MP3Car.com - View Single Post - Advice Request: Mounting components in my Custom Carputer Box

long.1 · 07-08-2007, 02:12 PM

Thanks All - this is exactly the kind of input I was hoping for - most appreciated. Some responses follow....

Quote: Originally Posted by Profozone

.....That's pretty tight. Remember, if a board is 1.2" tall, you need a little room underneath and some room on top for airflow and so things don't short out, although the box appears to be plastic, huh?
.....Your Opus dimensions are kind of big compared to my M2-ATX. Have you purchased the parts yet?

Thanks Profozone, Yes - the box is plastic. I know that airflow will be a concern, and I'm prepared to add some small fans to move the air in and out. Also, yes - all of these parts have already been purchased, so it's definitely the Opus 150 for me.

Quote: Originally Posted by blk02si

.....I would lay it out in a 3d cad application for best results. That way you can see how everything is going to mount and more importantly, if it will fit, the way you intend to mount. In my experiences your dimensions are more than enough room to work with.
.....From a fabrication P.O.V. I would probably mount all components on a solid sheet of aluminum with 1/4" standoffs. Then mount the sheet inside your box. A computer system likes to be grounded to the other components its communicating with. Thats why virtually all mass produced computer cases are made of metal and even the mass produced acrylic cases come with grounding straps. I'm not saying its impossible or bad to run the system on all plastic ungrounded, but I have found using a metal chassis to be very successful in my builds.

Thanks blk02si, I've been fooling around with Photoshop and AutoCAD to see what I can come up with so far. I'll see if I can post up a jpg tomorrow of what I'm working on.
I definitely like the sound of mounting all the components on an aluminium sheet first. That could actually help overcome the issue of the slight slant on one edge of the box. Maybe - we'll see.

Quote: Originally Posted by TheLandYacht

I think what he was getting at was "why put the dvd drive in that box under the seat". That makes it very difficult to get to. An alternate solution that others have come to is either to get an extra long IDE cable & mount an internal drive elsewhere, or get an external drive, run a usb cable to a relatively accessible location, but keep the drive unplugged and stashed except when you're using it.

Quote: Originally Posted by Pandaman72

Yeah, mounting the DVD remotely in the tissue box slot would be my suggestion. Not only will it save space in the carputer box, but it will be easier (and safer) to change DVD's while driving. Panda

Thanks TheLandYacht/Pandaman72, I can definitely hear what you're saying, and I've seen others use those USB drive's to mount them in the dash or elsewhere. However, the irony here is that part of me wants to keep the DVD/CDRW drive in the carputer box for the convenience of the location. There's a little more to consider here, so let me elaborate. I'm really trying to keep the stock look of the dash, and at this stage I'm reluctant to put the optical drive up front. Now, I know that when I get a touchscreen, it will have to go somewhere, but that's another issue for another day.

I would consider mounting the drive vertically in the centre console, or maybe even in the glove compartment, but to be honest, these locations are probably equally or more inconvenient than the proposed location under the seat. There's also the concealment factor which is a positive for under the seat as well. So for now I'm going to see if I can get the DVD/CDRW in the carputer box. If it doesn't work out, I might consider the other locations detailed above.

Thanks again for all your thoughts/comments.

Cheers,

Long.1

07-08-2007, 02:12 PM	#9
long.1 Constant Bitrate Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 132	Thanks All - this is exactly the kind of input I was hoping for - most appreciated. Some responses follow.... Quote: Originally Posted by Profozone .....That's pretty tight. Remember, if a board is 1.2" tall, you need a little room underneath and some room on top for airflow and so things don't short out, although the box appears to be plastic, huh? .....Your Opus dimensions are kind of big compared to my M2-ATX. Have you purchased the parts yet? Thanks Profozone, Yes - the box is plastic. I know that airflow will be a concern, and I'm prepared to add some small fans to move the air in and out. Also, yes - all of these parts have already been purchased, so it's definitely the Opus 150 for me. Quote: Originally Posted by blk02si .....I would lay it out in a 3d cad application for best results. That way you can see how everything is going to mount and more importantly, if it will fit, the way you intend to mount. In my experiences your dimensions are more than enough room to work with. .....From a fabrication P.O.V. I would probably mount all components on a solid sheet of aluminum with 1/4" standoffs. Then mount the sheet inside your box. A computer system likes to be grounded to the other components its communicating with. Thats why virtually all mass produced computer cases are made of metal and even the mass produced acrylic cases come with grounding straps. I'm not saying its impossible or bad to run the system on all plastic ungrounded, but I have found using a metal chassis to be very successful in my builds. Thanks blk02si, I've been fooling around with Photoshop and AutoCAD to see what I can come up with so far. I'll see if I can post up a jpg tomorrow of what I'm working on. I definitely like the sound of mounting all the components on an aluminium sheet first. That could actually help overcome the issue of the slight slant on one edge of the box. Maybe - we'll see. Quote: Originally Posted by TheLandYacht I think what he was getting at was "why put the dvd drive in that box under the seat". That makes it very difficult to get to. An alternate solution that others have come to is either to get an extra long IDE cable & mount an internal drive elsewhere, or get an external drive, run a usb cable to a relatively accessible location, but keep the drive unplugged and stashed except when you're using it. Quote: Originally Posted by Pandaman72 Yeah, mounting the DVD remotely in the tissue box slot would be my suggestion. Not only will it save space in the carputer box, but it will be easier (and safer) to change DVD's while driving. Panda Thanks TheLandYacht/Pandaman72, I can definitely hear what you're saying, and I've seen others use those USB drive's to mount them in the dash or elsewhere. However, the irony here is that part of me wants to keep the DVD/CDRW drive in the carputer box for the convenience of the location. There's a little more to consider here, so let me elaborate. I'm really trying to keep the stock look of the dash, and at this stage I'm reluctant to put the optical drive up front. Now, I know that when I get a touchscreen, it will have to go somewhere, but that's another issue for another day. I would consider mounting the drive vertically in the centre console, or maybe even in the glove compartment, but to be honest, these locations are probably equally or more inconvenient than the proposed location under the seat. There's also the concealment factor which is a positive for under the seat as well. So for now I'm going to see if I can get the DVD/CDRW in the carputer box. If it doesn't work out, I might consider the other locations detailed above. Thanks again for all your thoughts/comments. Cheers, Long.1 __________________ Worklog: 2006 Ford Territory Ghia (Melbourne, Australia) Mounting Components in Custom Carputer Box Attention Aussie's - Say G'day Here