Critique my plan

**Kidane** · 08-01-2004, 08:14 AM

I've done a little research on carputer setups and here's what I've come up with. This nice thing about my car is that it has a double DIN radio, so plenty of space for an LCD.

Here's where I would be installing the LCD:

Ignore the crappy installation of that, I was new to dremels at the time. I would be taking both the radio and the gauges out of there and only using the LCD & carputer for music.

Here's the LCD setup I'm looking at:

http://www.digitalww.com/VGA_VIDEO_MODULE.htm

I don't want to have any buttons visible on the LCD, nor do I want a large plastic casing. I want it to be fully integrated with my car, which this kit offers. Plus, I want both the LCD and the computer to run on +12v DC.

Here's the computer I'm looking at:

http://store.mini-box.com/ituner/miniboxm100.html

Not sure whether I should go with the 833 or the 500 fanless. I want to mount it underneath the passenger front seat, I think it would fit. I would also be buying this (http://store.mini-box.com/ituner/itps.html) to regulate the power and turn the computer on automatically when I start my car.

For audio, I'm not too picky, as long as I can hear it.

For ease of installation I want to connect the RCA audio ports of the Mini Box to a small amp, which then connect to my speakers.

So, how does this all sound? I'm more of a car person than a computer person (not a noob by any means, I've done alot of x86 programming/systems admin stuff, but cars interest me more) and I just want to make sure that all of this will play nice with eachother. Am I missing anything? What OS do you guys run on your carputers? Mine will be used primarily for music and navigation, I'll figure out the nav stuff later, for now I just want to get it installed.

Thanks.

Edit: for clarity, I want the LCD to fit flush with the double DIN outline alrady present on my center stack piece (I outlined it roughly in red). I need to go down to the Toyota dealership and buy another one that's free of dremel marks.

**proTONEd** · 08-01-2004, 08:40 AM

Sounds good! Be sure to keep us all updated on your project!

One thing though, it might not really be a problem, but just telling you.
The ITPS will not survive cranking and in a lot of cases it will require you to have the engine running to be able to operate your PC. For some people this might be problem...

If you want to use your PC when your engine is not running look into one of the Opus solutions - the Opus 90W will probably be more suited for you. Or if you already have an 12V DC-DC powersupply you might look into the Carnetix PSU.

**Kidane** · 08-01-2004, 09:09 AM

Originally Posted by proTONEd

Sounds good! Be sure to keep us all updated on your project!

One thing though, it might not really be a problem, but just telling you.
The ITPS will not survive cranking and in a lot of cases it will require you to have the engine running to be able to operate your PC. For some people this might be problem...

If you want to use your PC when your engine is not running look into one of the Opus solutions - the Opus 90W will probably be more suited for you. Or if you already have an 12V DC-DC powersupply you might look into the Carnetix PSU.

Nah, I'm not really interested in using it with the car off. As it is, I don't listen to the radio with the car off, so meh. I won't break anything during cranking though, right? As I understand it, the ITPS waits for 5 seconds of constant voltage, THEN powers on the computer, right? Then, after you turn the car off, it waits 5 seconds, then shuts down.

**proTONEd** · 08-01-2004, 09:23 AM

No, you will not break anything, but if your PC is on during cranking it will reboot.

The ITPS will start booting a couple of seconds after the ignition was turned on.
If you turn on the ignition and don't start the car rightaway the PC could already start to boot and when cranking it will reboot, but under normal circumstances there will be no problem.

I myself have an ITPS and it works perfect.

**Kidane** · 08-01-2004, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by proTONEd

If you turn on the ignition and don't start the car rightaway

LOL, why would I do that?

Thanks for the advice, I was afraid the ITPS was too good to be true.

**Demolition Man** · 08-01-2004, 12:29 PM

thanks for that site, the 4 in one capture card looks awsome.

btw, good plan. let us know how that touchscreen kit works out. it's pretty cheap, i will give you that

**Kidane** · 08-01-2004, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by Demolition Man

thanks for that site, the 4 in one capture card looks awsome.

btw, good plan. let us know how that touchscreen kit works out. it's pretty cheap, i will give you that

Yeah, if I can keep this under $1,000 for everything I'll be very pleased.