Project Car-Puter

[shovenose]

the picopsu roundup inspired me...i want to build a car computer. decided on calling this, "project carputer"...
the basis will be an hp thin client with 512mb flash drive built in, 1gb ram, and an amd geode (shows up in software as an athlon xp) 1ghz cpu. this is a completely fanless sysetm. it runs off of a delta 12v 4.16 amp power brick, but i can adapt it to the car's 12v cigarette thing. do keep in mind that i cant do anything crazy with the car, its my moms, a honda accord 1995.
i also need to have a screen, keyboard, and mouse. and no i cant just stick my netbook in the car, thats cheating :)
so how will i make it? any ideas?

[p4l1ndr0m3]

If you don't want something that will turn out ghetto, you will need spend money. Whether you want to spend money on your mom's 1995 Honda is your call. Why wouldn't you just use a netbook or iPad in the car? You can get mounts for that stuff and be done with it instead of customizing a carputer based on an 8 to 10 year old PC for a car that you do not own. This is not to mention the obvious fact that a Geode can't play HD video (or probably an SD video either...), you will have no hard drive space for songs or movies if you don't get an SSD, you will need an amplifier (and probably a pre-amp/sound processor) for music coming out of the stereo output from the motherboard.

Monitor - $284.95 - http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/712239-REG/Marshall_M_LCD7_HDMI_01_M_LCD7_HDMI_7_Portable_On_ Camera.html

SSD - $109.99 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820208445

Sound Processor - $199.99 - http://www.crutchfield.com/p_20603KQ9/Kicker-KQ9-Signal-Processor.html?tp=428

Amp - $139.99 - http://www.crutchfield.com/p_777M4050/Sound-Ordnance-M-4050.html?search=4-channel+amp

These are just a few examples of what prices could look like for this project. There is another major point to consider as well: connecting the computer to the car's ECU for diagnostic readouts and reprogramming the ECU on the fly (software to do this usually costs money too).

I guess the point I'm trying to make is this:

1. If you don't own the car, don't do it.
2. If you don't plan on listening to music, don't do it.
3. If you don't plan on watching video, don't do it.
4. If you don't plan on paying for 3G internet service, don't do it.
5. If you don't plan on connecting to the car's ecu, don't do it.

There is no point in wasting money on a carputer that cannot do at least 3 of the above. Also, experiment on your own car.... :wall:

[shovenose]

umm, i do have an ssd. its just a matter of fucking with the hp motherboard enough to get the ide ssd to fit :)
i am planning on getting a touchscreen lcd maybe 10" or so, and using that as a kb and mouse. i just need to find a way to get power from the car. thats the problem!

[p4l1ndr0m3]

umm, i do have an ssd. its just a matter of fucking with the hp motherboard enough to get the ide ssd to fit :)
i am planning on getting a touchscreen lcd maybe 10" or so, and using that as a kb and mouse. i just need to find a way to get power from the car. thats the problem!

Behind the radio. You should have 12V constant from the battery as well as 12V ignition. Otherwise you need do what you would do with an amp and run a dedicated wire directly to the battery and run a good ground to the car body (on bare metal). I'll make it easy for you:
1995 Honda Accord Stereo Wiring Diagram (http://lmgtfy.com/?q=1995+honda+accord+stereo+wiring+diagram)

Seriously though. If you can't find 12V in a car, you shouldn't be messing with the electrical.

[shovenose]

Can i run this from the cig lighter socket?

[allikat]

cig lighter socket is the go-to for temporary solutions, but it's not very reliable, plugs can be loose and give intermittent contact, plus you can only draw 25-30a from the lighter socket directly (ie no adapters or doublers in the way).
Remember that a car battery in various stages of life/use will give between 10v and 15v, and in some cars, LOTS of EMI to make your life a misery.
To do a really good job of this, you'd need to be getting into the guts of the car's electrics, which is not what your mom would want.

[shovenose]

ps:
this is the ssd i can use because i have it!
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820208445