I have a police scanner, a CB radio, and a small amp unit that I want to put in my van (1993 Chevy G20), and there are a few places I can put them all. I am trying to maintain aesthetics when I install everything. I have included a pictures of the few places I can put everything.
This is above the driver's seat. I am thinking of building some sort of rack that will house the above mentioned devices (there is plenty of room above the "false ceiling", full size van owners should know what I'm talking about). The rack will sit out of view by default and will retract downward and provide a "control panel" of sort, making the above mentioned devices accessible for the driver's use. It would sit above the driver's seat where the picture was taken. I would accomplish this with a linear actuator or something similar, and the motor would be controlled with a switch that operates like a power window motor. It would function similar to Bugbyte's motorized LCD screen, but going the opposite direction.
Of course, not all three devices have to go up there. I took the HVAC control panel out, so now there is an open space which I could potentially use for one of the devices, possibly the amp. I might control the HVAC through the carputer itself with the right PCB. Here is a picture of the HVAC control panel still inside:
And here is after I took it out:
Just in case anyone is wondering, I am putting a carputer in here, and the LCD monitor will look like this:
http://mp3van.com/?page_id=6
And the carputer itself will go where the old factory stereo went. The front of it will be a custom control panel. For details, see here:
Who builds their own carputers?
Having said all this, my main desire is aesthetics. Does the idea of the motorized "control panel" that sits above the driver's seat sound like a winner, or should I abandon it and install those three devices elsewhere? Keep in mind this van is going to undergo a minor rebuild, so I don't mind tearing down whatever I have to to make it work.
Check out my GMC Savana worklog.
Remaining tasks to facilitate vanputer installation codename "Enterprise":
- Edit skin to liking.
- Get compatible phone for mobilephone.net.
- Facilitate HVAC control.
motorization is kind of tricky to do a good job of if you don't have a way to very precisely position all the parts - usually a mill or rapid prototyping system are the most accessible ways of making that happen. If you want aesthetics and really don't care about the lengths you have to go to to get them, why not write some software to control everything through a touchscreen on your display? It sounds like you're headed that way with the HVAC - just take it another step further.
Et ipsa scientia potestas est.
Worklog for my 2007 Civic Si ...f*** it...
Pictures of the Corolla (retired)here
Need to make something? Here are a few ideas.
I don't know how to write a computer program, but I am sure it's not too hard to do so. I could get someone else to do it for me if I had to.
The scanner I have is a Uniden BC785d. It has a serial port in the back to allow for scanner programming with a PC. I intend to interface the scanner into the carputer this way, maybe somehow via a front end.
I suppose that since the scanner itself will be integrated into the carputer, the shelf can also be intergrated to add to the cool factor. I am not sure yet.
If I don't control the motor with the carputer, I hook it up to either the ignition switch or a on/off rocker switch. That way, the panel will come down for my access when I turn the ignition on and go back up when I take the key out; and same with the rocker switch, respectively.
Check out the scanner here:http://www.uniden.com/productpop/00_...rd_code=BC785D
Check out my GMC Savana worklog.
Remaining tasks to facilitate vanputer installation codename "Enterprise":
- Edit skin to liking.
- Get compatible phone for mobilephone.net.
- Facilitate HVAC control.
i'm teaching myself VB.net right now. I don't know how it's going to be when I get to the nitty gritty of using libraries and keeping code to standard, but so far the msdn library and help files haven't left me with many questions about how to do it. It's expensive software to be sure, but I think if you fooled around with it, or at least the express version, it might give you alot of ideas on how to control your world.
Et ipsa scientia potestas est.
Worklog for my 2007 Civic Si ...f*** it...
Pictures of the Corolla (retired)here
Need to make something? Here are a few ideas.
I'm dabbling in just about everything you are talking about.
HVAC
CB/Scanner
I'm using the Fusion Brain as my truckputer's interface to the real world. My plans include controlling a linear actuator, eventually, with the application software going the way it's headed you wont have to learn a full-on programming language. The skin not only will provide the asthetics and functionality of the GUI, it is also how the users thell the outputs what to do. Continuous control loops can be made that control outputs beased on digital/analog inputs, as well as GUI controls. The software is in development, coming along nicely, and in very capable hands.
Hope that helps.
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