Project: Car PC

MarkLP · 14 May 2007 at 01:04

Jez said:
Looks great, my big issue though with carpc's is that i could never find a decent satnav program, what are you using?

Hopefully Map Monkey

MarkLP · 14 May 2007 at 01:37

Update!

Onto mounting the TFT, this wasnt as straight forward as I first thought. I had to somehow secure the unit and make it removeable. The way i've done it makes it still removeable but abit bigger.

First had to make a base mould out of something, I couldn't use the tft as i didnt fancy getting resin all over it. So had to make a lifesize wood template. Then covered in fabric to have something to mould too.

Covered in a layer of resin

They put on a layer of fibreglass matting

Then once dry I sanded it down so it was a basic shape!

MarkLP · 14 May 2007 at 01:37

This is how im going to use the original mount that comes with the TFT, i've cut the middle sections out of the vent so this sits in quite nicely!

First layer of filler

Then sanded down

MarkLP · 14 May 2007 at 01:38

Second layer of filler

Will sand it down tomorrow and carry on with it.

agw_01 · 14 May 2007 at 11:11

Wow! That looks like a superb way to mount the TFT.

I'm guessing it'll slot into the centre heater vent? That's going to look so cool! Great work

Six6siX · 14 May 2007 at 11:23

Nice thread and project - made me want to do one now...hmmm...

Confused · 14 May 2007 at 11:24

As a long-time CarPCer, and one of the founders of Digital-Car, here's my advice regarding the hard drive.

Mount it solidly to the car. Do NOT put it on any kind of spring/elastic/soft mounting.

Hard drives are MUCH more resilient than you first think. They can take shocks even when operating. What's much worse is the reciprocating movement you'll introduce when mounting them on elastic etc. Rather than just having the shock, the heads will bounce up and down multiple times as it tries to settle.

Mount it like | rather than __ too. This will again help the heads from hitting the platters.

It'd be good if you can post up this on Digital-Car, it's nice to have more project logs

There's also a CarPC meet in Northampton this weekend - if anyone's interested in CarPC's at all, then come along to see the best (and worst

) of the UK's CarPCs in one place, and ask as many questions as you want!

Garry

[TW]Fox · 14 May 2007 at 11:24

Chuck the DVD-RW drive (You've no need to burn DVD's in a car) and get a Pioneer slot loading DVD drive instead. It'll look really cool in the boot, as thats how all the OEM Satnav systems in BMW's, Mercs etc work as well - slot loading

agw_01 · 14 May 2007 at 11:37

[TW]Fox said:
Chuck the DVD-RW drive (You've no need to burn DVD's in a car) and get a Pioneer slot loading DVD drive instead. It'll look really cool in the boot, as thats how all the OEM Satnav systems in BMW's, Mercs etc work as well - slot loading

I had a Pioneer slot loader a few years ago and loved it.

Been trying to get hold of another one but can't find ANYWHERE that sells them. Any ideas?

edit.... Doh, just realised anywhere that sells them will be a competitor, heh.

An idea though... a DVD drive will be about the size of a regular DIN headunit. Therefore, why not try and get the drive mounted where the head unit would go... you won't be using the headunit anyway if you have all your music on the PC.

Fr0dders · 14 May 2007 at 11:46

agw_01 said:
An idea though... a DVD drive will be about the size of a regular DIN headunit. Therefore, why not try and get the drive mounted where the head unit would go... you won't be using the headunit anyway if you have all your music on the PC.

not going to be possible is it ?

the Car PC is the in boot, if the DVD is in the Dash, thats one very long IDE cable !!

Confused · 14 May 2007 at 11:52

You can get slimline (laptop style) slot-load drives, and IDE-USB adapters

agw_01 · 14 May 2007 at 11:54

Not in this scenario no, but you could always build a mini-ITX system and mount it under one of the front seats.

I might have to look into something like that.

MarkLP · 14 May 2007 at 13:20

Right, today ive got it smooth primed and ready for paint.The only thing is I don't know what colour to spray the parts after! I've thought about Silver, Blue, Black, Just not sure really.

Heres a pic, the parts that need to be colour coded would be the 2 far vents, maybe the top bar and heater surround.

Open to ideas

agw_01 · 14 May 2007 at 13:51

How about silver to go with the colour of the car?

MarkLP · 14 May 2007 at 13:54

agw_01 said:
How about silver to go with the colour of the car?

Going to give that a go, found some silver spray paint!

Abyss · 14 May 2007 at 14:07

Looks good.

Do you not need to earth the motherboard and hard drives back to the PSUs casing?

Confused · 14 May 2007 at 14:21

Abyss said:
Do you not need to earth the motherboard and hard drives back to the PSUs casing?

I haven't in any of my 5 CarPC setups. They are grounded via the power cables anyway

MarkLP · 14 May 2007 at 22:09

ConfusedTA said:
As a long-time CarPCer, and one of the founders of Digital-Car, here's my advice regarding the hard drive.

Mount it solidly to the car. Do NOT put it on any kind of spring/elastic/soft mounting.

Hard drives are MUCH more resilient than you first think. They can take shocks even when operating. What's much worse is the reciprocating movement you'll introduce when mounting them on elastic etc. Rather than just having the shock, the heads will bounce up and down multiple times as it tries to settle.

Mount it like | rather than __ too. This will again help the heads from hitting the platters.

It'd be good if you can post up this on Digital-Car, it's nice to have more project logs There's also a CarPC meet in Northampton this weekend - if anyone's interested in CarPC's at all, then come along to see the best (and worst ) of the UK's CarPCs in one place, and ask as many questions as you want!

Garry

Thanks for info. Will post up a log

[TW]Fox said:
Chuck the DVD-RW drive (You've no need to burn DVD's in a car) and get a Pioneer slot loading DVD drive instead. It'll look really cool in the boot, as thats how all the OEM Satnav systems in BMW's, Mercs etc work as well - slot loading

Thats a possibility in the future but I used parts which I had avaliable at the time which has cut costs

MarkLP · 14 May 2007 at 22:12

Update:

Finished, Sanded, Primed and sprayed

It could be better but for now this is how its staying!

And in the car

MarkLP · 14 May 2007 at 22:13

For anyone with a rover will know that the back piece of the vents slots up against the vent tubes behind the dash, so I've had to cutout a slot for the wires!

Marky