New to the forums, need some advice

**ssm05rsx** · 08-23-2008, 11:47 PM

Hey guys,

I have a few questions, I am soon putting a car computer into my 2006 Acura TSX, I don't have Navi, so I want the car computer to run a navigation program, and to play my music.

I know the screen I am going with, the xenarc 700tsv most likely. (is tis a good touch screen?)

I just bought a new laptop just for this project but I want to be able to still use the laptop outside of my car for class or something.

The laptop i just bought was the Acer Aspire One, (AOA 150-1570) at my work (best buy) for like 345$, its a little like 8.9 screen, 1gb of memory 120gb hd. To me it's an awesome computer for very basic needs.

Now the thing I ask is, is there a way to get my laptop and my screen to power on when I turn on my car? I saw how to make a remote line for the laptop,

What do I need to buy to do this? Is it worth it? and is it hard? I'm handy but not super handy like some of the stuff I seen here.

Worst come to worse ill just use his DIY,

Other question, how do I power the laptop in the car so I don't have to use a power inverter?

If there was anything I missed that you guys think I should do, I would greatly appreciate the advice.

Thanks, Dan

**NSFW** · 08-24-2008, 03:44 AM

I used an HP laptop, but that Acer looks pretty cool.

I have a 700tsv, and it works, but it can be hard to read if it's really sunny out. Since I'm near Seattle that's only going to be a problem for a couple months per year...

I might upgrade to a transflective screen later but I'm satisfied with this for now.

I used the turn-on module discussed in the links below:

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/user...rn-module.html
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/lapt...to-module.html

It works very well. It required two solder joints and one small hole drilled in to the laptop, which took and hour or two of careful work. No big deal though. I initially tried with an IBM laptop that was so challenging to work on that I gave up on it - some laptops make it very hard to get at the right conductors for the power button. I can't guess how hard it will be to solder the turn-on switch to your Acer - you'll have to take it apart and see for yourself.

Taking apart a perfectly healthy laptop is a bit daunting, but I've done it on three now with great success - all you have to do is find all of the right screws, take them out, and remember which screws need to go back into which holes. Take notes, maybe lay them out on a sheet of paper with an outline of the laptop drawn on it.

I'm using a 12v-to-120v inverter, you can get them for $30-$50. This of course feeds into my laptop's 120v power supply. I just ordered a 12v-to-19v power supply from www.epowersupply.us but I haven't received it yet. It certainly sounds like a more elegant solution.

I'm using iGuidance software for navigation (google it), I bought it bundled with a USB GPS receiver that has been working quite well for me so far (I've only had it a few days).

**ssm05rsx** · 08-24-2008, 11:17 PM

Originally Posted by NSFW

I used an HP laptop, but that Acer looks pretty cool.

I have a 700tsv, and it works, but it can be hard to read if it's really sunny out. Since I'm near Seattle that's only going to be a problem for a couple months per year...

I might upgrade to a transflective screen later but I'm satisfied with this for now.

I used the turn-on module discussed in the links below:

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/user...rn-module.html
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/lapt...to-module.html

It works very well. It required two solder joints and one small hole drilled in to the laptop, which took and hour or two of careful work. No big deal though. I initially tried with an IBM laptop that was so challenging to work on that I gave up on it - some laptops make it very hard to get at the right conductors for the power button. I can't guess how hard it will be to solder the turn-on switch to your Acer - you'll have to take it apart and see for yourself.

Taking apart a perfectly healthy laptop is a bit daunting, but I've done it on three now with great success - all you have to do is find all of the right screws, take them out, and remember which screws need to go back into which holes. Take notes, maybe lay them out on a sheet of paper with an outline of the laptop drawn on it.

I'm using a 12v-to-120v inverter, you can get them for $30-$50. This of course feeds into my laptop's 120v power supply. I just ordered a 12v-to-19v power supply from www.epowersupply.us but I haven't received it yet. It certainly sounds like a more elegant solution.

I'm using iGuidance software for navigation (google it), I bought it bundled with a USB GPS receiver that has been working quite well for me so far (I've only had it a few days).

Awesome thanks, I think I'm just going to do the remote power button for now, until i get more daring.

Do you use a thin inverter? I think I may have some space issues lol.. My work sells a few, ill have to check them out. Also, I don't think i can find a powersupply for my "netbook" its so new not even acer sells them yet. Unless some company sells a 30watt adapter. I want to buy an extra anyway for my house.

is microsoft streets good? my work sells that.

**NSFW** · 08-25-2008, 01:46 AM

My inverter is the silver box in the bottom two pictures in this post:
http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showp...51&postcount=2
It's hidden behind a couple other small black boxes but you can see it... for reference, the white panel behind the bundle of boxes (with the hinge on top) is exactly 3 inches tall.

It's very likely that your Acer's power requirements are the same as some other laptop, so if you can find out what you need you might be able to find something that will work.

Microsoft Streets & Trips works, but the UI is abysmal on a 7" screen. You have to click a bunch of little things (menus, mostly) and the GPS sidebar takes up a third of the screen, and there's a pop-up window that shows GPS data and hides a section of the map window, etc. It also assumes that you have a keyboard, for stuff like +/- to zoom in and out. iGuidance is a much better choice. (I've used both.)

**x-fuzion** · 08-25-2008, 09:29 AM

I have the same plan as you, gonna use my aspire one and an indash touchscreen.

I'm planning to power the laptop via the cigarette lighter, I bought an adaptor off ebay.

Hopefully, the laptop should be fine.

How are you planning to power the LCD monitor? I've been browsing through the forums and most people are using a power supply. Do I have to resort to that?

**ssm05rsx** · 08-25-2008, 01:29 PM

i have no idea how i am powering the monitor hahaha..... guess we can look into that together.

**NSFW** · 08-25-2008, 10:28 PM

As part of my install I had to get rid of the in-dash cigarette lighter. Fortunately the screen came with a cigarette lighter plug... so I basically just tucked the lighter behind the dash, and plugged the screen into it.

**ssm05rsx** · 08-25-2008, 10:37 PM

so xenarc tsv700 comes with a car plug? awesome thanks man.

**NSFW** · 08-25-2008, 11:02 PM

These monitors come included with an instruction manual, a monitor stand, an AC adaptor, a touch screen driver/software CD, a connection cable, and a cigarette lighter car adaptor.

http://store.mp3car.com/Xenarc_700TS..._p/mon-004.htm

Yup.

**ssm05rsx** · 08-25-2008, 11:13 PM

awesome, cause my existing power inverter gives one house plug/one car plug, or i can use my hard wired plug. hopefully my car's battery can take it.

Time to try and make a custom rack for my glove box, man my parents are going to kill me when they find out i need to drill into my glove box, haha. or i won't tell them.

First im going to map it out on AutoCAD, haha. any ideas on how to make it out of, certain plastic? wood? plexiglass? then I need to find something to like padd the box for the laptop.