system with removable laptop

latca · 04-26-2004, 10:35 PM

Ok here is what I'm planning to try to build. I have never tried putting together a carputer of any kind so any feedback would be great.

My plan is to just have a harness to put the laptop in on the passenger side foot well. The 7" Lilliput touch screen would be mounted and would connect to the laptop's VGA connector. Everything else inside the center console hopefully will reach the laptop through a single USB cable.

inside the center console I was thinking of mounting a:
A USB Hub, don?t know if I have to power the hub or even how to do it if I would need to. The USB connection for the touch screen would be plugged into the hub as well.

USB gps receiver (I read a post that said it would still work through the plastic)

USB SoundBlaster, this has the RCA output to connect to the head unit.

Connections for the OBDII

Some sort of power for the lap top.

All these would be plugged into the USB hub and only 1 USB cable would be going out to the laptop so it would be easy to take in and out.

Optional things:
Firewire or USB DVD ROM. If there is room I would like to put in one so I won't have to access the laptop's DVD-ROM. I guess I would need a power supply to power the drive.

Any ideas how to power the laptop without an external cord plugging into the cigarette lighter (I was hoping to have most of the cords come out of the same hole)?

Is there any way to put the laptop into hibernation or turn it off when you shut off the ignition?

Is this even feasible? Has anyone else successfully done this? Please advise. Thanks!

latca · 04-26-2004, 10:43 PM

Also other optional features I was wondering about. Would it be possible to get TV somehow? Maybe a USB tv tuner?

Is there anyway to recieve AM radio? If so then I might be able to ditch the head unit.

Insight · 04-26-2004, 11:43 PM

I figure this would be a lot easier if you wire the whole car to the laptop's docking station and then just slide the laptop into the docking station. This way you won't have to keep plugging in USB, VGA, etc.

The USB hub could run passively off the laptop (bus-powered) but it depends on the components. OBDII you'll have to read that forum I have no interest so I have no idea. I had my laptop powered off a 75 watt inverter, just find out how much power the laptop needs from the manufacturers specs and get an inverter mine was $20.

The USB DVD-Rom I am running IDE power from my case to the drive and this passive adapter, http://www.sewelldev.com/USBtoIDE.as...xtag&a=USB_IDE

Not too sure about hardwiring an inverter I used the cigarette lighter. Another thing my buddy was thinking is plug an APC UPS into the inverter then you can set 5 seconds after power is cut off laptop hibertnates.

As for USB TV tuner they make em but I don't know anyone who has used one in a car...
http://www.computers4sure.com/produc...affid=10000483

For am AM tuner I am wondering the same thing to get rid of the head unit.