Phatsacks

Really appreciate any confirmation on this as soon as possible.

I'm building my CarPC right now, and dropping the car off for various fabrications tomorrow.

The way I am wanting to do my power supply, is install the DSATX inside an old ATX PSU chasis.

Once inside, I plan to hook the IGN/GND/ACC up to the existing 3 prong power connector. From there, I have a quick removable plug on the outside, by cutting a standard power cord in half, and wiring the 3 wires that are normally used for AC power, to the Positive Ground and ACC in my car.

With this, I can easily remove the computer (it's in a shuttle style case) and take it inside for various reasons (fixing/etc).

Side Note: The LCD's power will be connected via molex, and can easily disconnect as well.

The reason I ask this initial question, is that the 3 wires inside the AC power cord, are actually pretty thin. I was thinking they needed to be thicker, but then I thought since it powers via AC in a house, and a far stronger PSU than 220w, that it should be okay. But I do not know the differences between DC and AC and if wire gauge is different when powering the same amount of power, but different type.

h3rk

Power = Current * Voltage, in AC world or DC world, except in the more dynamic AC world we have to talk about things like RMS and PK-PK, phase, etc.

So in normal AC, the voltage is about 10 times more than 12Vdc, so the current flowing in the wire is going to be 10 times less, that could be why the wires are smaller. (I used 110 vs 220 volts since 120 demands more current, and as such would be the determining factor for the guage of cable's wires.

This post may help you decide what your power supply needs for wire guage. ( the bottom link is good info)

Phatsacks

Spoke to demigod2k in irc, and going to go with thicker wire, and scrap that easy wiring idea.

Sucks, but have to do what is best.