1995 Honda Civic Sedan EX - My First CarPC

vladcarpc · 06-11-2007, 05:09 PM

LATEST UPDATE: DEC 9 2007
PAGE 6, CARPC PHASE 1 DONE

YouTube video posted! Click here

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CURRENT STATUS:
[||||||||||||] 100% - CarPC phase 1 done! / Planning phase 2

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Hi, after reading a lot, its finally the time to make my project real!

I plan to have a complete CarPC, including OBD data, bluetooth to phone, wifi, rear camera, etc.., but at this time I have simplified the scope to make it viable in short term.

PHASE 1 GOALS (current phase):
========================
- Audio files
- Video files (no dvd drive)
- GPS navigation
- Fabrication to host the screen in the dash

HARDWARE:
=========
[ OK ] CPU and MoBo: Intel Little Valley D201GLY with 1.33 Ghz Celeron processor (new) (bought at mp3car.com)
[ OK ] Mem - 1x 512 DDR 2 667Mhz (new) (already had that)
[ OK ] HDD - Notebook HDD 80.0 GB (already had that)
[ OK ] HDD Adaptor for Notebook HDs (bought somewhere in the net)
[ OK ] Keyboard - USB PS2 Mini-key Keyboard (bought at cduniverse.com)
[ OK ] GPS - BU-353 Weather-proof GPS Receiver (new) (bought at mp3car.com)
[ OK ] USB Hub - 4 port USB hub (already had that)
[ OK ] Screen - Lilliput 8" Widescreen (16:9) VGA Touchscreen - Model 889GL-80NP/C/T (bought at mp3car.com)
[ OK ] PSU - M2-ATX 160W Intelligent DC-DC PSU (bought at mp3car.com)
[NEW] Griffin Powermate Volume Knob (bought at mp3car.com)

SOFTWARE:
=========
[ OK ] OS - Win XP SP2 (previously was TinyXP Rev05)
[ OK ] Navigation - Destinator 6 for PCs (with Brazil 4Rodas maps)
[ OK ] FrontEnd - RoadRunner with DigitalFX 2.5 skin

OLD HARDWARE THAT WAS UPGRADED:
=============================
[ OK ] CPU - Pentium III 1Ghz (already had that part)
[ OK ] MoBo - Intel Desktop Board D815EFV/D815EPFV (On-Board LAN & Sound) (already had that part)
[ OK ] Mem - 1x 256MB DIMM RAM (had 2, removed 1 since using TinyXP) (already had that)
[ OK ] GPS - Leadtek 9532 GPS mouse (Serial port & PS/2 port) (already had that)

FUTURE (for next phases):
==============================
- Fingerprint reader (have that part already)
- PhoCo
- WiFi (have that part already)
- Rear-view cam (have that part already)
- OBD-I (data logging)

Thanks a lot!!!

QUICK HISTORY (most relevant):
========================
2007dec09 - I declare phase 1 complete! YouTube video posted!
2007dec08 - Screen noise removed (cable), done!!!
2007dec02 - Visual noise in screen reappeared, checking
2007dec01 - Trunk ready; Testing CentraFuse front end
2007oct31 - Left side of the trunk is done
2007oct27 - Dashboard parts painted, dashboard installed!
2007oct18 - Griffin PowerMate received
2007oct - Dashboard fabrication
2007oct01 - Initial tests with new MoBo
2007sep30 - Initial tests with new USB GPS
2007sep20 - Ordered new motherboard and GPS
2007sep17 - Added an USB extension from Lilliput directly to the PC without the hub; New diagram posted
2007sep15 - All wires and parts connected in the car. Day zero! Everything works!
2007sep11 - Changed project, screen in the dash, ac relocation, started cutting the Lilliput frame
2007aug05 - Started a thread to discuss eletric diagram (see Power Supplies forum)
2007jul29 - Build an ugly prototipe of the CarPC case (see page 3)
2007jul25 - Bought Kenwood auxiliary input cable
2007jul15 - Lilliput now powered via M2-ATX
2007jul14 - Installed M2-ATX in my test environment, works fine!
2007jul13 - Got an 80GB notebook HDD, will replace the previous 40GB one
2007jul07 - Found information about using Destinator 6 for PC instead of Mapmonkey, downloading and will test
2007jul06 - Replaced WinXP with TinyXP Rev05, reinstalling everything
2007jul01 - Initial tests with Lilliput, programmed the auto start function
2007jun30 - Parts received (screen and psu) from a friend that came from USA
2007jun11 - Odered the last parts (screen and psu)
2007jun11 - This worklog thread begins
2007may?? - Got some old PCs, best mobo and cpu chosen (smaller in size, but 1Ghz, all onboard)
2007jan?? - Constucted an adapter for my GPS mouse (from rj11 to serial and ps2), that was originally for PocketPC usage
2006oct?? - Bought ps2 minikey (not that important but it was the first investment on the carpc hehe)
2006????? - Started reading mp3car.com forums

vladcarpc · 06-12-2007, 10:47 AM

POWER SUPPLY QUESTIONS:
=====================

Q: Looking at the M2-ATX wiring, it comes with one connector for hte Mobo, another for HDD, ... But the Screen needs 12v too, but if M2-ATX comes with one 12V connector how to power on the Lilliput?
I've posted this question here: http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/powe...e-devices.html

A:It seems that I need to create a connector myself.
According to DarquePervert: "Make your own. Wire the pose connector for the Lilliput screen to a male molex HDD connector. Yellow wire is +12v and the black wires are ground. The red wire is +5v and won't do anything."

tn6478 · 06-12-2007, 11:24 AM

That is correct. You can just tap into the 12v (yellow) and ground(black) and when your system comes on it the lcd will be power also. You can also make it where your liliput can autopower on with a code located somewhere in this forum.

vladcarpc · 06-12-2007, 02:47 PM

MY TEST ENVIRONMENT (waiting the Lilliput screen and M2-ATX)

PARTS:
======

PS2 USB Mini-Key

USB Hub (maybe will leave it unpowered)

Cooler (will it handle the heat after the car stays in the sun?)

Two DIMM memories 256MB each = 512 MB
(edit: Removed one, now only 1 = 256MB. Using TinyXP rev 05)

HDD
My HDD (trying to create a Shock Absorving thing)
(edit: Removed the plastic, will maybe use some kind of foam below the HDD)

My Leadtek GPS 9632 (used in my iPaq, had to create an adaptor for its RJ11 connector to RS232 and PS/2, its working)

Motherboard with 1Ghz PIII, onboard Sound (I like it because its small and its from and PC I had laying around, and its good for a budget carpc)

Any comments?

vladcarpc · 06-13-2007, 04:34 PM

My order from mp3car.com was shipped yesterday!!!

I bought these items:
- Car PC Hacks Book by Damien Stolarz
Hope there is useful info here
- Lilliput 8" Widescreen (16:9) VGA Touchscreen
Like the widescreen format, and 8" will fit nice in the car
- M2-ATX 160W Intelligent DC-DC PSU
Good cost benefit

With these items I'll be ready for phase 1 of my CarPC project.

05k20A3 · 06-15-2007, 03:52 PM

i dont think its a good idea to wrap that hard drive in bubble wrap like that. it can get pretty hot during the summer inside that car and the drive will probably get hotter. it could probably do more harm then good. you have to keep that drive ventilated.

ps good luck on the civic.

im just about done on mine just have to install a 4 ch amp and my speakers and cleanup some wiring.

vladcarpc · 06-15-2007, 04:29 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by 05k20A3

i dont think its a good idea to wrap that hard drive in bubble wrap like that. it can get pretty hot during the summer inside that car and the drive will probably get hotter. it could probably do more harm then good. you have to keep that drive ventilated.

Hummm... You are right. I used the bubble plastic as a jacket for the drive. I glued it in the anti-static foam. So when I need to remove the HDD I just pull it from that plastic pocket.

I need to find another way...

I am concerned about fixing the HDD directly into the PC Case, because all the road vibration will beat the HDD. There are some roads I use daily that are very bad.

vladcarpc · 06-15-2007, 04:30 PM

Hi all,

I've posted the first version of my CarPC Diagram in the following post:
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/newb...-95-carpc.html

Please take a look. Thanks!

BloodyRootsSP · 06-17-2007, 08:57 PM

Hi neighbour

Hope that your goods from mp3car.com store arrive safe and sound (and better off without the abusing taxes) cause it is the way I am inclined to go. Can´t find a screen that I like here and the psu, well, like the m2-atx, there are none.

Can´t help you with the diagram, I didn´t get into that part yet, altough I have already pretty much what I need. I´m still studying where I´m gonna place it but I need to decide wich screen I´ll use first. If I can get a Lilli, then I can stick an Epia board into the dash behind the screen, but if I can´t, I´d rather go with a P-III like yours, in the trunk or another place.

Anyway, I wish you good luck with your purchase and please tell us how did it go through the mail.

[]s

seanz0rz · 06-17-2007, 10:11 PM

for shock absorbing, use memory foam. i used it in my install, and even being off road, no problems whatsoever.

vladcarpc · 06-18-2007, 06:27 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by BloodyRootsSP

Hi neighbour

Hope that your goods from mp3car.com store arrive safe and sound (and better off without the abusing taxes) cause it is the way I am inclined to go.
(...)
Anyway, I wish you good luck with your purchase and please tell us how did it go through the mail.

Hi, in my order I asked to ship to a hotel in USA, there is a friend of mine there, he already got the packages (by UPS) and he is bringing that to me.
It is nice to hear from somebody that lives in the same region, because we can exchange ideas and find solutions together. Its always harder to to do a project like that if you live outside USA or some Europe countries. Are you a member of Honda Club? We can meet in one of the weekly meetings, if you like.
Good luck on your project, too.
(I will kept the english in this post due to the global audience).

Quote: Originally Posted by seanz0rz

for shock absorbing, use memory foam. i used it in my install, and even being off road, no problems whatsoever.

Good idea, I'll look for a piece of it. But how did you fixed your HDD into the memory foam? You just glued it, or what? :-)

Thanks all

seanz0rz · 06-18-2007, 06:32 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by vamarante

Good idea, I'll look for a piece of it. But how did you fixed your HDD into the memory foam? You just glued it, or what? :-)

i made a carriage out of abs plastic i had lying around, then i used double sided tape to attach that to the foam, then for the foam to my fiberglass tray, i used superglue. its held up fine for nearly a year.

the link in my sig has lots of pictures.

BloodyRootsSP · 06-18-2007, 10:26 PM

Why don´t I have friends like yours???

Will I be the first one to try that overseas shipping? The way you´re bringing them is the best, you will be unboxing it pretty soon...

Never did attend to a Honda Club meeting, but I´ll have a good reason now. I´ll pm you later.

vladcarpc · 06-19-2007, 04:01 PM

My order from mp3car.com arrived on june 14th in the hotel, just 2 days after I've placed my order.

Very fast shipping (I've chosen the cheapest UPS option).

A friend of mine will bring the package to me next week.

While I wait I will try to improve the eletronic side of my diagram. :-)

vladcarpc · 06-27-2007, 06:21 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by seanz0rz

i made a carriage out of abs plastic i had lying around, then i used double sided tape to attach that to the foam, then for the foam to my fiberglass tray, i used superglue. its held up fine for nearly a year.

Hi, nice car and carpc.
Where did you get the foam? Is it sold in some store, or did you take a piece from another thing (pillow, etc...)?

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