Rebuilt my Carputer with 2 PSUs.

**Altimat** · 01-02-2005, 09:48 PM

No Bose hating please - I used to install commercial Bose systems, and my car has Bose factory audio with an extra 12" so I'm partial to Bose.

Anyway, the CDRW is for sharing data at meets. The black panel under the Bose emblem covers the floppy cage which now houses the Carnetix 1260.

Here you can see the layout. The Opus 150 powers the MB, HDD, PCI, Video and the Carnetix 1260/PW-70A powers the screen, USB hub, case fans, and USB DVD drive.

Video is a Ti4600, PCI holds Audigy, PCMCIA adapter with 200mW 802.11b, and a USB 2.0 dedicated to the dash USB DVD. All other USB devices are on the on-board controller and the D-Link hub.

Rear view shows the Opus and Carnetix inputs. The Opus startup/shutdown controller is used and the Carnetix is just a slave.

The red and yellow pairs are +12 and +5 outputs from the PW-70A to the external devices.

**CJ8501** · 01-03-2005, 12:30 AM

Very nice Mike if i only had the skills and money lol

**frodobaggins** · 01-03-2005, 12:51 AM

That's exactly what I'm going to do.

**Rith** · 01-03-2005, 12:51 AM

Looks pretty bad ***. Bose sucks thought. J/K, I love bose.
Your car pc > my best desktop

**BrUTaL** · 01-03-2005, 03:23 PM

That case looks pretty similiar to mine, where are you your carputer? Do you have more pics on your install?

**Altimat** · 01-03-2005, 06:04 PM

Originally Posted by BrUTaL

Do you have more pics on your install?

Its been done twice now. This is v3 new for 2005.

I had the PW-70a integrated with a relay last year, but didn't realize that the 12V was unregulated back then. The Lilli, dash DVD, and hub seems to have survived the 14V luckily. The learning experience never ends. I think my carputer assembly/install labor vs. carputer usage time ratio is about 10:1 lol. If I ever paint and install all my parts I'll post new pics.

**Peoples** · 01-03-2005, 06:11 PM

I'm thinking about doing something very similar to this as well. Though instead of the carnetix, i'll be using the ITPS, and I will be installing the PW-70A and the ITPS in my dash, while my mobo/hard drive will be powered by another PSU in the trunk.

I'm just not so sure how to go about the whole deal. Will the PW-70A power on without a connection to the motherboard? I've never powered on an ATX PSU without a motherboard.

Also, couldnt I just use the ITPS to power the LCD, optical drive, and usb hub?

**Altimat** · 01-03-2005, 09:17 PM

The ITPS will work as a voltage regulator, but it won't maintain 12V through a crank because of the dropout voltage so you'll lose power to those accessories while cranking. You can power it on with an ignition input same as the Opus or Carnetix though.

The optical drive requires 5V also and the ITPS alone only provides 12V with a minimum 13.5V input.

The ATX PSUs can be turned on by just shorting two terminals on the connector.

I haven't tested my new setup yet, but I'm confident I have it done right this time.