Project Turtle: 1993 Toyota Tercel/56K=FAIL - Page 25

rdholtz · 07-03-2009, 04:14 AM

Those fans should be fine. I'm in the middle of a fan test on mine with the same mainboard. The two 40mm fans are 12V units plugged into the 5V fan header on the M4-ATX, so they're really not pushing a lot of air out of the case. It's been going for 8 hours, and the exhaust air from the fans is barely above room temperature. If they need more juice, I'l hook them to 12V, but that appears unnecessary for now.

The next test will be in operation; they're idling, right now. I suspect your fans will be way more than enough, but it's hotter in New Mexico than in Georgia.

I can't help with the CF issues -- no experience here.

HiJackZX1 · 07-03-2009, 10:03 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by freeflashstuff

Got my CF drive to boot, but it's hella slow. WTF is with that? It's been 3 minutes, and it's still loading...

Honestly, when you have the fan system installed, the HDD over heating issue should be gone. Infact, since you have so much room in the PC's home, maybe mount the HDD on the outside of the case, just to be safe. That way if the inside of the case does overheat, the HDD is not near it. For about $24.00 you can get a new SATA 40GB drive, that includes shipping. I know people have done the CF thing, but I prefer to go with what works. So HDD in my opinion is the best way to go.

HiJackZX1 · 07-03-2009, 10:06 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by freeflashstuff

I set everything up earlier today, I'm just waiting on the copying to my CF card to finish. Estimated 55 minutes left. Hopefully it'll boot after this is done... Ordered the fans too. I ordered two 80mm, 2700RPM fans from NewEgg. Hopefully they will be here at the end of next week. I'm also working on getting power to my USB hub in the front so I can have extra USB ports for flash drives, cameras, etc. I'm gonna use the (I think it was HiJack's) idea of getting the 5 VDC from the Opus, but I think I'm gonna throw a diode in there so I don't get power feeding back to the computer...

The fans will be perfect. As far as feedback, I doubt you will have any. If you want to take that precaution though then its fine, I think... I have never heard of that being done on a PSU rail before.

oomwrtu · 07-03-2009, 11:17 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by freeflashstuff

Got my CF drive to boot, but it's hella slow. WTF is with that? It's been 3 minutes, and it's still loading...

This is something I might actually be able to help on. Looking up CompactFlash cards on Wikipedia shows that it is quite possible that you have a low speed drive which could severely slow down boot times. I don't remember what board you have, but if you have the option to use SATAII and are still looking for a non-magnetic drive, take a look at the OCZ Vertex Series, particularly this one. It's certainly a bit pricey compared to standard drives, but lower power consumption = less heat, no moving parts, and faster than some of the best high-speed magnetic drives. For an absolutely great overview of solid state drives, look at AnandTech. The March 30 article is what got me really excited about OCZ and the Vertex series. While I'm pretty far from starting my carpc project, I am planning on using this (unless something better comes out by the time I start) as my OS and applications drive.

Alternatively, you could use a new magnetic drive exactly like Hijack said since you may have solved your heat issues.

Tidder · 07-03-2009, 01:58 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by freeflashstuff

Got my CF drive to boot, but it's hella slow. WTF is with that? It's been 3 minutes, and it's still loading...

Could be that the CF to IDE adapter you have doesn't support DMA... link to what you bought? Also, what CF cards did you buy?

freeflashstuff · 07-03-2009, 04:15 PM

I solved the problem. I had a drive letter confusion that was causing EWF to re-map the drive on every reboot. My C drive was showing up as D and I couldn't get to diskmgmt.msc because "it didn't exist." I booted into UBCD for Windows and cracked open the registry as shown here: http://tech.kdcad.com/?p=157 and solved the problem. I now have a boot time(to desktop) of about 25 seconds +/- a few seconds. 35 seconds to Centrafuse loading up fully. Now i just need to tweak Startup entries and Services

Quote: Originally Posted by Tidder

Could be that the CF to IDE adapter you have doesn't support DMA... link to what you bought? Also, what CF cards did you buy?

I bought this adapter on eBay: item # 290291693302
The cards:
32GB(30GB really) one like this one from same seller minus the bonus BS: 260369606720
16GB(15GB really): 220356501505

The cards were oringinally purchased for use in my iPods, but I fried the logic board on the one I bought the 32GB for, and accidentally bought two 16 GBs for the one I sold. (Buy It Now, and I put in a Best Offer, and won both... DOH!)

freeflashstuff · 07-06-2009, 02:28 PM

I hope everyone had a pleasant 4th of July weekend. I did. I actually got some work done on the Turtle. I installed my electronic flasher to solve my "ricer flash" problem. I also installed my LED dome light and LED lights to illuminate my floor boards in the dark. Last night, I left my headlights on and had a dead battery this morning, now the CarPC won't boot... It powers on for a minute, then shuts off. The Opus blinks 3 times. I think that's the low voltage blink, right(HiJack)?

HiJackZX1 · 07-06-2009, 02:53 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by freeflashstuff

I hope everyone had a pleasant 4th of July weekend. I did. I actually got some work done on the Turtle. I installed my electronic flasher to solve my "ricer flash" problem. I also installed my LED dome light and LED lights to illuminate my floor boards in the dark. Last night, I left my headlights on and had a dead battery this morning, now the CarPC won't boot... It powers on for a minute, then shuts off. The Opus blinks 3 times. I think that's the low voltage blink, right(HiJack)?

OMG, I FORGOT TO SEND YOU OUT THE FLASHER THINGIES, MY BAD!!! Do you still need them?

You are correct, to low a voltage. Im suprised it turns on at all, it should just start blinking the 3 times and avoid trying to boot up the PC. Your battery must be borderline on the low voltage that tells the OPUS to not turn on and warn you. Just drive around for a day or so with no PC on, so the battery can charge back up, unless you have a charger and charge the battery.

freeflashstuff · 07-06-2009, 04:02 PM

No, I don't I just got an electronic flasher from AutoZone. The resistor mod doesn't work for a stock Tercel flasher, because the flasher expects a WAY higher resistance then they supply, plus with the electronic flasher I can do all of my lights LED and not have to mess with equalizers on all of them.

I think I'll just steal the battery out of my mom's Chevy pickup, it's the Wal-Mart equivalent of an Optima Yellow Top... LOL

HiJackZX1 · 07-06-2009, 04:27 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by freeflashstuff

No, I don't I just got an electronic flasher from AutoZone. The resistor mod doesn't work for a stock Tercel flasher, because the flasher expects a WAY higher resistance then they supply, plus with the electronic flasher I can do all of my lights LED and not have to mess with equalizers on all of them.

I think I'll just steal the battery out of my mom's Chevy pickup, it's the Wal-Mart equivalent of an Optima Yellow Top... LOL

You cant just use any battery in a car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If it isnt made for your car then it may damage it. Especially if its out of a big @$$ truck which is most likely a V6 or even a V8. Just drive the car around with no PC and charge the battery using the alternator.....

freeflashstuff · 07-06-2009, 04:56 PM

HiJack, I know that. Thus the LOL at the end of the post... But I will drive around after I get gas. It's $2.689 here for Unlead...

rdholtz · 07-06-2009, 05:12 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by HiJackZX1

You cant just use any battery in a car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If it isnt made for your car then it may damage it. Especially if its out of a big @$$ truck which is most likely a V6 or even a V8.

I never knew that. If they're all nominally 12V batteries, what can be damaged?

I thought the difference was size and shape; you buy the battery for your car based on what fits, and then you get to choose the amp-hour rating. If you go for an Optima, you can also choose a red top or yellow top or blue top, depending on what you're using it for. Red tops are standard automotive batteries, yellow tops are deep-discharge batteries, and blue tops are marine batteries.

Have I been missing something?

freeflashstuff · 07-07-2009, 03:54 PM

I uploaded pix of my dome light and new LED floor lights. I wired all of the floor lights to come on with the dome light. I also added a reset switch and Power/HDD activity lights.
PIX:

Dome light:

Floor lights:
Driver side:

Passenger Side:

Power/HDD activity lights:

freeflashstuff · 07-10-2009, 02:01 PM

Turtle is on hold for the moment. Yesterday at around 10am Mountain time, my mom was airlifted to the heart hospital in Alburqurque. She went in for an angiogram in Roswell and they discovered one artery is 90% blocked and another is 50% blocked. She goes in today after lunch to get them cleared out. Tomorrow she should be able to go home. I'll have to take care of her for awhile. My fans came in yesterday and I may put them in when I get home. Right now 30 minutes of sleep isn't being very kind to me. Mom snores... A lot...

HiJackZX1 · 07-10-2009, 02:07 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by freeflashstuff

Turtle is on hold for the moment. Yesterday at around 10am Mountain time, my mom was airlifted to the heart hospital in Alburqurque. She went in for an angiogram in Roswell and they discovered one artery is 90% blocked and another is 50% blocked. She goes in today after lunch to get them cleared out. Tomorrow she should be able to go home. I'll have to take care of her for awhile. My fans came in yesterday and I may put them in when I get home. Right now 30 minutes of sleep isn't being very kind to me. Mom snores... A lot...

So sorry to hear that, I hope she is ok. I have a screwed up heart too, but its genetic. My life expectancy is between 32 - 35 years of age, and right now I'm 29. Its very scary when your heart doesn't work right. I'll pray for her!

PS: thats the other reason I want to finish my Car PC!

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