running tray dvd drive upside down in car.

crazymadbastard · 02-18-2005, 02:35 PM

Seems that the easiest way to mount my zpcgx is upside down( because of the cpu venting on the top ) I want to mount it under my rear deck. So, would the cd pop out if I run this upside down and sit a bump? hmm...

Scouse Monkey · 02-18-2005, 02:42 PM

How are you going to load the CD in the drive if its upside down in the 1st place?

mgithens · 02-18-2005, 02:47 PM

get a laptop drive that "snaps" the CD/DVD in place... super cheap, you'll just need a laptop to IDE adapter (like $10)...

wizardPC · 02-18-2005, 03:02 PM

or mount the drive upside down in the case so it's right side up when you mount the case.

bobs987 · 02-18-2005, 03:08 PM

wizard just a question, how so much debt???

Bangster · 02-18-2005, 03:23 PM

The case/computer they are refering to has the slimline optical 5.25 inch drive bay. Depending on how they are mounted, the drives are not symetrical. There is a step on one side. I had to totally make new brackets when I turned mine over, and rethink the mounting it of. Tray loader if the CD snaps in should be okay, a tray that it floats on would likely be too much trouble. I would probably work on making a new bracket and flipping it over.

crazymadbastard · 02-18-2005, 03:52 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Bangster

The case/computer they are refering to has the slimline optical 5.25 inch drive bay. Depending on how they are mounted, the drives are not symetrical. There is a step on one side. I had to totally make new brackets when I turned mine over, and rethink the mounting it of. Tray loader if the CD snaps in should be okay, a tray that it floats on would likely be too much trouble. I would probably work on making a new bracket and flipping it over.

The drive is the snap in type so I may be ok.

yes, I said the easiest way is to mount the entire ZPC upside down. I could mount the dvd upside down after figuring an entire mounting system for both the hd and the dvd drive. I already figured the wiring though.

I have an external dvd drive for the cabin and I want to keep one in the system for extra storage in the trunk. The drive to go in the trunk was ony $10 so I may just risk it.

wizardPC · 02-19-2005, 04:14 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by crazymadbastard

The drive is the snap in type so I may be ok...

Yeah, you're good.

Deviser · 02-19-2005, 11:31 PM

Hey crazymadbastard,

I mounted my zpc upside down in my trunk and its fine cd snaps in and out.

Check out the Pics HERE to see how I did it.

Deviser

Arathranar · 02-19-2005, 11:43 PM

Nice looking power supply - how much current can it supply?

Deviser · 02-20-2005, 12:00 AM

Up to 3 amps from each output and it has five outputs.

The Voltage and current are adjustable. I have each of them tweaked to output just the right volts and amps for each device powered.

Deviser

turbocad6 · 02-20-2005, 12:21 AM

Hey deviser, would you consider building a custom power supply like yours to sell to me? I wanted to build my own, but never researched it enough to actually do it.

nice jub on the pc mounting, but Im not clear on the actual mounting to the case. your mentioning the aluminum spacers & the crushing stuff, so I'm thinking you may have long bolts all the way through?

Deviser · 02-20-2005, 12:49 AM

turbocad6,

Do you have a ZPC or some other type of carputer?

As to the bolts I used to secure the ZPC to the frame, no they don't go all the way through that would kill the ZPC.

You can't see in the pictures I posted but they are inside the 3/4 steel pipe frame on the top and bottom of the ZPC.

The shortest bolts I could find were # 4X40 and 10mm long that’s about 0.3937008 inch

I really did not want to cut them to make them shorter because I was afraid it would bugger the threads.

So with the aluminum spacers + 1/8" of the 3/4" square steel pipe + 1/16 rubber washer the bolt goes through then threads into the ZPC's aluminum case so the bolts avoid shorting the motherboard and crushing the cd-rom drive thankfully.

Deviser

crazymadbastard · 02-26-2005, 02:18 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Deviser

turbocad6,
Do you have a ZPC or some other type of carputer?

Deviser

Nice work!

I have a zpcgx 2.4ghx celeron-

How are you powering yours?

I have run it directly from the car's electrical system. Do you have a "how to"
build yours?

Deviser · 02-27-2005, 10:47 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by crazymadbastard

Nice work!

I have a zpcgx 2.4ghx celeron-

How are you powering yours?

I have run it directly from the car's electrical system. Do you have a "how to"
build yours?

I wanted good stability as far as power goes for my ZPC so I sought out a power adapter accustomed to the mobile environment matching the same output specs as the ac adapter. I ended up going with a Lind adapter. They are well known for manufacturing custom-made power supplies for laptops. Here's the model I used: LINK

I wired in the Lind adapter to the switched power distribution blocks pictured in my post above displaying my custom-made power controller. I plan to post my experiences installing my ZPC carputer and show off some of the other things that I have done. I have my own domain and will host a website devoted to my carputer project soon. At the moment, I prefer to concentrate on the remaining major elements of my project. However, if I find anything posted that would be of any help to anyone, I will post instructions and pictures as I did above.

It's nice to have a fellow ZPCer in the forum.

Deviser