Carputer!, yay! Options

[orvillescelica]

I never show off stuff i do, but im actually pretty excited about this. I finally got done with my permanent install of my Car computer. Thanks to all who have helped out by answering my wiring questions.


This is the first time ive built my own computer. Here is the bench testing of the special car computer power supply and setup of the software. To simulate the car battery, i used a 60V variable power supply i borrowed from my lab.


I couldnt find a place to properly put the tiny case i had made. So I ended up ripping all the components out and turning the glovebox into a computer case.


Final install of the monitor. Notice the special Celica front end skin i created!


Here are the specs:
VIA EPIA Mini-ITX M10000 motherboard
6.5 IBM laptop hard drive
Toshiba slimline DVD-Rom
M1-ITX 90W powersupply
Lilliput 7" touchscreen monitor

I-Guidance GPS software
Holux GM210 GPS reciever
Media Engine front end
Windows XP

[orvillescelica]

the hard drive is an IBM for a laptop. Its not the super ones with the airbags, but they are meant for some bumps and bruises here and there.

Most electronic componenets have an operational limit of 300 C, which is 572 F. Now this is the operational limit of each indivudual component, and ot the entire system. But if the pieces can handle that high, i dont see it being a problem out of directl sunlight.

The touchscreen wont work when cold. But in other peoples experience, just give it a few minutes to warm up after turning it on and it will be fine.

For power, im using an M1-ATX power supply. This power supply is specially designed for use in cars. There are three power leads, a constant 12V, ground, and in ingintion 12 V. So when i turn the ignition, there is a 3 sec delay to confirm constant 12V from the ignition and then the computer boots up. When i shut off the ignition, there is a 5 sec delay in shutting off the computer power as the computer goes into standby. Full power shutdown then occurs 2 hours later. Just in case i jsut want to run into the store for a few minutes, i dont need to go through the full boot up again. The times for delay and full power off can be changed via jumpers. Also, the power supply has a regulator that shuts all power off as soon as it detects a drop of voltage lower than 11V to save from draining the battery.

check the website here: http://www.mini-box.com/s.nl/sc.8/category.13/it.A/id.356/.f