carputer power questions

allbodies · 09-26-2007, 11:17 AM

Ok so. I don't really know who to ask about this so I'll just throw it out there. I have 4 parts I need powered.

-Dell optiplex gx270/250w (got for FREE!)

-lilliput 629/DC 12c 1A

-and a 6v regulator to run my monsoon amp

Now, should all of this run through a DCtoDC (with the power up and shutdown controller) or should only the computer?

Pretty much with this set up how should I set it up?

DarquePervert · 09-26-2007, 12:37 PM

Search the forums for how you can power the Dell PC.
The Lilliput screen can draw power from the computer's PSU.

I don't knwo where you're going to pull regulated 6v for the Monsoon. You could pull 5v from the PC power supply, but I don't know if that would be sufficient.

allbodies · 09-27-2007, 09:39 AM

yeah, Kbyrd used 5v in his vw and said it worked.

Thanks

mgithens · 09-27-2007, 04:29 PM

odds are that the optiplex uses less than 100watts, the power supply rating is only its maximum handling potential... the LCD will use like 10watts...

the monsoon amp needs 5V?? okay, then you need to know what size fuse it uses, multiply those and that is your max power draw... you'll probably spend more time and money trying to use that amp than to just get a regular 12volt amp...

allbodies · 09-30-2007, 10:40 AM

Kybrd has a pretty easy lookin set up for the 5v reg for the monsoon at:

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/faq-...nsoon-amp.html

And the optiplex site said it's 250, but if that's the max, what should I expect to power it? So I know what DC/DC to get (so I don't have to buy the expencive dc/dc)

allbodies · 09-30-2007, 11:42 AM

kbyrd has a really easy way to get the 5v reg.

But, on the dell site they say that the minioptiplex runs at 250w. If that's max, then what should my DC/DC be rated for, 250w?

mgithens · 09-30-2007, 01:24 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by allbodies

kbyrd has a really easy way to get the 5v reg.

But, on the dell site they say that the minioptiplex runs at 250w. If that's max, then what should my DC/DC be rated for, 250w?

I can guarantee that your computer does not draw 250watts... that is the size of the power supply, which means that you can support up to 250 watts of draw, but a computer only uses what it needs... I would expect all standard desktop pcs to fall between 30 and 150 watts. A few watts per hard drive, per usb device, etc. My old P3-450 that I use as a movie server only draws 30 watts!! I would never have believed it, but I bought a "Kill-a-watt" and measure the current draw myself.

allbodies · 09-30-2007, 03:45 PM

Cool, well would I be alright with just getting a 150w dc/dc?

2k1Toaster · 09-30-2007, 03:53 PM

I hear lots of mentioning of watts, but nobody has mentioned that it means nothing overall. It only matters on the individual rails. You can have a 100W PSU with 90W on the 12v, and 10W on the 5v, in which case even if you only draw 15W off of it to power you're overloading the power supply and it wont work.

allbodies · 09-30-2007, 04:09 PM

I'm really sorry. I'm new to this, so it's not making sence to me.

so there is a 12v and a 5v?

allbodies · 09-30-2007, 04:24 PM

http://store.mp3car.com/M2_ATX_160W_..._p/pwr-027.htm

So with this could I power my comp, lcd, and throw in my 5v reg?

2k1Toaster · 09-30-2007, 04:26 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by allbodies

I'm really sorry. I'm new to this, so it's not making sence to me.

so there is a 12v and a 5v?

Every ATX power supply has a 12v, 5v, 3.3v, and 5vsb rail. THe computer doesnt just run off of 1 voltage.

Voltage x current = power which is volts x amps = watts.

So you can see the same amount of power can be had with low voltage and high current or the same amount with high voltage and low current (like the power lines feeding int your house).

So the same amount of power from the M2 is 160W. Butyou can only get so much out of each rail.