Thread: How to mount a 15" LCD Monitor

To power the LCD you could do one of 2 things. Some LCDs have a DC input and use a power brick. You could figure out what the voltage is and design a regulator to regulate your car's power to that of the LCD. If that's too hard you could get a power inverter and use it to power the laptop.

I don't think vibration would be much of a problem for the laptop. It's built for it.

The Audio out depends on what type of car you have, or what type of radio you have in the car. If you have a head unit with Audio in, then it's very easy. Otherwise you'd probably have to go with an FM Modulator or Tape adapter.

Thanks for the info, knix

I probably wouldn't go the inverter approach since I already bought a Linda 12v-20V auto/air power for the notebook(this thing generates as much heat as an inverter and I am not sure if the battery can afford another inverter). However I am not able to design a regulator by my own. Assume that the LCD monitor takes 12V input, can I hook it to the ciggrette outlet directly, or I need to find something commerically available that does the job?

I was told that the quality of Tape adapter & FM modulator is at the low end. Is it possible wire it directly to the car amplifier(if there is any). I have a Pathfinder with no audio in head unit BTW.

Thank again, it is a wonderful forum

I would not hook the LCD up to the Car battery directly because the car battery goes from about 8 volts when starting to 13 or 14 while your car is running. Regulators are fairly easy to design. National Semiconductors sells a regulator that's fairly easy to set up. I think you have to wire it up with 2 capacitors. It supplies 5 amps at 12V DC.

Does your head unit have the option for a CD Changer?

Yes it comes with a 6 -CD changer. does it helps for the connection?

You might be able to find an adaptor that uses the CD changer input as an AUX input.

Thanks. I would love to know the detail.. Does this mean that CD changer needs to be disabled?