Not carputering, but long time reader and have a question about installing a Xenarc

Smoky · 05-06-2008, 04:46 PM

Hi folks

I'm not new here, but I've never posted. I've been lurking on mp3car for a looong time. I've probably built a carputer 3 or 4 times on paper for different cars I've owned. But I've never pulled the trigger.

I have however employed things I've learned here into my home racing simulator cockpit building (see attached pic) and into other various car projects not carputer related.

This yields my questions...I'm currently flat mounting a Xenarc 7" into a panel for my simulator's dashboard. The panel is 1/8" thick. I realized the other day that the screws in the Xenarc are not long enough to go through the back cover, the panel, and into the screen panel with enough bite (only two threads make it through).

Where can I buy these screws in different lengths?

Or do you guys just leave off the back cover when you panel mount these screens in your cars?

Or maybe some of you are retapping the holes in the screen panel and using different screws altogether?

Please advise. This is literally the last step in my dashboard build (see attached pic). So I'm hoping someone here has encountered this problem and knows where to source the parts or has a better solution.

Thanks in advance!

-Smoky

Smoky · 05-08-2008, 08:34 AM

So, no one here has ever installed a Xenarc monitor and encountered shallow screw depths? Tough to believe...but maybe I am the first! lol

GiODi · 05-08-2008, 11:14 AM

Not sure where you live, but I would just try Do-It Center or similar hardware store. Or just find a different way of mounting the screen to the dash.

A lot of people, including myself, dismantle the whole screen before installing.

Smoky · 05-08-2008, 01:35 PM

These screws are an odd pitch, so I'm having trouble finding them. They seem to be either 27 or 28 pitch, about 1/8 diameter.

I'll prob end up just retapping the holes and use a more convention screw. Just wanted to see what you guys did since panel-mounting a Xenarc seems to be a fairly common occurence around here.

Thanks

KRAZO_EG6 · 05-10-2008, 05:16 PM

i wanna see this thing in action and wanna know how you are getting the tack to work for a game

Smoky · 05-10-2008, 07:03 PM

As soon as I can get screws for the monitor, I'll be able to make a quick video of it working. Everything else has tested fine, so it's ready to go. Just haven't had time to deal with doing anything custom. And can't find the 1/8" longer screws I need for the Xenarc.

Lots of solutions these days to drive automotive or flight gauges from the PC. Most of my gear comes from Frex: www.frex.com/gp The SimConBase drives the SimConMeter and the Autometer tach. It can also be used to drive a motion platform, also available from Frex.

muldrick · 05-10-2008, 07:57 PM

I built a display once and used a 10" Xenarc. Believe it or not, I used RTV to hold it in place...strong stuff.

Smoky · 05-11-2008, 09:53 AM

You used RTV to seal the front screen frame AND the back cover, sandwiched around the mounting surface? I assume you never intended to take it apart again!

I wouldn't want to RTV the screen part...but I could possibly do something like RTV To keep the back cover in place, as a dust cover. Then I would screw-mount the screen to the mounting surface without the back panel, and then use glue or high-temp adhesive just to keep the back cover in place.. interesting...

Still would prefer to use screws straight up. But if all else fails this might be better than just mounting without the back cover at all, as I am about to do because I'm tired of this one little thing keeping me from using my dashboard (took me 3 months to find the time to build this thing, and when I finish I'm held up by some stupid screws... lol).

Bugbyte · 05-11-2008, 10:03 AM

I'd just forget the back panel to reduce thickness. If you're worried about it shorting in back, put something thin and non-conductive over it like a plastic folder cover.

muldrick · 05-11-2008, 03:21 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Smoky

You used RTV to seal the front screen frame AND the back cover, sandwiched around the mounting surface? I assume you never intended to take it apart again!

I cut a hole in the wood the same size as the monitor, I then squeezed the into the opening, and RTV'd the back side of it...just caulked a small trip.

It came out easy.