Thread: My plan, Need some critique

First off, this should not be posted int he FAQ Emporium. Pay attention to the forum you're in before you post.

[QUOTE=brentm]Here is my plan: I know that people on this site do not like to just tell someone how to make their carputers. But here is what I plan on doing.

1. Hardwire a 12volt adapter into my car using the remote turn on lead from my deck. Move the power and reset buttons to somewhere in my dash. Unless I can get the computer to automatically turn on with the deck somehow.[/qote]
Define '12 volt adapter'. Do you mean an inverter? Perhaps a 12v power adapter for a laptop? Give us details, man.
You can use a DC-DC power supply (no inverter necessary) for a desktop-style setup that will turn on with the ignition, just like your headunit.

2. Plug in the power supply and install the computer components.

Good start...

3. For the screen I will be using an LCD mini display screen.( http://cgi.ebay.com/HD44780-20X4-Cha...QQcmdZViewItem)

OK. You're not going to see much information, but OK.
I suggest using one of the units from CrystalFontz of Matrix Orbital, as they come with software you can use to display information from various applications and have triggers set to display different information under various circumstances and such. They also have serial and USB models, not that a parallel unit is a bad thing...

4. I will be running windows xp on the carputer with winamp automatically running on computer startup. I will also install correct drivers/software for the LCD screen to work.
5. I will connect the speakers, via an auxillary input adapter (Sony deck does not have AUX inputs, but an adapter can be bought to change the cd changer plug to aux inputs) Split from the soundcard into RCA’s and then run the RCA’s into the new aux input on the deck.
6. I will control winamp through a USB keypad/numberpad that I have, I will just set hotkeys.
7. I may do an external USB hard drive, or an internal one, I plan on getting a rather large one so I will not have to refill it often.

That all sounds peachy...

Here are my questions/concerns:
How do I get the carputer to turn on automatically with the deck, and if the carputer needs restarting, do I just turn the deck off and then on?

Startup/Shutdown controller. Some DC-DC power supplies have them built in.

Does this setup sound like it will work?

You haven't given any details on the setup, so nobody could even begin to guess.

This should all be coming from a computer that is about a year old, so the power supply has the built in regulator and startup controller in it.

Again, no details about the computer. Most computers do not have a startup controller for a car, nor a regulator for a 12v DC power source. If you've purchased a car-specific unit from ebay or a forum member or some online vendor that sells systems setup specifically for a vehicle, then it may. Again, we have no way of knowing, as you've given us absolutely no details on the setup.

Again, pay attention to the forum you're in before you post. The FAQ Emporium isn't the place for your questions, but a repository for answers to those questions. For n00bs, it's a place to read, not post.

Originally Posted by brentm

Sorry about the lack of details, Since this is just for music, I don't think I need anything faster than this. This is an old computer that I have and am not using:
Old Compaq presario s4220nx
2.13 ghz (AMD Anthalon 2600+)
512mb ram
40gb hd (for now)
Onboard graphics and sound

Will I need a special power supply other than the one that is currently in the computer? I have no clue what the specs are on the power supply, nor what to look for specifically on a power supply.

That's a more potent system than most people use to do a lot more than you intend. It's certainly usable, though.
Check out this FAQ: FAQ: Will <insert PSU model> Power Supply work with my system?
It will explain a lot about DC-DC power supplies and how to figure out which one will meet your needs.

I am also concerned about having the computer actually turn on automatically when the deck is turned on, because I don't want to have to go into my trunk and press the power button every time that I want the computer on. This is why I want to relocate it into the dash somewhere out of the way.

The better DC-DC power supplies have a startup/shutdown controller integrated into them. It will power on the PC when you turn the ignition.
If you cehck out the power supplies section of the mp3car.com store, there are several models available that have this feature.
You can also use a standalone startup/shutdown controller for other power configurations.

Again sorry about posting in the wrong spot, and the lack of information given in the 1st round.

The post was relocated. No harm, no foul.

My suggestion is to read as much as you can and plan out your project as much as possible before you begin.
Check out the FAQ Emporium for more information than you think you might need or want. I have it bookmarked, and I'm certain a lot of other members do, as well.
Check out the Show Off Your Project forum for inspiration and ideas. Most members are more than happy to discuss their setups and how they achieved their results.

Don't forget to take lots of pictures and show off your successes and failures. It's a learning experience either way.