powering the comp

**black3** · 11-15-2004, 04:02 PM

I have been reading the forums but still not sure what to use to power the computer. I see many people are using the opus power supply. but then i see people with 300W, 250W etc power inverters. can you just use a power inverter or do you need both. whats difference.

**RPI Geek** · 11-15-2004, 04:15 PM

The difference is that the OPUS wires into your car's DC electrical system and outputs directly into the motherboard with ATX specifications. An inverter converts your car's DC power into AC wall voltage and then you use an off-the-shelf power supply that converts the electricity back into DC which finally gets to your motherboard. The only situation that I can envision where you'd use them simultaneously is to power your computer off the OPUS, and something else (like an electric shaver or a curling iron) off the inverter.

The best solution depends on how much work you want to do, how nice you want it to look, and how much functionality you want to get out of it. If you want to spend very little money, take an old desktop and just stick it in the back on the floor, an inverter is probably best for you. If you want a low-power mini-itx computer hidden inside the radio DIN slow that'll power cycle with the car, the OPUS is probably the better option.

It sounds like you need to do some research on what you want to do and how much time/money you want to invest.

**greski** · 11-15-2004, 04:31 PM

I used an inverter, and connected it to a 30 amp (hope it will suffice) relay so that the inverter will turn on and off with my car.

**black3** · 11-15-2004, 05:52 PM

thanks a lot for the info. yeah i looked at mini-itx. parts are pretty expensive. but i do want it to look nice. so im probably going to get a Epia M10000 with a Travala 134. i want to fit it under my seat or glove.

Originally Posted by RPI Geek

The difference is that the OPUS wires into your car's DC electrical system and outputs directly into the motherboard with ATX specifications. An inverter converts your car's DC power into AC wall voltage and then you use an off-the-shelf power supply that converts the electricity back into DC which finally gets to your motherboard. The only situation that I can envision where you'd use them simultaneously is to power your computer off the OPUS, and something else (like an electric shaver or a curling iron) off the inverter.

The best solution depends on how much work you want to do, how nice you want it to look, and how much functionality you want to get out of it. If you want to spend very little money, take an old desktop and just stick it in the back on the floor, an inverter is probably best for you. If you want a low-power mini-itx computer hidden inside the radio DIN slow that'll power cycle with the car, the OPUS is probably the better option.

It sounds like you need to do some research on what you want to do and how much time/money you want to invest.