Laptop screens

rizaydog · 06-16-2008, 11:21 AM

I have three laptops. I was thinking of using one as my carputer. The other two, I cant get to work. One has some kind of software glitch that I cant get into the bios or boot to windows. The other, I think the PS is dead. It wont do anything. However, all three of the monitors work fine.

I was woundering if it would be possible to use one or both of the monitors from the broken laptops as second and third monitors? I am going to mount the working laptop inside my dash so I can use that monitor as the main monitor.

Could this be done?

Sisco · 06-16-2008, 01:52 PM

You could mount a laptop monitor as a screen, but unless it is touchscreen you will also need to use an input device (keyboard, mouse, etc) to control the computer.

Screen size will matter too.. as far as placement availability.

As far as hooking up multiple internal LCD screens to one laptop, I do not think it would be possible because the laptop is only designed to run that one internal screen and probably an external VGA screen. You could however, pick up a nice lilliput touchscreen for your dash and run that off the VGA plug on the laptop and run the laptop LCD screen into the backseat for the passangers by extending the cable that goes from the laptop to the internal LCD.

The touch screen would be easier to use/control, though for safety sake.. still always pull over to change mp3s, enter GPS destinations, take a call, etc.

As a side suggestion, good working LCD screens from dead or broken laptops can be sold on ebay too. You could probably get enough cash for a nice Lilliput 8" touchscreen if you sold all three lcd screens on ebay.

Rick

hailrazer · 06-16-2008, 06:21 PM

Here's a quick answer for those who wants to use a laptop LCD as a display for their carputer.

A basic LCD monitor you buy over the counter is already prepackaged with everything you need to hook up to a common video input jacks such as VGA, RCA, S-Video. The basic components are LCD screen, controller, and backlight inverter. The controller has an input and output. The input connections are either VGA, RCA, or S-Video. The output then connects to the LCD screen. The backlight inverter takes low voltage power like 12v and steps it up to a few hundred or thousand volts for the backlight to light up the LCD.

Laptop LCDs come with the LCD screen and the backlight built in. But it does not have a seperate controller. The controller is built into the laptop. This is the part that most people dont understand why they cant use a laptop LCD. You need a controller to convert standardized VGA, RCA, S-video signal to non standardized LVDS signal. LCD screens dont cost much. You can buy a laptop LCD screen for a few dollars on ebay though they can get as high as $100-$300.

The controller has to be specially programed for the specific Lcd you are going to use. Also a special Lvds cable has to be made to connect the Lcd to the controller.

Right now the only easy option for getting a controller for your laptop lcd is Ebay. Ebay seller tywong888 with Ebay Store Electronics Kits and Parts Store has 2 different controllers . You will have to buy the controller you want and then email the seller your Lcd model number. This is the actual model # on the back of the Lcd and not the laptop model number. This means you will have to disassemble your laptop to get this number. If your Lcd is compatiable the seller will ship you a working controller with all necessary parts in 2-3 weeks. If it's not compatiable he will refund your money.

Sisco · 06-16-2008, 09:23 PM

Unless I misunderstood, he wants to use a good working laptop as a carputer, and then extend the cable from the laptop so that he can relocate the laptops LCD into his dash. I also think he was asking if there was a way to splice the other two 'spare' LCDs into the controller inside the laptop too.

I know he can run one LCD on his laptop by extending the cable, but I am unsure that the laptops controller would be able to support the extra power requirements for the other LCDs.

Depending on the laptop models, my suggestion is to sell all three LCDs on eBay and purchasing a VGA/USB touchscreen.

Rick

hailrazer · 06-16-2008, 09:41 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Sisco

Unless I misunderstood, he wants to use a good working laptop as a carputer, and then extend the cable from the laptop so that he can relocate the laptops LCD into his dash. I also think he was asking if there was a way to splice the other two 'spare' LCDs into the controller inside the laptop too.

I know he can run one LCD on his laptop by extending the cable, but I am unsure that the laptops controller would be able to support the extra power requirements for the other LCDs.

Rick

That's why I linked to VGA controllers for his other Lcd's.

That would be the only way to add the extra Laptop Lcds.

rizaydog · 06-17-2008, 05:13 AM

Thanks guys. I think I'll do as Sisco said and use a smaller in dash touch screen and the laptop screen in the back. I'll let you know how it turns out.

2k1Toaster · 06-17-2008, 05:35 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by rizaydog

Thanks guys. I think I'll do as Sisco said and use a smaller in dash touch screen and the laptop screen in the back. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Impossible. You cannot extend that cable more than a few centimetres, let alone to the back of a car.

Sisco · 06-17-2008, 08:18 PM

I have seen a laptop lcd extended 3 feet in a 91 camaro install.

If a laptop is installed under a seat and the screen extended onto a rear seat or console, he could then run a vga touchscreen from under the seat to the dash.

Rick

Sisco · 06-17-2008, 08:28 PM

Quick search of the forum finds..

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/lcd-...cable-faq.html

The key is to exend the wires between the laptop and the inverter, not between the inverter and the lcd screen.

Rick

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