97 Toyota Tacoma You gotta See This. NEW UPDATE with 100+ pics on 7-4-03 - Page 4

tronixrules · 08-24-2003, 08:52 PM

I was kind of curious about hard/CD drive vibration dampening and cooling of the case. Do you have anything special installed to help them?

cproaudio · 08-24-2003, 09:48 PM

HomeSpecial , I will answer any questions you may have on your install. I'm a very experienced installer. I was MECP certified back in 94 but after that, my company is too cheap to get me re-certified again. As for a personal demo, I'd be glad to show you how my system works. The problem is, the only free time I have now is the weekend evenings. PM me if you're interested.
tronixrules, There's no dampening material used for the CD drive and the HDD. I've been using my system almost everyday especially long trips since I finished it back in Dec 2002. It only freeze up once due to bumps on the road. That was back in June 03. I've play DivX, DVD, Audio CD, VCD, SVCD, MP3, from the DVD/CDRW drive. I never had a freeze frame due to bumps on the road. The only problem I had was trying to burn a CD while driving 80mph on the freeway. It burned half way and then data underrun. As for cooling, The case has 4 fans. 2 on the top and 2 on the bottom to cool the Opus supply and the HDD. I've had my carpc on for 48hr straight with no problems.

HomeSpecial · 09-02-2003, 10:00 PM

Thanks for getting back to me and sorry for the long delay. It didn't register at my email like it usually does.

In the mean time I went and bought a Shuttle X case and will set up the computer part tonight.

I am interested to know about these issues:

1. What is an inverter, what kind do I need, and is ebay a good resource for one?

2. I've never installed a radio so I'd like to know how to hook up the computer to the touch screen I'm going to buy and the power source?? Is it the cigarette lighter?

3. I like the idea of a touch control to start the car. You have that right?

4. I will also buy a GPS. I do Real Estate and need the best thing out there. Especially a software that will make the route.

I will think about design for the ir mouse. Maybe get one of those Circ

Here's what the computer will have.
Suttle X case barebone I will put together -Will go in Trunk.
Pentium 4 2-Mhz chip
80 Gig HD
256 DDR
Voice control system. I thought I'd place it in the visor.
I'd like to put a CDR/DVD in the front.
Touch Screen-Coming. I'd like to have a secondary one in the back for the kids.

Software: OS Windows XP Pro
GPS- Looking for best receiver and suggestions. I work in Real Estate so I need this today.
MP3 Music MatchBox
Anything else that seems to work for the car.

Where do you live and your email address off of the PM doesn't work.

Thanks,
John
YPL@HashCentral.com

cproaudio · 09-03-2003, 05:08 AM

Everything I'm telling you is basically a crash course. There's too much info to be learned on how to install a computer in a car.
1. What is an inverter, what kind do I need, and is ebay a good resource for one?
an inverter is a power supply unit that turns the car battery power of 12 volt direct current to 120 volt alternating current. Inverter requires power to invert 12V DC to 120V AC (220V in Europe) Most inverters are about 90% efficient. If 100 watts going into the inverter, the inverter turns the 100 watts into 90 watts of AC and use 10 watts to do the work. Thats why inverters gets hot. The quality of the inverter also plays a big part on the cost. An ideal inverter produces pure sinewave, the same sinewave as the home. With pure sinewave, you have a much less chance of getting engine noise. The more cost effective is the modified signwave inverters. Do not buy the inverter unless it's specified on the box that it's a modified sinewave. The worst inverter to buy is the square wave inverter. Those may actually do damage to the appliance you plug in to it. The best PSU to get is the Opus PSU. It's DC-DC over 90% efficient, wont reboot during engine crank. built in start up and shutdown controller.

2. I've never installed a radio so I'd like to know how to hook up the computer to the touch screen I'm going to buy and the power source?? Is it the cigarette lighter?
hooking up a touch screen to the computer has nothing to do with knowing how to install a stereo. Mounting the touch screen may pose a problem if you've never installed a stereo before. Judging by the car you drive you may run into problems when you install your own stereo. There's a factory amp either under the seat or in the trunk on those Diamantes That needs to bypassed when replacing the factory stereo to an aftermarket stereo. The screen itself is safe to plug in to the cigeratte lighter. For the inverter or a DC-DC ATX PSU, you should power it directly at the battery as the current draw may exceed the fuse rating for the cigeratte lighter.

3. I like the idea of a touch control to start the car. You have that right?
Yes I do. I can also start my car with my laptop via 802.11b. To do this you have 2 options. 1st, Buy any Clifford G4 or G5 alarm system and/with Intellistart4 and cliffnet databus cable. 2nd Buy an add on remote start module like the DEI 551T and a serial or USB or parallel relay control module. use the relay control module to activate the remote start module. With the relay module software and touch screen running, you can touch a button on the screen and the relay module activates the remote start.

4. I will also buy a GPS. I do Real Estate and need the best thing out there. Especially a software that will make the route.
The best nav software for US so far is the Copilot at $400. Copilot software will only work with the receiver it comes with or a Rand Mcnally serial GPS receiver. I'd suggest the Rand Mcnally receiver as it will work with any other software if you choose to use other software.

I will think about design for the ir mouse. Maybe get one of those Circ
For mosue and keyboard, it is best if you go with RF instead of IR. IR require direct line of site. You can type on your lap with RF keyboard but not IR. Unless you mount the IR receiver right below the steering colum. Then your passanger wont beable to use the keyboard. As for mouse, I'd suggest the A4tech mouse. It is rechargeable. What set this mouse apart from the rest is you can still use it while it's recharging.

P4 2Ghz is a bit overkill and takes alot of power. Opus might not beable to handle it. You might have to use an inverter.
Voice control is mostly software based. Just make sure you use a good mic.
DVD in the front would require you to use USB or firewire.
You can use 2 screens at once with no problem. I've read people had problems trying to configure 2 touch screens on the same computer. They both will display the same image unless you got a video card with dual mon support.

SiGmA_X · 09-05-2003, 12:43 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by HomeSpecial

Here's what the computer will have.
Suttle X case barebone I will put together -Will go in Trunk.
Pentium 4 2-Mhz chip
80 Gig HD
256 DDR
Voice control system. I thought I'd place it in the visor.
I'd like to put a CDR/DVD in the front.
Touch Screen-Coming. I'd like to have a secondary one in the back for the kids.

Software: OS Windows XP Pro
GPS- Looking for best receiver and suggestions. I work in Real Estate so I need this today.
MP3 Music MatchBox
Anything else that seems to work for the car.YPL@HashCentral.com

First off.. I think that a P4 2MHz will not be possible. To under clock a P4 to 2MHz will require a really really good mobo with a BIOS that will allow that (1MHz FSB) and you will need a beta chip to adjust the multiplyer. For the money spent, you should buy a faster C3-2, the VIA EPIA M10000, as it is a lot better.

I use Linux as my OS, its flat out better. It can do everything I want and then some

SiGmA_X · 09-05-2003, 01:10 PM

cproaudio - OBD-II: How does your setup work? I really want to do this - One of the 3 reasons for my CarPC project - but I really know next to nothing about how to do it..

cproaudio · 09-05-2003, 04:43 PM

SiGmA, he meant P4 2Ghz. Intel has came a long way since the 8086 2Mhz chip back in the late 70's

As for Linux for OS Here's my view on it. I dont know anything about Linux. Ive installed it a few times on my home PC and played with it for a few days. Couldnt get it to do what I want so I format and reinstalled windows. For those who know Linux, they swear up and down that it's better than WinXX OS. All of my brother's friends who all works as network engineers and administrators first saw my setup, the first question they ask was dude why didnt you use Linux? Let me rephrase. All of those who know how to drive automatics and sticks all swear up and down that stick is better than automatic cuz you can get it to do exactly what you want. You can say it's faster, peels out in 2nd gear or perhaps 3rd gear, gets better gas mileage to name a few. To those who dont know how to drive a stick, what do they do when they try to drive a stick? they stall the engine at the red light, jerky shift between gears, dont know at what RPM to change gear, cant keep their eyes on the road when they shift to name a few. After a few drives the car is all ****ed up and he's gonna hate stick more than ever. See my point?

OBD-II: There are so many PC based OBD-II setup. google it. Ask your self what do you want to use it for? Datalogging or virtual dash? For me is virtual dash. 1st thing I did was do a google search and forum search on obd-ii and bookmark all the PC based obdii setup. I think I found like 10 of them. I lost all the links since I finished my system. I learn that there are 3 obdii protocols Ford uses PWM, GM uses VPW, Chrysler and imports use ISO. I have a Toyota Tacoma so I assumed that I have ISO but as it turned out earlier Toyotas use PWM. I want to use it other cars so I bought one that'll read all 3 protocols. I went back to all the sites and check out their software to see which one is more eye pleasing. If you can program, then it would matter as long as the code is open source. I found one at www.obd-2.com The only bad thing about this one is it wont reset my ECU's error code. If you're using serial to USB adapter make sure the obd-ii scanner has been tested with the adapter. I hope this helps

SiGmA_X · 09-05-2003, 07:30 PM

I know he MENT 2GHz, but he was saying 2MHz each time so I am giving him **** for it

Come on up here and I'll show you the ropes with Linux, and you can do my car

Heh. Linux is better IMO for most everything because I can run it vs it running me. Just like a lot of other things. Plus, Linux is a open source OS as are most of its software, so I can actully help with it (Not that I do yet, but poking around is fun too) It takes time to learn, just like a stick. Both of witch are good to learn

I'll do some searching for OBD-II, I'll dig something up. I think I'll prob just use serial, as my USB --> 4port Serial hub is a POS and only works in Win98.. Once I get Linux set up on my CarPC (This weekend) I should be able to get it working tho

Thank you.

PS-RagE · 09-11-2003, 10:00 PM

Well, you've got my respect for sure. Shoehorning all that stuff into the center console is a serious stroke of brilliance. Unfortunately, for me, I need that section for my next install (I have a tiny little truck like you - a Frontier).

Good job!

acornstu · 10-28-2003, 10:39 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by cproaudio

Totally agree. I got a friend who works at the local shop. He does a lot of fiberglassing and custom work too. First thing he said when he saw my system was "can it fly yet?" That kind of ****ed me off. Made me wanna go buy a USB joystick and MS flight simulator just to go and laugh at him and say "yes it CAN fly"

HA HA!!!!!!!!!!!! that's great 2 thumbs up man. i'm inspired and will now start the stripping of my 82 c10 for some wild ideas thanks a lot :-)

bigballer · 10-31-2003, 06:55 PM

cproaudio,

Your default win xp taskbar looks too plain to me. I don't like the default winxp skin. I suggest you install StyleXP from http://www.tgtsoft.com/ to "spice up" the taskbar. Here's a look at my desktop with Style XP in action.

cproaudio · 10-31-2003, 08:18 PM

ill take that into consideration. You gotta remember I'm running 848X480 WVGA resolution with touch screen on a 7" monitor. I need the buttons BIG so that I can touch the screen and not miss.

SinnerG · 10-31-2003, 08:25 PM

BigBaller-

Extreme HU and WinExplorer?? Hmmmm....

bigballer · 10-31-2003, 09:08 PM

cproaudio,
Thanks for sharing your remarkable knowledge with us. I've learned a lot. Maybe when I get a better car, I'll install a carputer in it.

SinnerG, wut da problum iz???

pogue1000 · 10-31-2003, 09:33 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by SinnerG

BigBaller-

Extreme HU and WinExplorer?? Hmmmm....

i am sure they are for "testing" purposes only

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