Here is the plan, please shoot it down if its a bad idea.

**Sporttracguy** · 08-26-2004, 04:49 PM

Ok, been working on the details for my carputer so here are some of them.. i plan to mold in a xenarc touchscreen into the double din area where my stock HU is now. Ill run an older laptop that i have with an inverter but here is the beauty of the laptop:

The laptop has two batteries built in with a good 3-4 hour battery life. So i can run the carputer inverter free for most of the time and when im not using it i can run the inverter to charge the batteries.. This way i dont have to worry about the surges i get from starting the car with the system on and i dont have to worry about it killing my battery. Does this sound like a good idea or is there some major detail i left out?

here is what my truck looks like as of now, i plan to remove the stock HU and install the touchscreen
http://www.zjstech.net/~library/3675/touchscreen.jpg

Thanks,
SPorttracguy

**Squid** · 08-26-2004, 05:09 PM

I'm running a laptop in my SUV... but I don't use an inverter... I use the car/airplane
adapter for my laptop... it does the dc-dc conversion for you and charges and powers
your laptop.

Mine is on as soon as you have ignition to power the laptop. I still have the battery
in the laptop for a backup and to let the laptop stay on during cranking or short trips
in and out of the car.

I'm sure you can find the auto adapter for you laptop pretty cheap on ebay.. $30ish...
Here is the brand I have... very popular and works well.. Lind Electronics

Good Luck!

**Chairboy** · 08-26-2004, 09:55 PM

Use the car adapter for sure, and don't alternate between charging and not charging. There are a finite amount of charge/discharge cycles for your batteries, running them down a few hours every day means that after a couple months, it's dead.

**Sporttracguy** · 08-26-2004, 10:15 PM

So is this car adapter just like my normal 110 v plug for the computer except it runs off the 12 v of the car? just want to make sure i get that right.. seems like a good idea

Thanks guys,, anything else i should know?

**m_dunnie** · 08-26-2004, 10:50 PM

Originally Posted by Sporttracguy

So is this car adapter just like my normal 110 v plug for the computer except it runs off the 12 v of the car? just want to make sure i get that right.. seems like a good idea

Thanks guys,, anything else i should know?

Has nothing to do with 110v, it runs off the 12v power of the car, hence a dc-dc. I just pulled my inverter last weekend and replaced it with an Opus 150, wow what a difference. Don't use an inverter period.

**Squid** · 08-27-2004, 12:59 AM

Yea just like your home adapter except it keeps it all dc... same size pretty much...
same connector for your laptop connection... just make sure you get the right one!

Have fun!

**Sporttracguy** · 08-27-2004, 02:01 AM

but what does the computer think about getting direct current instead of AC? or am i compleatly off?

**Squid** · 08-27-2004, 03:00 AM

Your wrong...

A laptop runs off of dc.. batteries.. obviously... they vary around 18 or 19 volts...
Your home a/c adapter/charger takes the 110 and converts it to the 18 or 19 DC volts
your laptop needs.

An auto/air adapter takes your cars 12 volts and steps it up to the 18 or 19 volts...
hence the term DC-to-DC converter.

Your laptop see's the required voltage it needs... using the appropriate adapter... a/c or auto or air...

...does that clear it up at all?

(if you gave your type and model number of laptop.. I'm sure we could find it on ebay for u)

**cheerio** · 08-27-2004, 03:26 AM

Originally Posted by Chairboy

Use the car adapter for sure, and don't alternate between charging and not charging. There are a finite amount of charge/discharge cycles for your batteries, running them down a few hours every day means that after a couple months, it's dead.

lithium ion batterys last 2 years
"Typically speaking about Lithium Ion batteries, they last about 2
years" found here http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=29181

non lithium ion batters need to be conditioned every three weeks or so

http://www.m-techlaptops.com/supportfaq.htm

**DarquePervert** · 08-27-2004, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by Sporttracguy

but what does the computer think about getting direct current instead of AC? or am i compleatly off?

The components of the computer actually require DC.
Your household current is AC, so your standard ATX power supply converts AC to DC.
The Opus is a DC to DC power supply. There's no conversion required.
Some people take the standard AC-DC power supply into an inverter (converting the cars DC to AC). It works, but it's not as efficient. Personally, I also think it's less elegant.

Does that help?