Powering everything from M2-ATX? (Wiring diagram included)

**Stealth915** · 05-23-2008, 06:22 PM

Does everyone use their PSU to power all the components of their CarPC?

This is a quickly drawn up wiring diagram of how I'm planning to wire mine. Does it look about right? I'm not sure whether the external enclosure requires 12V or 5V, as I haven't bought one yet.

**v8 scimitar** · 05-24-2008, 06:21 AM

Personally I wouldn't use the chassis grounds, use the grounds on the molex instead.

**galvitron** · 05-24-2008, 06:33 AM

I agree ^^^ Use the Molex's grounds. The M2 should be connected to chassis ground and all ground from each component should connect to there through your splitter.

Make sure to get the correct gauge wire for the M2's connections to 12V and GND.

**Stealth915** · 05-24-2008, 03:59 PM

is there a reason to use the molex grounds instead of chassis ground? I was going to use chassis ground so I would have to run one less wire to the component I'm powering. Not a big deal. Is the molex ground somehow a more stable ground point than chassis?

**WuNgUn** · 05-24-2008, 06:28 PM

Maybe it's just me, but I don't think I'd run all of that off a single M2...
Why not just 1 or 2 Bosch style relays switched on from the M2 to power all the accessories?

**eric_barcus** · 05-24-2008, 06:37 PM

id do some seperate power supply for at least the external drive and lillyput or teh lillyput and usb hub, or usb hub and external, id remove two of the components from the M2

**bambam** · 05-24-2008, 07:46 PM

Originally Posted by Stealth915

Does everyone use their PSU to power all the components of their CarPC?

This is a quickly drawn up wiring diagram of how I'm planning to wire mine. Does it look about right? I'm not sure whether the external enclosure requires 12V or 5V, as I haven't bought one yet.

I have an Opus 320 and run everything off of it without any problems...very reliable.

**Stealth915** · 05-25-2008, 05:15 AM

Originally Posted by WuNgUn

Maybe it's just me, but I don't think I'd run all of that off a single M2...
Why not just 1 or 2 Bosch style relays switched on from the M2 to power all the accessories?

Originally Posted by eric_barcus

id do some seperate power supply for at least the external drive and lillyput or teh lillyput and usb hub, or usb hub and external, id remove two of the components from the M2

If I did my power consumption calculations correctly, I should have enough power to run all of my components through the M2. But looking at my wiring diagram again, I realized that the HD Radio doesn't need regulated 12V, so I can just plug that right into my battery. Also, the only USB devices I'll be using are a GPS receiver, wireless keyboard, and USB for the touchscreen, so I guess I won't really need a hub anyway.

So crossing out the HD Radio and USB hub, I shouldn't need another power supply for the Lilliput and DVD drive, right?

**Ribs** · 09-19-2009, 11:59 AM

This is slightly off topic...

But thank you so much for posting this! One of the things that was confusing the hell out of me was how to power the monitor and the computer. I figured there should be some easy solution involving the PSU but was concerned about the whole thing being overloaded.

Thanks again!