Author Topic: In Car PC  (Read 4691 times)

Offline lowgolf

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Re:In Car PC
« Reply #10 on: 07 April 2004, 16:28 »
Is the fag lighter inverted? I dont smoke so i could rob the power from there
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Offline lowgolf

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Re:In Car PC
« Reply #11 on: 07 April 2004, 16:33 »
But surely it will only draw what it needs. Just because there is a potiential of 30+ amps doesnt mean it will draw 30+ amps.
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Offline danhock

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Re:In Car PC
« Reply #12 on: 07 April 2004, 16:34 »
Nope. You really need an invertor
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Offline Overseer

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Re:In Car PC
« Reply #13 on: 07 April 2004, 16:36 »
Nope. You really need an invertor

yup :)
Used to have a '97 MK3 16v GTI 3dr in 'Black Magic'... now have a '55 Civic Type-S...

Offline lowgolf

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Re:In Car PC
« Reply #14 on: 07 April 2004, 16:39 »
But i dont want to go from 12v to 230v. The laptop will only draw the current it requires, how come the bulbs in your car dont blow? Because they only draw a small current because thats what they need. I can just wire it straight to the board and it will run fine  ;D
« Last Edit: 07 April 2004, 16:52 by lowgolf »
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Offline danhock

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Re:In Car PC
« Reply #15 on: 07 April 2004, 17:04 »
thats a good point!!

I think you can actually get AC / DC convertors for 12V-24V electrical items that plug into the Ciggy lighter.
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Offline lowgolf

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Re:In Car PC
« Reply #16 on: 07 April 2004, 17:22 »
You only need ac to charge the laptop battery. The main board runs off dc. All im doing in effect is replacing the laptop battery with my car battery. via a soldering iron and a few wires  ;D
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Offline danhock

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Re:In Car PC
« Reply #17 on: 07 April 2004, 17:25 »
let me know if it works!!

Ive been considering an in car PC for ages... Thoug about the laptop route but was put off with the Screen issues...

I have loads of Laptops i could use!!
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Offline lowgolf

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Re:In Car PC
« Reply #18 on: 07 April 2004, 17:31 »
will do mate, i was off the idea but when my brother got this 7" widescreen tft i thought it was an ideal side. Gonner hack me laptop to bits and just install the main board and sack off the keyboard and floppy drive. Just gonner add songs and movies via LAN. Keep u posted
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Offline DubFan

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Re:In Car PC
« Reply #19 on: 08 April 2004, 14:22 »
If you're going to run off the car battery/alternator I would consider using at least part of the laptop's power supply; the DC regulation and smoothing part.
Computer motherboards are quite sensitive and will want a nice steady DC voltage. What you get off a car alternator will be quite rough and ready.

What I would do is take apart the laptop's power adaptor, take out the transformer and connect your power cables from the car battery to the power supply's regulation and smoothing circuits.
This way you will get a clean DC feed for the laptop plus it can use it's own circuitry to charge the laptop's original battery so that when you stop the car, it keeps the computer going without draining the car battery.

That's what I'd do if I was using a laptop.

If you're going to do the Via/Epia/Mini-ITX job, try looking at this install:
http://www.mini-itx.com/projects/ice-unit/

Studying electronics occassionally has it's uses.  :D
« Last Edit: 08 April 2004, 14:25 by NottAnother16vFan »