Inverter, shutdown controller, what else??

So I'm pretty newb.. I have a 300w inverter from Radio Shack. I'm not sure the specs on it, but I assume it accepts a wide range of voltages (14.4 - 9?), and should output a solid 120v ac. My question is:

How can I hook all this up without a ups?? I really don't want to use one as I already have a damn battery, and it's just a big heavy pain. I would imagine I need a shutdown controller on the ignition wire, and some sort or relay/time thing for the inverter so it shuts off after the shutdown, but comes on as soon as it gets ignition again. Then I'd just set the computer to boot on power regain?

Thanks in advance for the help!

bump, need some help if anyone is out there :)

Hey im new too, but what ima do is direct connect battery to opus get an old switch off one of my 486's, run xp. change setting for when i hit power button xp shuts down before turning off. pretty ceap that way for me. or yes you can get a shut down controller thingy, they have many posts on here about it and how to program the timing and stuff like that. so search if you want to go that way.
so you are a pretty newb huh??? :OP
yeah i cant spell or type either. jk

http://www.opussolutions.com/150watt.html
oh wow the opus does more than what i thought. see i should read more detail geesh.

Well 2 years ago me and a friend made a car pc, but since the "game" has changed up .. much better now, new toys and gadgets, and now im a little older and can afford better stuff -

I'm running a P4 1.7Ghz with 384mb ram, 1 HD, couple cards, and some USB so I doubt 150w is enough. Although DC would be much easier, and more efficient.

I think I may buy the opus, what's it cost?

Try the power simulator at mini-itx.com:

http://www.mini-box.com/powersimulator.html

You'd be surprised what you can run from 150 watts. They have a 1.8 ghz P4 w/ 845 chipset as one of the options.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Chairboy

Try the power simulator at mini-itx.com:

http://www.mini-box.com/powersimulator.html

You'd be surprised what you can run from 150 watts. They have a 1.8 ghz P4 w/ 845 chipset as one of the options.

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Wow that's pretty good.. I think I'll end up going with that. I bought an elo 12.1" touchscreen that uses 12V DC in, any way to tell how regulated it needs to be??

I used the 12v from the PS on my last version of the carpc. It was only an 85 watt.

Be warned! You may take the risk of having your monitor last longer with added burden no fluctuation of screen noise and brightness.

Gino

Quote:

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Originally Posted by southprk

Wow that's pretty good.. I think I'll end up going with that. I bought an elo 12.1" touchscreen that uses 12V DC in, any way to tell how regulated it needs to be??

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