DAMNIT! Just got my OBD-II cable... which fully supports a '00 MX5. If your in USA. Course, this backward country didn't introduce it until 2003! 7 years after USA! ARGH!
have any pics? im waiting to see if anyone has successfully installed an eee pc into a car before i dive in. what frontend/skin will you be using? upload some pictures!
Apologies for the lack of pictures - I'm currently designing the cooling system and the box which will contain the EEEPC, Inverter, USB Hub, gadgets etc. so I can have all the stuff in one box and not have a laptop and accessories sprawled across my boot. I expect to begin installing (with plenty photos and detail!) late next week.
Unless you want your EEE and bits everywhere in your boot, best put EVERYTHING in a box (with very good cooling). Even with MiniATX installs you have alot of stuff outside the box floating around. This way, with an EEEPC, you can fit every single bit into one box and just have the cables coming out neatly. I will be using a professional electronics enclosure, approx 27cmx30xmx9cm. About $40-50 at an electronics store.
For cooling (EEE 701 gets very hot even in normal conditions) I will be using a 20cm Antec "Big Boy 200" Fan, and 3x 8cm fans which will cool the EEEPC. There is a 8cm square opening in the back of EEE's which is PERFECT for a 8cm fan directly blowing or sucking the motherboard.
I will be using Centrafuse. Its the best all round solution I believe.
THE BEST TIP: Plan EVERY DETAIL before you buy!!! I'm doing everything on 1:1 scale on paper to make sure it all fits before purchase.
Shipping options for the tiny right angle VGA adapter are a bit excessive! ($90 for an 8$ part shipped from US!?) I'll have to look elsewhere for the same thing methinks. Thanks anyway to the guy who mentioned that part - I'll be getting the same, locally. Still much cheaper than a full cable
I'd suggest Australian people to check out www.blackbox.com.au, may not be on their site, but get their catalogue posted to you and it has everything. What businesses use.
WEEKEND UPDATE
Ok, so I have all the bits, and if not they are due to arrive this week. So this weekend will be the big install, and there will be LOTS of pics.
What I learnt this weekend:
A) EEEPC units will NEVER TURN ON if the lid is closed. Except if you have a decent piece of metal covering the magnet sensor. Pics of this will follow when I do my install later this week.
B) Sell your head unit on Ebay, and the purchaser will wonder what to do with all the cables hanging out the back. No, it does not come with installation.... :P
C) $2 Shops (at least in an asian suburb) are GREAT places for all kinds of bits you would have usually ordered online. Eg. I got a THIN retractable network cable, which I can use for an AUTO-ON, for $4.20. Would of cost me $10 posted online. And misc. stuff like metal L plates, audio connectors, etc.
TIP: Use Google Sketchup to model your creations in 3D. I've tried 2D, on paper, and its very useful. But nothing beats putting it all together in 3D. Unless your going to just whack it all in, map it all out in 3D and get it tidy. For me, fitting it all nearly inside a box is a clean install, and Sketchup helps me do this, to the centimeter. Or inch, or your american
If your wondering what the bits are below, from largest to smallest...
Jaycar Professional Enclosure, EEEPC 701, Antec Big Boy 200 fan, Dealextreme 300w inverter, Dealextreme 7 port hub, Eeepc Powerpack, a 8cm fan, and 4 x 6cm fans.
Purchased:
SiLabs USB FM Stick
Ebay RearView Reverse Camera And Via PCCASEGEAR.COM.AU:
Fan Hole Molding
Clear 3mm Acrylic L Shape
Aluminum Badge - Half Life
Evercool 80mm Slim Fan 15mm
AC Ryan MeshX Panel 500x500mm Silver
Sold via Ebay:
OBD-II USB Diagnostics + Software for $20.50 + $10 Postage. So I lost only about 5 bucks on that wrong purchase decision. Still Peeves me off, but I learned either I get OBD-II functionality, or the next model up MX-5 which has OBD, but does not have the extra strong '99/'00 engine head which is desired as the best by all enthusiasts.. So yeah, reliability/strength is better over fancy less useful stuff. But yeah, still wish I had best of both worlds
Upload: Google Sketchup files. 3D model of enclosure with EEEPC and other components to make for a fully integrated CarPC.
Idea: To encompass all the components of my laptop/eeepc carpc inside a box which contains the computer, inverter, accessories/usb/etc, speaker amplifier (I'm hoping I can attach this to the outside of the box, at the back - amp is very small), etc. with one box so that none of the components are 'hanging out' or separate' - and, especially in the case of the EEEPC, provide sufficient cooling to operate in a hot summer environment.
Personal notes: Cooling decisions
Front 'Antec Big Boy 20cm Fan' blows into the case
8cm 1.5cm slim fan blows into the underside of the Eeepc through the hatch.
4x 6cm fans along the vents in the enclosure sucks air out of the enclosure, with guiding covers which ensure that suction is focused along the Eeepc keyboard.
looks very promising, id like to try installing a umpc too but ill be going with the astone umpc, bout the same price but alrady TS screen so i can just use that (cheapycheapy person) i was wondering after reading your post on how you finally ended up powering your eee? still went with the inverter? and why is a car adapter (ebay) for eee not one of your options? just curious. goodluck man keep us posted.
ps sketch looks great man cant wait to see it up and running.
hac - Actually, I'm not sure why I went with the inverter option - its something I have been thinking about for a while now, using a 12v>9.5v DC-DC power supply. I did'nt know about that Ebay one, pretty easy solution. Thanks for the tip.
Done a bit of work today. Pictures Enclosed. Mostly just cutting the holes in the enclosure to fit the fans. Also pic of screen installed in car - I have not stuck the LCD yet, so its not positioned perfectly (ie. you can see the edges in this shot), but I'm glad the dash kit fits.
I have not yet stuck the mesh to the front of the enclosure either and the plastic is still on it which is why its shiny. Will be tackling the rest next weekend, or during the week.
Oh and that last pic is a photo my girlfriend took while I was busy. Its the billygoat getting naughty with the shetland pony. I did'nt think he was that way enclined lol
lol
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