Noob question about power supplies

Jagojon3 · 03-08-2005, 08:33 PM

So I've been reading these forums nonstop for the past couple days and definately want to put a carputer in my ride. I'm a bit confused on the power supply situation. I've heard Opus is the best in terms of compatibility with a car, as in the computer won't restart during cranking. But I was thinking about using a power inverter for my car, so I can plug the computer, playstation, and maybe something else into one unit and because it's generally cheaper. My main question is, do I still need some sort of power supply for the computer so it will be able to be plugged in to a regular 3 prong outlet like the inverter will have? I know that when you build home computers you still need a power supply in them. So is that what the opus is, just a power supply for the computer so that is all you will need to plug it in to the car's wiring? And will I still need some other sort of cheap power supply in order to plug the computer into the 3-prong plug on the inverter because I got an inverter instead of Opus?

wizardPC · 03-08-2005, 09:00 PM

Yes.

To everything.

Jagojon3 · 03-08-2005, 09:59 PM

lol sweet. So all I need is a motherboard, cheap *** $20 power supply, and the inverter to get things going in my car?

wizardPC · 03-08-2005, 10:03 PM

well, yes but having had an Opus, pw120, morex, and inverter setup, I can definitively say that the opus is the way to go

Jagojon3 · 03-08-2005, 10:07 PM

Opus in addition to an inverter?

wizardPC · 03-08-2005, 10:09 PM

an opus doesnt need an inverter. Neither do any of the others I mentioned. They're all DC computer power supplies which means they run directly off the car's 12v electrical system

Jagojon3 · 03-08-2005, 10:19 PM

I know that, but with regards to my playstation, I will still need the inverter right?

wizardPC · 03-08-2005, 10:35 PM

oh, yeah

Jagojon3 · 03-08-2005, 10:59 PM

Will the stock battery in my accord handle it? The computer, monitor, dvd player, and playstation with the inverter? I already have a 750W stereo with a 1F capacitor and the charging system handles it fine.

wizardPC · 03-08-2005, 11:05 PM

I'd worry more about the alternator than the battery.

That having been said, I also wouldnt want to sit in the car without the engine running using all that studd for more than 15 minutes or so.

You could always add a second battery. I have one in my saturn.

Jagojon3 · 03-08-2005, 11:35 PM

Ok, so I already have a standard size dvd-rom drive since I swapped it out of my home pc that I want to use with a mini-board. Are there any small cases that can fit the board and a standard size optical drive?