Idea for Shutdown Controller

**kermitbuns** · 05-08-2007, 12:18 PM

Just wanted to post this idea and ask if anyone has ever tried it.

I want to put a full sized desktop (ATX form factor) computer in my trunk. One of the limitations is the power supply, for a power draw that large I would need to use a power inverter, which doesn't integrate a shutdown controller.

What about if I used a Battery Backup Unit. Usually the software with it can be set to initiate a shut down when the BBU is the only thing powering the computer. So I would plug the BBU into the power inverter, and the computer into the BBU and when I turned the car off, the BBU would initiate a shutdown on the battery power from the BBU.

Feasible? Ideas?

**Pbudden** · 05-08-2007, 02:53 PM

I like the idea, indeed I will be looking for something like this.

Question is, how do you propose to start the PC? Manual start button? link the start to the engine start?
Whatever you use will have to be momentary.

The other option is a Basic Stamp unit. With that you would not need the UPS except to avoid the power drain on starting the engine.

Just some thoughts

**kermitbuns** · 05-08-2007, 03:13 PM

I figured setting the BIOS to Power on with LAN or something similar where I could get the powering on of the monitor to send also power on the computer. I haven't really worked that part out yet TBH. I'd love some ideas for that.

**MatrixPC** · 05-08-2007, 05:35 PM

It not the first idea but an idea that been

(if UPS is what you mean as BBU).
We talk about UPS, tank circuit, dual battery .... you may look it up.
There's probably a FAQ regarding to those as well.

If you want an SDC to work with inverter, just look up the FAQ on DIY SDC. 2 or 3 relay couples connector will do the job. If you want timing on the circuit, add some resistors, capacitors, transistors and you are there.

**mp3gtr** · 05-08-2007, 08:34 PM

Some problem with a BBU/UPS are;

[12v car battery]----[12v DC to 120/240v AC inverter]----[120/240v AC UPS]----[PC pwr supply to 12v/5v DC]----[Motherboard etc...]

when you initiate a shutdown the inverter is still running, also all those AC/DC up/down conversion makes this highly inefficient.

As MatrixPC said already these options have been flogged!

**Dennis5587** · 05-08-2007, 11:39 PM

what you running in the pc? I'd be surpised if one of the power supply's out ther aren't big enough. Use a wattage calculator to figure out how much you really need, don't just look at the psu in your pc and see a 500 watter and say you need 500 watts.

The amount of time and money you'd spend into doing this just isn't worth it, there are reason's why we have "moved on"