DC-DC Car Power for Mac Mini - Page 2

randyb · 01-26-2005, 01:17 PM

[QUOTE=ePiFaNT]Would it be possible to set OS X to shut the Mini down after x seconds/hours/days? I`m currently running OS9 on my pismo, so I can`t find out ;o)

There used to be an option in the Mac OS 9 sleep control panel called "Shut down instead of sleep". You could then set your sleep timer to 10 minutes. After 10 minutes of inactivity, it would shut down. Unfortunately this is not a feature of Mac OS X.

NiN^_^NiN · 01-30-2005, 06:13 PM

Sorry Mike i've been looking at the websites but havent found any of the cables yet

I have a few more to check when I get enough time so I'll keep you updated

MikeH · 01-30-2005, 08:23 PM

Quote:

I'll keep you updated

Great.. let me know what you find.

old_lou · 01-30-2005, 08:45 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by NiN^_^NiN

Hmm maybe you could have the mac mini sleep for 10mins then after 10mins it cuts ALL power off?

How about the psu powering down automatically if the volage drops below X for longer than Y. This means if your battery is below say 12v it shuts down in 30 seconds. The Y bit stops it shutting down when cranking. This will let the Mac sleep but safeguard against a flat battery. If X is settable the user can decide when the battery level is safe.

MikeH · 01-30-2005, 08:56 PM

Lou,

Quote:

How about the psu powering down automatically if the volage drops below X for longer than Y.

The P1900 already does this (where x=10.6V and Y=10 seconds). If X is below 10.6V when you attempt to initially boot, the SSC will prevent the computer from starting. X is resettable thru field upgradeable firmware.

old_lou · 01-30-2005, 09:38 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by MikeH

Lou,

The P1900 already does this (where x=10.6V and Y=10 seconds). If X is below 10.6V when you attempt to initially boot, the SSC will prevent the computer from starting. X is resettable thru field upgradeable firmware.

Ok thanks, just an idea. By the time your battery gets to 10.6 you will proberly not start the car. I was thinking more along the line of if you leave it on stand by it drops the connection before it gets to the point of no start. As I have not got out of the buying stage into the building stage yet. I don't know what power needs I have so have not looked to deeply into PSU specs yet.(pc not mac)

svhall60 · 02-05-2005, 02:46 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by MikeH

We have confirmed that the Mac Mini power requirements will be compatible with the upcoming P1900. We'll keep you informed of the beta test status and availability information as it becomes available.

How much can we expect to tpay for this P1900 Unit? Is there another that can be used at this time?

NiN^_^NiN · 02-07-2005, 08:01 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by MikeH

There are a total of 10 pins, 5 on each side. They are spaced at approximately .06" apart. Outside dimensions of the metal part of the shell are .420 x .160".

If you find this part please let us know. This, and the ACPI header connector are the only thing holding us up.

Here are pics.

Thanks!

Hi Mike i've sent off email to suppliers to see if they have any kind of adapter that might connect to the Mac mini power supply plug.

I'll keep you updated on this.

The ACPI Header connector is something i'm curious about

This is just 2 wires plugging into the board? like a power switch on the PC?

besides the connector you just need wires nothing else in between?

Can you tell me how wide the pitch is between the 2 pins?

It is 2 pins m i correct?

thecapitalizt · 02-07-2005, 09:16 AM

Found a useful link for us, for when the car is turned off and the computer is in sleep mode. DIY UPS

MikeH · 02-07-2005, 10:55 AM

Sorry guys....I'm out of town this week...I'll try to answer some of these questions early next week

sdashiki · 02-07-2005, 05:18 PM

My idea from the get go was a 2 battery isolator system. Even if I was gonna stick with a WinTel machine. Truth be told having a carputer is awesome, but powering it is a *****. Having a second batt (optima) is a good thing just so you can have a piece of mind. NOw as for the MAC side of things, its always been known sleep draws power, and a lot considering it vs hibernate. But with a second batt, and those of us who drive every day even a little bit, you can put it into sleep when you come home and itll be RIGHT THERE as you left it when you come back. OSX starts up quick, but its much quicker to come back from sleep, power draw is negligable when u have a second battery. If you go on vacation, turn it off. Duh.

Bugbyte · 02-07-2005, 05:41 PM

I know you can run Cron jobs in BSD Unix....do they work if the computer is asleep? If so, could you program it to wake and see if some kind of state file exists that indicates the computer or the car has been on in the last 24 hours?

You could program in that if it was more than, say, 48 hours since last use, shut down -or for that matter, maybe check some kind of battery voltage indicator and shut down based on that.

cjastram · 02-07-2005, 08:39 PM

You probably want "at" rather than "cron," since 'at' is for one-shot program runs, where cron is for repetitive programs.

No, cron jobs do not run while the computer is asleep.

However, on some PC systems, you can set a "wakeup" timer. Can the mini-mac do this? I don't know.

My scenario: set an 'at' job 2 hours in the future, and put the computer to sleep with a 115-minute timer. At the end of 115 minutes, it wakes up. At 120, it turns itself off. Obviously, you'd have to figure some way to tell if the user is bringing the computer back, and remove the 'at' job.

Christopher Jastram
http://www.livingresource.net/
cej102937

kandyman676 · 02-07-2005, 08:41 PM

you can set a wakeup timer in OS X, but it requires a specific time to shutdown or wake up...its not a timer.

Bugbyte · 02-08-2005, 02:28 AM

Here's the control panel for the energy saver panel. It wakes and shuts down/sleep the computer on a certain schedule, either daily, weekdays, weekends, or a specific day. I'd think you could set an Applescript to run and then shut down the computer if you wanted to.

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