mounting mobo in glove compartment

ombastic · 07-11-2004, 02:02 PM

Hello, I am new to this hobby and was wondering if there are any problems in mounting the motherboard and other computer chips and drives inside the glove compartment? the reason for doing this is so i have a stealth look. Thanks!

DaveP · 07-11-2004, 03:56 PM

I just asked this earlier...

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/general-hardware-discussion/29319-newbie-looking-opinions-few-questions.html

acura cl · 07-11-2004, 04:04 PM

your worst enemy....

H E A T !

but airflow is his crpytonite...

UncleGeek · 07-11-2004, 04:30 PM

The only problems that I have encountered are space & heat. I had to cut holes in the back side of the glove box itself to physically accomodate some peripheral components ie. PCI riser card, video card, 802.11g card. After running my system, I discovered it was over heating. My glove box is shaped like a valley with both ends closed but the top wide open and heat being generated inside. With this shape there was plenty of room for heat to escape but absolutely no place for cooler air to enter to replace it (basic thermal dynamics). The solution was simple...more holes! By cutting more holes/slots at the very bottom of the "valley" cool air was able to enter and hot air exhausted out the top. With this set-up I have experienced no overheating thus far. On really hot days I just run the A/C on high and select the floor vents till things cool down. HTH

TruckinMP3 · 07-11-2004, 04:38 PM

Steath is good. It reduces the chance of broken windows and missing equipment.

Allow air in the bottom and out the top. Use a fan at the top top pull the hot air out.

Build a custom duct it you have to.

ombastic · 07-11-2004, 07:11 PM

thanks for the good advice guys! i'll try to figure out a way to keep the glove compartment cool!

samc · 07-12-2004, 04:29 PM

I have it this way and that's right I had to hack up my glovebox to make it work. So essentially if I ever want to sell my car I'd have to find a new glovebox. Only problem I get is heat. I usually just turn on the AC to the coldest, lowest speed setting and that gets the job done. I doubt this will be a problem in the winter.

Grayscale · 07-12-2004, 04:44 PM

I had to hack the side of my glovebox up to allow the cables to not get smashed/pull on the motherboard...I currently have a hole the size of a half dollar or a little bigger in my air duct that goes to the far right vent that blows cool air straight down onto the mobo. It is directly above it.

Now I have not run my comp since I took my lilliput out for repair work but I was curious...is there a posibility of condensation in there? if so, what ways could I prevent it? The motherboard is open and completely exposed, its stuck to the back of the glove compartment

choyak · 08-01-2004, 10:39 PM

I will attempt to install the carputer in the glovebox also. I have a dual glovebox. Upper is where the carputer will go. I will also attempt to dremel a rould hole in the side and install an 80cm or so fan there, with the other side a whole bunch of little holes for air flow

Pudge · 08-01-2004, 11:34 PM

This could be solved you all went out and bought Mini Coopers. JK. They have AC in the glovebox.

KimaX · 08-02-2004, 09:21 PM

In my A4, I routed a/c into my glovebox where I installed the carpc and haven't had any issues with heat. I went against conventional wisdom and mounted everything in the glovebox (psu, mobo, inverter, hd, usb hub, etc.) and have been quite lucky. I haven't experienced any issues regarding heat, noise, interference, etc. in a few weeks of use in sweltering Atlanta. The highest CPU temp I've experienced was 56 C using Motherboard Monitor 5.

Here is the valve that feeds cold air into the glovebox.

I plan on having it closed when the heat is on of course.

And this is the rat's nest otherwise known as my carpc.

samc · 08-03-2004, 01:49 PM

That is a work of art I should look into that.
And I haven't run into any problems as well but my temperatures do get as high as 78c and then begin to go back down with the AC on.

nl4jy · 08-03-2004, 03:26 PM

Dang, all you guys have huge glovebox compartments.
Mines barely fit the mini-itx motherboard, I had to squeeze everything else tight fit in it. (that includes the Opus 150 and a Hard Drive on the side. All tight and snug like a major train delay on a rush hour.

Gooche · 08-26-2004, 03:19 PM

My god

It's all stealth until you open the box..then

I thought about doing that with my first CarPC back in the day but couldn't find my self risking it. When I get home I'll take some pics and show you the current setup (in glove box).

Chris