Thread: Options to power 15" desktop LCD from 12vdc

Ok, been reading and searching quite a bit, want to see if there's an option I'm missing.

I'm building a mini-ITX based PC for a boat navigation system - it will be dedicated to navi software and run nothing else. Although I have inverter power available, I would prefer to run both the 'puter and display from 12v DC.

The system I am settling on is as follows:

Morex 36-series case w/60W psu built-in
M10000 mobo
512MB ram
2.5" laptop HD (30GB)
slimline CD
usb optical trackball mouse
usb keyboard
serial interface to separately powered GPS
display - standard desktop LCD monitor

The boat's battery system will vary 10-15v based on charging/discharging of the batteries, but will not incur cranking loads (separate system for engine starts). Therefore I will require 12v DC-DC regulation of some sort.

Ignoring the display for a moment, I could go bare-boned with the Morex "car adapter" for the regular 60W psu (the input range of 9-16v is fine for my needs and I don't really need startup/shutdown control). If I was feeling generous I could upgrade by staying with the std 60W morex and adding the carnetix cnx-p1260. Still ignoring the display, this would provide shutdown logic in the event that the batteries were drawn down to the minimum. But not necessary.

So no questions there, really.

Now, the display. Haven't picked one yet, but it seems the 15" (250-300nit) use between 25-40W of power. Some have external bricks, and some are internal. If I manage to find a display I like w/external regulation 12v input (some are 14, some are 19) then I would like to power this from DC, rather than the inverter. However, this 12v input needs to be regulated as well. That points to one of 3 options:

1) find a psu that has enough power on the +12v rail (that's an "extra" 2.5 - 3amps!!)
2) try to use the carnetix regulator to power both the display and the pc
3) find some other 12v dc-dc regulator

I don't think 1 is feasible - only the 120W opus comes close, but it's a thin margin there (3.5A available) and it's $$$

The 1260 might do the trick, but is also marginal (only have 60W to play with, not sure if the pc consumption will stay under 30W; power calculators show a range of 26W idle to 48W full-bore; not sure what load the navi software will pull).
The 1280 improves the margin a bit, but only a bit.
The 1290 would likely work, when it becomes available (75W to play with).

Option 3 - I suppose I could buy another carnetix just for the display, but that seems a waste as the logic would be unused. I am not aware of any good regulators that would take input of, say 9-16VDC and output 12VDC. Maybe my searching is off. I don't want to build something.

Anyone know of any other options? Or should I just give up and use the inverter power?