Thread: Extreme Newbie to Carputers

Frequently Asked Questions

Power Supplies Inverters, DC-DC, and Foward Converters
- Inverters are a cheap and easy solution for powering your CarPC.
- DC-DC units are more efficent than an Inverter and typically will allow your CarPC to continue operation during cranking. These Units include the Opus, Keypower, Arise ACE-865V, and Arise ACE-916V
- Foward Converters modify a regular power supply into a DC-DC unit. More info can be found here.

To wire everything in your car, you are really going to have to rip apart your dash, and get your hands dirty.

In a car, there are several power wires that are 'on' at different times. For a basic setup, you need only concern yourself with 2. There is a constant on wire, and a accessory wire.

Obviously, the constant on wire is constantly on. No matter what you are doing in the car, there is always voltage at the wire. However, when starting the car, the voltage in the wire, drops significantly. If not stabilized, the computer will not have enough voltage to run, and shuts down.

The accessory wire is only on when you have the key to the accessory position, or the car is running. The same rule applies when starting the car.

You have to decide something before wiring, do you want to have the computer always available, or only when the car is running? Then, wire the computer to the wire, or a relay running from that wire.

If your computer already has a DC-DC power supply, you should probably be fine with the ITPS available. This will regulate the voltage coming into the power supply, and allow some dropout regulation.

TheLadiesMan,

Let me see if I can help clarify things for you:

Frequently Asked Questions

That thread is very old an in need of updating. There are other solutions available now (including CarNetix). Your solution is perfect for the CarNetix P1260. It would power your existing Morex DC-DC converter in your case. That's exactly what its designed for. It is basically a regulator that takes the car's "+12V" supply, which can vary from about 7.5V during engine cranking, up to +16V if there are any "spikes" on the line, and regulates this to a safe +12V output at up to 5 amps. Your existing Morex DC-DC converter needs a well-regulated +12V input to work properly.

you should probably be fine with the ITPS available. This will regulate the voltage coming into the power supply, and allow some dropout regulation.

I would have to disagree with this. The ITPS will only provide regulation if its input is +13.4 volts or higher. It contains a "linear low dropout regulator" which has a 1.4 volt drop, which means you need +13.4V in to get +12V out. It cannot provide a regulated +12V output if your engine is off. It will also not survive engine cranking. Its shutdown controller is easily confused if you turn on and off your ignition before it has timed out.

My Question is how do I hook up multiple DC connections in my car for both the monitor and the computer?

I suggest you go to our website and download the Installation Manual for the P1260. Take a look at some of the diagrams. If they don't make sense, post a few questions on our FORUM, or here on this forum. You'll get plenty of help. As kiltjim mentioned, you will need to get your hands dirty to really do this right. But again, you can ask for and get lots of help. You'll learn a lot, and it will be tons of fun!

Good luck!