. nice.... s'posse you can sit there and watch div'x's on it

[RSendout]

Just wondering why touch screens are popular (couple of you mentioned them here and have been mentioned before)
If you have ever had one (I have) you will know they are a pain in the arse! Always covered in greasey finger prints, look a bit poo in my opinion.
Anyway just my opinion

[madcowman]

Thats cracking mate - now what about a USB GPS module and autoroute 2003 ?

[yeager]

Any chance you can come to the next Milton Keynes meet so I can have a chat

[formula]

Originally posted by M pro
Sadly I have to also use an inverter for the computer to work.

You can now get PC power supplies that work of 12 volts though and I’m thinking of getting one as there about the same price at a normal PSU

I’ll have to find a link for ya

hmm.. cool.. wonder how it handles the problem of voltage fluctuation? also, with a laptop hdd and low power consumption, could you not leave the pc on all the time?

james

[Dave_S]

Thats sweet mate!!

Oh god, PSX screen!!! why didnt I think of this, whats the input into it?? composite / svid etc?

Dave