scsirob

Folkes,

How about this thought... Many MiniITX systems do just fine with a PW60 or PW70. The only problem is keeping the system alive for the 30 seconds or so when you're cranking the engine. Why not keep things simple. Why not use a high-power battery pack to serve as a short-term buffer.

You can buy 12V 3500mAh packs for about 60 bucks. Should give you about 30-50 minutes run-time. Random example: http://cu1.com/12vnim3000ma.html You could probably even use a 1000mAh pack and still run a full-blown system for 10+ minutes.

Two diodes and a resistor to reload the pack should be all it takes and you may be able to build it into your system.

Your thought appreciated

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arkadiyp

Do a search on tank circuits here.

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Never be afraid to do something yourself. Remember - amateur built the Ark, professionals built the Titanic.

Bobby Digital

Ya tank circuits (as they're called here) have been used for a while. I'm running one as well.

By the way, why do you have to crank your car for 30 seconds? Get a tune up or something

NitroNic

What I might do (My project has been goign for nearly two years...but it's still quite in the primative phases) is make a small timer circuit, that doesn't allow power to the PC unless the timer has been powered for some set number of seconds. Perhaps 2 or 3. So when you turn your key from off to start, the fraction of a second that it's to the "on" position will not give a fraction of a second of power to the computer. Then when you let off, and it's in the "on" position (car has been started), then two seconds (or however many you set) after it returns to "ON", power will be allowed to the computer. So if you have to crank for 30 seconds, the computer won't get powered until you return to the on position.

Now if your intent is to have your music blasting WHILE you crank the thing, then....well......this kind of defeats that purpose.

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