LCD in car. current and resolution questions.

**ranz** · 07-07-2006, 10:11 AM

Hi all,

I'm trying to do something cool with my laptop's VGA OUT port and an LCD screen.
I haven't decided what screen I'm gonna buy yet. but the stuff we have here for sale looks just about the same to me... I'm looking for some quality 10" screen but not cieling mounted.
Anyway, I do have a couple Qs about the installation and operation:

1. All the screens' specs say its 12v operated which means it can get its power straight from the car's power supply, right? do I need to put something in the middle?
What's the current intake on these things? I saw that most of them are 10W and since its 12V, does that mean its 0.8 Amper? and will it like.. work for an hour on a 800mAh battery?

2. What's the actual video input on the screens? are there screens with VGA input? or are all of them AV and would I need some converter to do the job?
In case I need a converter, wouldn't I have resolution problems? naturally those screens can't work at 1024*768 like I work on my laptop. so what I do? I need to display windows as good as it gets, and I saw some people here do it, but I never understood if they used VGA LCDs or AV with conversion, cause most laptops don't have AV out.. only VGA out.

Thanks a lot in advance.

**Tidder** · 07-07-2006, 10:31 AM

Maybe you should post some links of the screens you're looking at. Just cause they say 12v doesn't mean they'll be powered off a cars electrical system. Most cars put out anywhere from 12.9v to 14 and above. All the cars I've owned put out around 13.8v. So it's probably not safe to power a 12v screen off of an unregulated 12v source. The voltage difference is too great.

**ranz** · 07-07-2006, 11:42 AM

Well there's something weird about the LCDs I see on the internet, it's like the model names are local or something cause I can't seem to find any model name that's sold on locally on the net, on other places on the internet.
I will visit some shops too but as of now all I have are generic stuff on the internet. from what I know there are some actual quality LCDs from brand names on shops.

But, urm, if I can't power it from the car power what DO I power it from?
I just don't know the normal setup of such systems.

**-Builder** · 07-08-2006, 09:54 AM

Originally Posted by ranz

...if I can't power it from the car power what DO I power it from?
I just don't know the normal setup of such systems.

I am researching the power issue now, too. From what I can gather, the best type of power supply to use is a 12V DC/DC. They can take irregular DC voltage (like that from a car electrical system) and modulate it into a steady 12V. Please post if anyone knows of a good manufacturer of these power supplies. (Maybe it's been covered here before?). I am reading the power "sticky" now.

Thanks!

**alacom** · 07-08-2006, 09:00 PM

Did you read the forum entitled (Powering your lcd)? Try that first.

**-Builder** · 07-08-2006, 09:25 PM

Originally Posted by alacom

Did you read the forum entitled (Powering your lcd)? Try that first.

Yes, did you read my last post?

Good info in there. I will have to see what my car-pc power supply can handle. If not able to handle the extra juice for the monitor, I will probably order the external 12/12 from Xenarc and hook that to the ACC circuit.

**-Builder** · 07-08-2006, 09:43 PM

Ranz,

I am still studying the 12V question, but your #2 question above is dependent upon the manufacturer of the monitor.

Here's one from Xenarc that I am probably going to purchase (new for $499). The 1020TSV is a 10.2", 1024x768, 16:9, touch-screen VGA with two NTSC video inputs. It supports picture-in-picture and split-screen, so you can have live video and the computer displayed simultaneously. From what I understand, the monitor is capable of displaying both video feeds at the same time, too. And, it's got a speaker! WoooHooo!

The only thing I don't like about the monitor is that it apparently doesn't have any outputs...video or audio. It would be nice to be able to record what is presented on the monitor.

**Craig McQuiston** · 07-10-2006, 05:06 AM

Originally Posted by -Builder

I am researching the power issue now, too. From what I can gather, the best type of power supply to use is a 12V DC/DC. They can take irregular DC voltage (like that from a car electrical system) and modulate it into a steady 12V. Please post if anyone knows of a good manufacturer of these power supplies. (Maybe it's been covered here before?). I am reading the power "sticky" now.

Thanks!

If you still on the hunt for a DC-DC power supply, try Amperor Europe,as they have one of these that can cover from 11v - 16v input voltage, and due to their tip technology can give DC outputs between 3v - 24 v, so you can also use it for PDA's, phones, etc

**parksgm** · 07-10-2006, 11:40 AM

Did your screen come with a car adaptor/cigarette light plug? If so, it might be worth taking a look inside and at the wiring of the plug to determine if the manafacturer included any 12V regulation circuitry in the wiring. If so, then just hook your screen to the that, if not, and there is a car adapter included in the box with the screen, it's probably a pretty safe bet to run the screen directly off the car.

In my opinion, most devices meant to be used in the car are designed with the normal voltage fluctations of the car in mind...