Tutorial: Easily Power a Mac Mini without an inverter or speical power supply

**MikeH** · 03-16-2005, 08:00 AM

HERE's some additional detail on the power button mod. It's specific to the P1900, but will give you some more photos in the details of the mod.

**maxipad96** · 03-16-2005, 10:55 AM

Sweet thanks for all the help guys. And as far as wire is concerned any 24 gauge wire will work right? Any special metal i should be looking for?

**MikeH** · 03-16-2005, 10:58 AM

I used plain old 24GA wire from Radio Shack... It's not critical. There's very little current/power in this line.

**maxipad96** · 03-16-2005, 11:07 AM

Sorry for all the questions, but did you end up integrating the button into your dash? Just trying to figure out how I am going to mount it. I see your from marietta, i'm right up the street in alpharetta. ATL

**MikeH** · 03-16-2005, 11:13 AM

No, I eliminated the pushbutton. The P1900 has a startup/shutdown controller (SSC) built in. This lets the SSC turn ON/OFF the Mac when you turn ON/OFF your ignition. Or you can start/stop the system with an external pulse (ie with a wireless remote car starter or car alarm system). You can wire the ignition is series with a toggle switch so you can take over manual control of the ON/OFF functions if you like. Here's a schematic of how to do this.

**tigabalm** · 03-16-2005, 01:40 PM

yeah mike actually had a question about that...

i am going to get a compustar system installed... and its going to have remote start/shut-off.... will that affect my carputer install?

thanks

peace

**MikeH** · 03-16-2005, 01:48 PM

Tiga,

Most of the Compustar systems seem to have a couple of AUX outputs. The P1900 needs either a +12V pulse or a GND pulse to start it. Just make sure something like this (aux output) is available in your remote/alarm system.

**villian503** · 03-25-2005, 06:30 PM

i am assuming this voids the warranty? i bought the mac mini just for my car and i also got the extended warranty. i hope i didnt get that for nothin.

**MikeH** · 03-26-2005, 07:07 AM

i am assuming this voids the warranty?

There was some discussion earlier about the warranty remaining in place if you "crack open" you mini. I really don't know where this came down. But if upgrading to larger ram or HDD (which requires cracking opne the mini) voids the warranty that would be a shame.

As far as cutting/splicing cables on your AC adapter..... well that's obviously a different matter

. However, this piece can be more easily replaced.

**iKenndac** · 03-26-2005, 01:58 PM

Apple says that opening your Mac mini to upgrade RAM/HD/etc won't void the warranty unless you break something.

Cutting open their proprietary power cable and splicing it to something else, however, would most definitely void it. That's why I didn't get the extended warranty

.