Cheaper LCDs (Low $$$) - Page 2

pcfreak · 12-27-2005, 03:41 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Grentarc

actually, you couldn't take your battery out of the car once it is started, unless you don't have an alternator. an alternator need to have a load, otherwise it dies.

I drove my car home with out a battery in it for about five miles once. So I know this much is possible. Don't about todays cars, but back six years ago you could do that.

Haystack · 12-27-2005, 04:14 AM

I have had to drive lots of cars without a battery. It is damn near impossible for a car not to run without a battery. They battery is only charged by the alt. The alt pulls more amps, the greater the draw is, the harder the alt works, and the more you pull from your battery, the less your battery charges and the more stress you put on the alt.

You would want to do a 130 amp alt conversion, and I wouldnt worry about the battery. With a good charging amp it isnt even affected by anything after starting, then the alt charges the battery. The battery becomes a load.

A 400w max inverter will run the combo you specified, but it will foul out every time you put alot of load on it, such as starting up the computer, or turning on the tv.

You will prolly need at least 800w max, and 400w continously to make it work, and that is pushing it. 800w divided by 14v(about what the alt should put out) = 59 (about) amps, my stock ford cars usally only put out 60 to begin with. So that would kill your alt, and put alot of extra load on the battery.

So you would want to basically double the load on your alt, assuming that you used this as a perminant setup, and that you pull around 60-65 amps from the alt. that would be in the neighborhood of 120 amps out of a 60 amp alt. Double what it is rated at.

but 2000lbs in a truck rated at 1000lbs. see how long it lasts before **** starts breaking.

a capacitor is a quick fix, basically just regulates the flow when the battery/alt dosent pull enough power. think of it like a miniature high power(IE puts out lots of power for a short time) 12v battery and you are about there.

Genesisfactor · 12-27-2005, 05:15 AM

if you want to try cheap, try used. otherwise, this isn't for you. Believe me. You can have everything and you'll still need more cash to make it work "right". Just pay the extra, get the screen. TV will draw WAY too much precious power. You'll thank yourself later.

The person who said the car will die when running on the alt is wrong. Detaching the battery is a quick test if the alt is good or not!

MatrixPC · 12-27-2005, 09:37 AM

In this hobbies, dirt cheap isn't going to work very well.
The most expensive parts for the project is the PSU and screen.
Once you figure out the cost of those 2, the rest are just pennies and dimes.

SAVE money and do it ONCE.

Tidder · 12-27-2005, 09:44 AM

True. Spend the bux and do it. Do try a PSone screen if you're looking for cheap. I use one, and it's fine for me. Don't expect to be reading a novel on that screen though, it's not as sharp as a true VGA screen like a lilliput.

BTW, inverter is an ok way to go if you're looking to save money. I'm running a p4 system off of a cheapo radioshack 140watt inverter.

dagnasty · 12-27-2005, 10:01 AM

I can just get a PSone screen and put in one of my smaller power supplies and get an inverter.

What, 70 bucks? I already have all the PC parts including various cable extensions.

How could I not be happy? There's going to be a computer in my car. Hell, I'm happy without it. Just as long as I can find the blown fuses so I can see my dash and play music.

So, what do you think about the psone screen? How is it powered, and what input does it have?

Haystack · 12-27-2005, 10:05 AM

You need to do a search for the psone mod. We are more or less self serve around here. I would get a beefier inverter still. But then again, they are rated diffrent and just might work fine. It is more or less hit or miss or trial and error. If it works, it works.

Tidder · 12-27-2005, 10:06 AM

well, 2 ways to power it, could get a car dc adapter, or just plug it into your inverter.

dagnasty · 12-27-2005, 10:06 AM

It seems like it wouldn't put too much stress on the alternator. It's made to withstand the power from the heater/AC/fan. It seems like that thing would pull quite a bit of power, am I correct. If this is true, can't I just run the pc without the fan on?

I wouldn't mind spending this much considering the size and that you guys seem to enjoy lilliputs. Check it out

http://www.case-mod.com/store/lillip...eo-p-1748.html

Tidder · 12-27-2005, 10:07 AM

You could just forget about the VGA mod, and use the composite input. Does your vid card have tv out?

Haystack · 12-27-2005, 10:12 AM

How big is the power supply on the computer? how many amps is the alt? there are reasons why they are there. Also, pulling the fan off of a computer is a bad idea. It will almost garented to melt/damage the computer if it is ran that way for any length of time.
*edit* same goes for a car if that is what you are getting at.

Tidder · 12-27-2005, 10:21 AM

He was asking if it would be ok to run the PC without his AC on, that's the "fan" he was talking about.

Tidder · 12-27-2005, 10:22 AM

Just to add, I don't have any problems running two 10" subs on a 1000w amp, my AC, and my carPC all at the same time.

Haystack · 12-27-2005, 10:43 AM

You also have a 95 amp 3G, I recomended a 130 amp 3G. you should be using a full 78 or so amps on your alt as well just with the subs. So either you are really stressing it on your sound system alone, or its majorly over rated. going by the numbers I was given, my resoponse was correct. I said assuming it was like my ford cars, which have about 60 amp alts, which would be putting out alot less power. He hasent given out a single number other then a 400w inverter. For the average car, it would be pulling quite a load.

dagnasty · 12-27-2005, 11:18 AM

I understand PCs, electronics, amperage, watts, etc. and how all that works, I just didn't perfectly understand how the battery and alternator work together.

This calculator ( http://carpc.kyferez.com/Tools/PSUWattageCalculator.php ) is giving me about 225 watts peak worst case scenario, so it'd probably be a good idea to put my 250 watt power supply in. I have a 175 watt but not sure if that'd be too little power. I'll try it, though. It should work.

So considering a 90 ford taurus station wagon's alternator. (Hell yeah, the Griswald's) Subtract the A/C / Heat fan power as well as the in-dash cd player from the equation and it seems like the computer with an lcd shouldn't be putting too much on the alternator that wasn't already there. Correct? Anyone happen to know how much power an AC fan uses?