How to mount the Mac Mini in a Single-DIN slot?

hutacars · 08-06-2009, 01:50 PM

Has anyone done this before? If so, what did you use? I can't seem to find a mounting bracket for the Mini that will allow me to screw it into the factory bracket. If I can't find anything, my "plan B" is to gut an old car radio and install the Mini in there (since the casing has all the right holes already), but I would rather not do this if there is a prebuilt (or otherwise better) option available.

Thanks!

soundman98 · 08-06-2009, 02:33 PM

i seem to remember reading that bugbyte created his own mouting solution for this, and other than the dd monitor kit that mp3 car sells with the monitor, i have not seen any other computer-in-dash mounting solutions.

natedawgg · 08-06-2009, 02:53 PM

yeah i have never seen a mounting bracket for the mini either. it wouldn't be to terribly difficult to make one though. just remember that whatever route you go to make/get a bracket, make sure there is enough room under the mini for it to get sufficient ventilation.

hutacars · 08-06-2009, 03:23 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by soundman98

i seem to remember reading that bugbyte created his own mouting solution for this, and other than the dd monitor kit that mp3 car sells with the monitor, i have not seen any other computer-in-dash mounting solutions.

I found BugByte's worklog, and unfortunately, the links to the pictures no longer work

From the text, I can make out what he did, but he's trying to make the Mini able to be easily removed. I don't really need that sort of functionality, so I'll likely go with my Mini-in-a-gutted-radio idea. It's more secure that way as well (I'll bolt it down).

Thank you for the tip though!

Bugbyte · 08-06-2009, 05:06 PM

Right, I made a removable dock from plexiglass. The Mini slid into the dock and the connectors are at the back end.

It would be much easier to make it a permanent install.

The issue that you will have is the amount of room at the back end of the Mini. The connectors stick out quite a bit, particularly the video connector. You may have to do some home-made cable building. That's what I had to do to get the HDMI to VGA to work.

If I had it to do over, I'd have gone with a right angle HDMI connector and put the VGA adaptor at the end of the cable.

Bugbyte · 08-06-2009, 05:09 PM

Here's some pics of it.

hutacars · 08-06-2009, 05:19 PM

Fortunately, in this section of the car I have several inches of room, so I'll likely be able to use the DVI->VGA adapter from my old PBG4 (the kind with the cord in the middle). My main issue is securing the Mini, because it has to be able to attach to the mounting brackets, as there's nothing it can really be sitting on. I just want it to be as secure as possible. I may even add a CD-player faceplate so it looks like a $100 CD player instead of a $400 Mac Mini.

Machinehead · 08-07-2009, 08:48 AM

Inspired by Bugbyte's mount, I made a plexi box to hold my mini. It's just snug enough that the mini doesn't move, but it's still removable for maintenance. I wish I epoxied the cables like bugbyte did to make it easier to put back together.

Bugbyte · 08-07-2009, 09:29 AM

Okay, in order to remove the Mini from the dash, I actually built and attached a lunchbox style handle to the front.

Using a drill and a tap, I put threaded holes in the side of the Mini to attach the handle. I used threadlock to keep them from screwing in too far or from falling out. That has worked perfectly.

You can do the same thing with your Mini. Figure out where the holes are inside the dash and transfer the markings to the side of the Mini. Pop the computer guts out, drill and tap the holes, and it will mount straight in with screws just like a regular head unit.

Sure, drilling holes in the side of your pristine Mini sounds harsh, but you're about to put it into your dash. Nobody cares and nobody will see it until you remove it. And nobody will care anyhow.

If that's not to your liking, buy some 'L' brackets at the hardware store and mount them inside the dash. Use some 1/8 sticky foam tape and attach it to the part of the L bracket that the Mini will rest on. Find something above the Mini in the dash that you can do the same with and build it up until you get a nice friction fit.

hutacars · 08-07-2009, 11:17 AM

Wouldn't I have to make the Mini a half inch thicker somehow before I can drill into it? If I get 1/4" aluminum sheets that are 6.5"x2" and drill screw holes into those, could I just bolt those into the side of the Mini? At the very least, I'm going to need two 1/4" spacers and longer screws... and something to put over the front of the Mini so the spacers are not visible from the outside. Otherwise, the brackets would be too close together and unable to be mounted where they need to go, considering the Mini is 6.5" square and a DIN opening is 7" long.

Bugbyte · 08-07-2009, 11:31 AM

That's one way to do it. I hadn't given any thought to the way it would appear from the front, so the aluminum sheet method would work.

You could also fashion an ABS or plexiglass front that goes over the front of the Mini and use the 1/4" on each side to bolt brackets that you can mount the plexiglass to. Depends on whether you want people to see the Mini or not.

If you don't care about the 1/4" gaps, just use washers as spacers and get slightly longer screws.

hutacars · 08-07-2009, 11:39 AM

Well, to be honest, I'd rather people didn't see the Mini, as my highschool is effectively a breeding ground for criminals

so I'll likely use ABS plastic to cover the front. But washers... should be a bit cheaper than aluminum... and if I use rubber washers, I get the added benefit of shock protection. I like that

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