stalkerstyle

I am wanting to install a Carputer.

I want it to run the following
* 11 touch screen flush mounted in the dash
* Run 2 external screens in the rears of the head rests.
* Run my complete stereo, which consists of 3 amps, 2 sets of splits and 1 sub,
* controls the Climate Control
* Control the air bag suspension (with programmed presets that only allow certain features and locks while driving)
* Electronic hand brake
* engine start (once key is turned to ignition)
* Electric Windows
* plus able to control 1 or 2 other electric mods if they happen

What would you recommend and what would be a reasonable budget for this sort of project

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2k1Toaster

10.4" Touchscreen : $270 (http://cgi.ebay.com/10-4-TFT-LCD-Tou...QQcmdZViewItem)

8" TS Monitor for the back (x2): $175 each (http://cgi.ebay.com/TM-868-8-USB-Tou...QQcmdZViewItem)

All the other stuff would require you to do some custom programming. No one is going to do it for you and hand it to you on a silver platter. From the nature of the "how much for this stuff" question, I assume you just want to pay thousands of dollars and get what is on that list. Not going to happen plain and simple.

You will have to do a lot of it yourself. And I would definately reccommend against an electronic handbrake. Computers fail, and that would be bad when driving down the highway.

Engine start is doable and is easier with a remote start unit that has an aux in such as some of the Audiovox units for the Satellite pager. It starts whenever a ground is received on the aux bus. So then you just need to control a serial port to send out a ground on a button press and use a relay to make it only go out when the ignition is on.

To run your stereo you need a $3 cable that goes from 1/8" jack to RCA's to go to your 4channel amp which will then go to your speakers. Computers unlike a HU cannot go directly to speakers so they need an amplification source like an amp!

Climate control is doable probably serial again but it depends how your climate control is wired. Going to require custom circuit boards. Not good with Electrical Engineering? Then don't try it or you'll fry your climate controls.

For the air bag suspension, there is an entire thread out there tited something like "control air bags with PC" or something. Search for it. I think the descision last time I read it was to get a pre-built unit and then interface it with the PC basically use the PC as the remote for the unit. So it goes your finger on the PC to the unit to the air bags.

To control your windows again serial output.

For something like this if you are not willing to do it for yourself I would say about $800 for the 3 monitors and fabbing them in. A PC that is capable of doing all this probably $1000. Custom circuit boards and software $2000 for reliability. Wires and everything else probably $200.

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guizai

i think he just wants an electric parking brake like some new model cars. The difficulty would be in the servos to pull the existing parking brake cable.

2k1Toaster

Yes but you know that CarPC's freeze every now and then. SOmetimes unpredictabe. I wouldn't want to be drving down the freeway when it freezes jitters for a second sending a random pulse out the serial port and boom. Now your parking brake is on. Not safe. If you wanted that I would reccommnd a dedicated logic circuit for it, controlled by a button or something independant of the carPC.

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guizai

ahh, true true. Dangerous if not done right.

2k1Toaster

Evin if done right, serial ports and other outut ports send random pulses out of them at startup. And if it freezes or jitters you never know what could come out. Even if done perfectly, the risk is there to reak havoc.

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stalkerstyle

The handbrake can be set through a check switch through the transmission only allowing engagement when the car is in park, This can be done with some basic electronic mods which will be set independant to the carPC.

We will be running the same feature for when the air suspension making the suspension only adjustable while the car is in park

I have talked to 1 person about it and we will be running some very minor manual override switches so that allow us to do the basics in the car. eg, air bags up and down, windows up and down.

also, wat would be a good base to start this system and wat programs will i require to set all this up

RedGTiVR6

is this a hobby car or a project car for a show of some kind?

I'd suggest starting here: http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/newbie/78795-new-carpcs-dont-know-where-start.html

and let me know what level you're going for. Is this a customer car? Is this a personal project? Is this for a shop? Etc.

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stalkerstyle

its not for a shop but the car has been sponsored by a few workshops. It is going to be a show car but will be driven more and more as the car gets shown more.

My thoughts on modifying a car is if its a bolt on modification i dont want it. If i need a bolt on accessory i will try doing something to it before putting it in my car. EG, i bought a supercharger for it and have made a custom intake and different throttle body.

I hope this is a good guide to what i am aiming for.

Here is a list of the main modifications in progress and/or completed
Custom stereo install
Custom Interior
LS1 conversion
Super Charger
Custom Intake
Drive by Wire conversion
Custom stainless Extractors
Custom Stainless Exhaust
Smoothed engine bay
Shaved door handles
Shaved Aerial and petrol cap
Suicide Doors
Detailed undercarrage
22" wheels
air suspension
Reshaped dash with Upgraded cluster conversion
355mm 4spot front brakes, 343mm 4spot rears

Thats a very basic list of the main mods to give u an idea of the amount of work involved in this car.

RedGTiVR6

mkay - it sounds like it's a common goal amongst show cars. making a show car period is going to involve a lot of work...car stereo show car, performance show car, bling show car, etc.

For a computer to run climate control, you're going to have to find someone to code the interface for it. It can be done, especially if the climate control is electronic and not vacuume controlled.

Controlling air ride has been done in the past as well...there's a pretty lengthy thread on here about it somewhere - would have to search to find it.

Electronic hand break would just need to be put on a relay and a switch.

Doors, windows, gas cap cover, trunk, hood, sunroof, etc can all be controlled via relays with an interface written for them.

Engine start would be similar to the hand brake...just need a switch that's controlled via an interface on the screen.

You would probably be interested in reading up on Scott Buwalda...http://www.buwaldahybrids.com/The%20Expert%20240SX.htm

One of the first individuals to take the ideas you have listed and fully implement them and go further...since then, there's been a lot of folks to attempt it and be successful. However, his car was a very successful implementation of it all at once. Would probably help you to determine what needs to be done, what has been done, and might even give some ideas as to what else to do!

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kidreyno

Coming from an electronic back ground and always been into custom vehicles I put together a system that uses touch screen control and well as a program to run air suspensions.

The link below shows a very early preliminary demo on a front/back truck. I am installing my system on a FBSS system within a month and will blow minds with my set-up. Available for sale.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OArqKEvXd6U

Yeah, a PC is a bad idea, any company that needs mission critical performance will build dedicated circuits.

stalkerstyle

As for the interface of the climate control. My electrician was the head electical engineer for the company that built my car in the first place. Holden so i think we should be able to get through this pretty easily with some wiring diagrams or something put in our back pocket.

I can think of anything else we could possibly do using the computer.

I have shaved all the door handles and petrol cap so these features are not avaialble to be added. Same with Electric aerial.

RedGTiVR6

sure those features can be added.

Any time someone does those things, they usually program a button on their alarm remote to pop the doors. The same thing can be done with a button on the screen and a few relays. Same with the trunk and hood, windows, seat positions, steering column positions. Lighting control, led lighting control. Remote control of home products (lights, sprinklers, alarm, etc). There's a ton of stuff that can be done. Just depends on how nuts you want to get with it.

and I'm gathering then that the AC controls are electronic and not vacuum?

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stalkerstyle

The Climate control on the car i electric. I know there is a little whose going to thie back of the unit, but i beleive this is for a temp sensor or something and i know plays up when not iin the back of the unit. My electrition

Basically, I want to remove as many buttons and switches from the existing dash and car as possible.

RedGTiVR6

OBD-II functionality would allow you to show gauges on the computer and be able to remove them from the dash if so desired.

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