M2 without direct 12V

Chimera2345 · 10-28-2009, 09:22 AM

Hi guys,

Right now my CarPC runs from a cigarette lighter adapter semi-hardwired in with an add-a-circuit fuse thingy. This works great except that it won't survive a crank obviously, and there is no auto-hibernate ability. I'd like to install something like the M2-ATX or since I'm using a Pico-ITX machine that already has a DC-DC PSU something like the mo-co-so.com startup/shutdown controller.

My question is, is it possible to wire in a startup/shutdown controller or PSU without running a dedicated 12V line from the battery. I'm new to CarPCs and I want to be able to return this car to 100% stock condition when I'm done with the it. I don't want to run new lines from the battery if it can be avoided, and I don't want to cut/splice into any factory wiring.

It seems to me that if I used 2 add-a-circuit lines, one from a fuse that's always on (something like the remote locking system) and a 2nd that's triggered on ignition (cigarette lighter?) then I could make this work, but I don't want to buy the startup/shutdown controller and do all of wiring only to find I'm barking up the wrong tree.

Any help would be appreciated

colin · 10-28-2009, 05:24 PM

Rule of thumb: Don't use factory wiring because you don't know how much current it can handle.

In the case that it runs perfectly off your cigarette lighter, then sure. However, don't try to use the cigarette lighter for anything else or you will definitely blow the fuse or melt your wire.

User Name		Remember Me?
Password