Boot up time and temperature control

**4thephil** · 07-20-2008, 01:00 PM

I'm looking for a manual carpc install so the computer will be as if it's "always on" - mainly looking for something that as soon as I turn the car engine on, the computer will be on and ready to go

Also, should I be worried about keeping the computer and it's touch screen cool in the summer and warm in the winter (I live in Michigan)?

And has anyone successfully controlled their car's climate control (A/C or heat, etc.) with their carpc?

**wsurritte** · 07-20-2008, 07:50 PM

Sound's like you need to look at the FAQ Emporium.
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/faq-emporium/

As for the screen I can't say for sure. I have heard of A/C controls though.

William

**jonessc** · 07-23-2008, 08:07 PM

Originally Posted by fillthemup

Also, should I be worried about keeping the computer and it's touch screen cool in the summer and warm in the winter (I live in Michigan)?

What are the temperatures?, if its drastically cold you may want to consider using a solid state hard drive / compact flash card as your main hard drive

Originally Posted by fillthemup

has anyone successfully controlled their car's climate control (A/C or heat, etc.) with their carpc?

This has been done here http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/user...rial-port.html

**4thephil** · 07-23-2008, 08:49 PM

what's a solid state hard drive? and those flash drives probably aren't a bad idea, considering that they would be cheaper than a HD (but slower?????) I was more concerned about the screen freeezing up, cracking, etc. Do you think its a good idea to have an air duct aimed right at the back of the screen?

temps prol are about 10 degreed F in winter to 100 F in summer, and on those hot summer days, in a closed car, can get up to 150 F

**jonessc** · 07-23-2008, 09:08 PM

Originally Posted by fillthemup

what's a solid state hard drive? and those flash drives probably aren't a bad idea, considering that they would be cheaper than a HD (but slower?????) I was more concerned about the screen freeezing up, cracking, etc. Do you think its a good idea to have an air duct aimed right at the back of the screen?

temps prol are about 10 degreed F in winter to 100 F in summer, and on those hot summer days, in a closed car, can get up to 150 F

Best thing to do is research the operating temperature of a hard drive, generally the 2.5" laptop hard drives are more adaptable to weather.

A solid state hard drive is basically a hard drive without any moving parts (like a flash drive) they are the best in any weather, but also the most expensive

There is a cheap way of converting a Compact Flash card (last time I checked was approx 4GB) to function as a hard drive (You can get high speed read/write versions)

You could then use another hard drive to store your music/videos

As for the air duct idea, not really my area of expertise

**lbridges** · 07-23-2008, 10:38 PM

Originally Posted by fillthemup

... Do you think its a good idea to have an air duct aimed right at the back of the screen?...

No. Condensation (water) and electronics don't mix all that well.

**h3rk** · 07-25-2008, 09:52 PM

I'm sure you're aware that a computer that is 'always on' will continuously consume power, and when energy is not supplied by the charging system of an operating engine, it will come from the limited storage capacity of your battery. Hibernation is a solution, but a hibernating computer only offers one advantage, and that is a quick "on time". For any functionality to be available when you're not operating the vehicle from within, the computer has to always be on, or have the means of being switched on (remotely, or via a programmed controller of some sort). And that means battery drainage... Unless the computer knows to (and has the means to) turn on the car, thus starting it's charging system.

It seems you realize that your PC will generate heat if it is always on, and that needs to be addressed for less-temperate days.

A while ago I came to a similar realization point as you and I thought about it some, also asking related questions on here...somewhere. I even purchased and built one of Mastero's Aircon units to aid in my planned remedy. But it didn't quite do the job for me.

So I started on my own, and then discovered the Fusion Brain (just as it was being finished). Now, I've got the plans finished and the hardware is 90% delivered. There is one more package arriving from thailand early next week. During the course of the next week I'll be starting to put it all together. There are several component level items I'm using to make it work. But what it comes down to is I have version 1 of a Fusion Brain to HVAC interface for a range of Nissan Vehicles.

While I agree that HVAC air ported directly to a computer has the potential to cause condensation related problems (when the electronics get cold; and then warm, humid air is admitted; just like the FAQ thread on the subject), I do believe that controlling ambient temperature around the computer (entire vehicle, or a portion thereof), and having proper airflow through the electronics, is a good solution.

So for a computer that is always on, or has the potential and means to turn itself on in a un-manned vehicle, I thought it appropriate that one of the first major projects in vehicle automation would be for the vehicle to control it's climate. This is why I've made so much fuss about Automatic Climate Control in other threads. Where I live, 120F days are by no means, unheard-of.

I have added several sensors not found in non-automatic HVAC vehicles to make this possible. I'll be posting soon on my progress in the Fusion Brain subforum, if you're interested.

My application is somewhat complex, and most (and especially older) vehicles can be controlled in a less complex manner to what I have designed. I'm available to help anyone who wants to go down this path with their own car. I'm running downhill now

Maybe someone else, somewhere, is further along on a similar project, but I haven't heard anything yet.