In-Car-Compuer(Complete)-

nickm · Post by **nickm** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 9:32 pm

Sorry for the lack of updates but have been at uni for the last few weeks and have only just got the internet!!!

Have just finished ordering all of the bits which I will need; the car PC components and screen. so hopefuly they will arive intime for the w/e

.

Im going to find a power invertor tomorrow and maby a leisure battery to run it all from if the budget can stretch to that...

Have done some internet trawling and have found a forum called mp3car.com These people seem to be quite good at what they do and I found it quite interesting haveing a read through. What I did find was a section which mentioned that all cars post 1996 have the abbility to have all of the engine diagnostics read from them through the little port under the steering wheel on the polo. I think it would be really cool to intergrate that into the system, maby into a heads up display. Maby im getting a bit far ahead of myself with the H/U display, but im sure the resty is possible.

Does anyone have any experience of reading such data from the OBD-II port?

Will try to give updates a bit more regularly from now on! Polo Dude - sorry to hear about your mirrors, id have been mad!!. Hope your projects going OK. Looks good so far,
Nick

nickm · Post by **nickm** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 3:47 pm

Quick update;

Just received all of the items I orderd- Screen and PC components. Just need to find a place to mount them all now, but theres plenty of room under the dash!

Hopefuly will get the system up and running on the bench this w/e

Will let you all know how it goes!

polo_dude · Post by **polo_dude** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 4:42 pm

Ahh Thats sounding great mate!!, by any chance can i ask where you got the comp components from did you get them from that aria site?? . it'll be good to see another comp up and running once installed give us a few flashes of them!! really would like to see this BTW did you stick with the screen i got or buy something else??Keep those update coming i'm really getting into this

Little Update from me aswell. Got the mirros sorted a while back so M.O.T has been compelted ect and all is well. Got exams coming up so jst revisng for them but after all of that the project will be back on!!. Just a few hold ups with me but thats all.

nickm · Post by **nickm** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 5:36 pm

Glad to hear that you got the mirrors sorted out mate!

I got the PC components from the Aria website. The sepecs are pretty similar to the ones that I posted before, but changed a bit as I found some beter offers! I cant find a list of the exact components which I chose, but will have a look later if you are interested. A rough list of what I got;

The same motherboard as mentioned in the previous post

2.5GHz AM2 dual core processor

2x 1 Gigabite DD2 RAM

500 Gigabyte SATA2 Hard drive

450W PSU

Im going to test the computer out tonight if I have time, so will post to tell you how it goes.

I purchased a 500W power invertor the otherday which I need to test out to see whether it works with the PSU as it gives out a modified sine wave, rather than a straight one - so might cause problems

The invertor and PSU are higher powerd than I should need, but it means that every thing is working well within its limit so should be more efficient. Also invertors dont like running at full power for more than half an hour or so.

Yes - I got the same screen as you did (from you recomendation) and I have to agree, the build quality is excellent

Ive just spent the last half hour or so (untill the sun went down) takiing out the glovebox and installing the screen. From this I have learnt two things;

1) There is hardley any room under the dash for a computer. Its going to be a realy tight squese in there. The major problem is the motherboard which is the largest component. Still - where thers a will...

2) I cant open the screen

. I try pressing the screen in, but nothing! The radio works so im prety sure its not the wireing (unless thers something quirkey). Any help would be appreciated! With yours do you simpley press the front when its turned on and it pops out?

Will keep you updated, and good luck in your exams. I know the feeling as ive got some coming up soon

nickm · Post by **nickm** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 8:51 pm

Ahem,
found the problem with the screen. Theres a little screw in the top which keeps the screen in while traveling which you have to remove before use. As stated by the big sticker next to the screw...

.

Im now off to build the computer!

Post by **alexperkins** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 8:52 pm

You gonna run linux or windows media center dude?

polo_dude · Post by **polo_dude** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 9:21 pm

nickm wrote:Ahem,
found the problem with the screen. Theres a little screw in the top which keeps the screen in while traveling which you have to remove before use. As stated by the big sticker next to the screw... .

Im now off to build the computer!

haha, I did the exact same thing mate!!

till i paid attention to the sticker aswell.

Did you mange to find out that ignition cable on the headunit was "light switch cable"?? it defo baffled me and Alex. If you can find the exact spec i'd really appriciate it mate.

nickm · Post by **nickm** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 11:45 pm

Built the PC tonight and all is running well!!!

You gonna run linux or windows media center dude?

I havent thought too much about the software side yet, im still trying to get my head around where to fit all the hardware

. From doing a few searches on the internet ive found a few peices of software which act as front ends on XP and intergrate all the regularly used software into an easely used enviroment from a touch screen which would be helpful. However, I realy dont like Windows too much, so I think Linux might be the awnser as the screen came with software which runs on linux as well as XP. Although as I have a 500Gig HD, I could always use a dual boot OS and have the best of both worlds!

Luckily I read your posts on the subject of the "light switch cable" otherwise id have been rather frustrated! still, thats what you get from buying somthing made in china, the intstruction manual also didnt make much sense in places! Good thing I never bother to read them

Ill dig out the exact specifications of the PC tomorow for you, although its very flexible to fit in with your own budget. Ill also try the PC off the power invertor (hope it works)

chrisash32 · Post by **chrisash32** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 10:44 am

Hi guys,
been reading this over the past few days but only just had time to post.
Take a look at http://www.mp3car.com/
Thats a good forum where loads of people have got car pc's.

I used to have one in my old ibiza, not the best running thing in the world but it worked. I used a HP iPaq to control the PC using MS-RDP. Not the best solution, but students cant afford that much

lol.

Anyway, with the power issues, take a look for the DC-DC board that they have either on that website or Mini ITX .com (google it) they work in a way that doesn't need an inverter. A PC uses 12v max yeh? so whats the point in converting your cars 12v to 240v for a PSU to convert it back down to 12v again.... pointless... so that DC-DC psu sorts all that out for you.
Also, the DC-DC is smart in a way that it powers the PC up when the car starts but also powers it down (correctly) when the car is powered off!

Just a thought!

Chris

nickm · Post by **nickm** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 11:35 am

Thanks for the link, I have been reading that forum for the last few days and it seems to be quite good.

On the power side of things, I did think of using a DC-DC convertor but decided to go the invertor route for the following reasons;

1) The DC-DC PSUs can only supply a low ammount of power, and I was afraid that the system im building would need too much for it to handle.

2) Cost, Its Â£90 for a 185W DC-DC PSU, which would struggle to run the system. Ive spent Â£60 on the invertor setup which can suply 450W of power to the PC.

I agree that itll be a pain having to sort out the controll for the power, but im intending to make a simple system which can control the system for me using a PIC chip. and for me this is part of the fun of the project!

Btw have you got any pics of your previous install?

nickm · Post by **nickm** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 7:57 pm

So, finally looked up the actual specs of the computer and here they are;

Motherboard - ECS AMD690GM-M2 Â£34.95

Processor - AMD athlon 64 x2 dual core 480 2.5GHz Â£52.45

RAM - 2X Kingston 1GB PC2-5300 CL5 Â£13.95

PSU - SV 450W silentload 20 & 24+SATA Â£8.95

Hard drive - 500GB Seagate barracuda SATA2 58.95

The specs can be easily changed to meet your own costs. eg, if you arnt intending to store that much video, cut down on the size of the HD. you can get a 2.2GHz processor for about 15/20 quid less, and it shouldent affect the performance too much. You can always add RAM later on, so you could always just buy one stick now and add another later on. If you have more money to burn then you could buy larger sticks of RAM (max of two sticks though so go for the largest size you can as it saves throughing it away later if you upgrade)

Hope this helps with your computer shoping. If you have any Qs, just ask and Ill try and help

.

Polodude, quick Q. With your screen, if your listening to the radio with the screen closed, then open the screen, does the radio slowley fade into a hiss of static untill theres no signal atall? its whats happening with mine and its really bugging me!

Oh, last thing, tested the power the PC draws when running. When its idle it draws between 80 and 95 watts. When being worked hard about 120W max. While starting up it draws max 180W. So should draw about 10A when running media which means if I get a second battery of 14AH it should run for an hour which is much better than I thought!

polo_dude · Post by **polo_dude** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 7:05 pm

Polodude, quick Q. With your screen, if your listening to the radio with the screen closed, then open the screen, does the radio slowley fade into a hiss of static untill theres no signal atall? its whats happening with mine and its really bugging me!

I'm affirad not nickm nothing like that happens at all with my one

. Is the unit secured properly within the hole?? as in if the screen isnt secure pulling the screen out may move the antenna cable which may produce the static noise. I'm not entirely sure. Actually When you pull out the screen what mode is the screen set to?? As i'm guessing as the AV cables 3 are ment to be connected to the computer so that the sounds work. If they are not connected and is on the VGA mode it may casue interference as they may be touching??

nickm · Post by **nickm** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 11:42 pm

All is OK

. Problem seems to have sorted itself out! Only problem with the screen is that it seems to stick out a bit too much for my liking, although I havent installed it properly yet so might go back in a bit still.

Spent some more time trying to find a home for the motherboard today. Only solution ive come up with is mounting it diagnoly inside the glove box. Itll mean extending the PSU cables which I didnt want to do due to the extra resistance and noise produced. But needs must!!! Polodude; have you thought where youll fit yours yet?

polo_dude · Post by **polo_dude** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:00 pm

Thats great news nickm, is a quailty screen though isn't it??!. Yes it sticks far to out for my liking aswell. What i'm thinking about doing is to sand down the back of the hole as there a little peice of plasitc that keeps head unit from going too back so if i shred away at that i may just be able to push it in a further. Havent figured where id be plaing the comp at the mo hoping you'd figure that bit.lol!!

. However i have Incredible thought about placing it in the boot even though i have chopped up the glove box!!. it wouldnt be that hard and for accessing music ect "CD's" wouldnt be a problem as most things wil lrun from the hard drive!!

. i'll be able to power the comp on from the screen.

nickm · Post by **nickm** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 6:54 pm

Sorry for the late reply!!!

Tried the computer today in the car, just in an old computer case, running off a spare battery through the invertor AND.....

IT DIDNT WORK!!!!!

Problem is the power supply wont run off the power invertor

. Luckily I bought the invertor from halfords so I can take it back easily enough as it :cough: dosent work. Instead Ill get a MTX-A2 car power supply which actualy runs off 12V so will help with the space problem.

As far as mounting the PC goes; There is plenty of room where the glove box goes, just not enough room whith the glove box there. I thonk Ill mount the motherboard verticaly behind the dash. Ill cut the whole of the glove box out, just leaveing the front so it looks untouched. Ill then use the little metal bracket at the back of the hole to bolt the motherboard onto. Then the other bits can fit arround it, somewhere

.

It would be a lot easier to mount in the boot, but cant afford to lose the boot space!! But at this rate it might end up there anyway

PD; Have you got your PC components yet?