berniejr

OK, I am in the process of building a system for my 2000 Durango. I have been trying to do so with minimal cost, by utilizing existing equipment that I currently have. I have desktop systems as well as old laptops. I would prefer to use a laptop so that I can utilize the laptop's LCD . My problem is that I also have 2 5" LCD's that I would like to use for my rear passengers. What will I need to power all 3 devices (or at least the laptop and 1 LCD)? Obviously if I use a desktop PC as my base system, I would have no problems with conencting these puppies, via the PC's PS. However in that setup I would then need to pruchase a "viewable" VGA LCD for GPS, text, ect., and I am trying to avaoid this route. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

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berniejr

OK I did some more searching and I found 1 thread (sorry I can't remember where it was at), that seemed to imply that if I use an Inverter with 2 or 3 AC plugs on it, then I can wire the LCD(s) directly to the inverter, as it puts out a regulated 12V, which is needed for my LCD's. I do realize that this isn't the most efficient of setups, but it does address my issue of completing my setup with little or no cost (<$100).

bud_d

that's what i've found out as well. However an inverter pumping through the laptop is supposed to create a humming or buzz sound through the speakers when out putting from the laptop to the cars speakers. You can however get a ground loops isolater to resolve this.
http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...t%5Fid=270-054

berniejr

Have you actually tested the LCD hooked directly to the inverter? If i use the inverter then I definitely plan on using the GLI to reduce the noise. On another note, if I power the laptop using a auto/air adapter, and only use the inverter for the LCD's, will I still have the noise issue?

Confused

If you have noise in your audio system due to an inverter, fix the problem rather than band-aiding it.

Sort out your grounding. Ground all points to the same spot. Including the casing of your AC PC power supply.

Get that done right and you won't need a GLI.


Garry

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berniejr

Thanks for the reply Confused. I definitely plan on grounding the system completely to avoid any noise. Another thought just popped into my head as far as powering the LCD's. If I am using one of the auto/air adapter bricks that put out say 22V, could I somehow tap into that to power the laptop and LCDs, or would that be too much to handle?

bud_d

ok so if I have an inverter, how do I go about grounding the casing? Do I run a wire from somewhere on the case body to metal point?

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