2003 Honda Civic Hybrid Install Worklog

I think now is the time to start this as I have most all of the information I need to get started with this install.

Let me get started by defining the system I am installing.

Main System:
Case: M350 from www.mini-box.com
CarNetic CNX-P2140 DC to DC Startup / Shutdown Controller
PicoPSU-150-xt 12V DC-DC ATX power supply
Zotac GF9300-F-E
Intel Core 2 Quad 3.0Ghz
4Gb DDR3
120Gb OCZ Agility SSD
Black Double DIN Mounting Kit
Momentary switch for ACPI line to laptop (manual shutdown and start up)
Kill switch for main power input

USB Peripherals include:
Lilliput EBY701-NP/C/T Transflective Optically Bonded Daylight Readable
BU-353 GPS Device - Complete
BoomzBox HD Radio controlled AM/FM Tuner
Belkin 7 port USB hub powered by 5.0v 3A remote mounted PSU

Software:
Windows 7 Profession x86
Rohos Login Key for automatic login - Used with 32Gb USB Key
Gamin Mobil PC
iTunes (for iphone4 network drivers)
OpenMobile 0.7

Audio Equipment:
120A Line Filter - Complete
Rockford Fosgate V4004 1200w 4 channel amp - Complete
Alpine Speakers Front X 2 - Existing
Alpine Speakers Rear X 2 - Existing

Equipment to be removed and FOR SALE!:
Dell M1710 laptop w/BluRay drive

Here are some initial Pictures of the car and what is installed:

Main Dashboard
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/imag...3b09ba564b.jpg

Lower Dashboard
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/imag...3b0d5e8cb1.jpg
The momentary button to the left was used to turn on the inverter and the toggle switch on the right was used to bypass the ignition power to the head unit.


Backseat - Outlets
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/imag...3b0f5b0d78.jpg

Trunk - Amplifier
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/imag...3b130f2f2f.jpg

Trunk Right Side - Battery (Secondary)
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/imag...3b1159096a.jpg
The fuse to the right is for the inverter, so the input lines to the inverter do not get too hot.

Trunk Left Side - Inverter
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/imag...3b148affb6.jpg

Engine Bay - Main Battery
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/imag...3b160d0d86.jpg
The two red fused leads that are attached to the battery positive terminal are for my HID circuits. The third red line is for my air horn circuit.

Left Fender - Main Fuse
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/imag...3b17a90f14.jpg

As you can see the car is in need of some attention.

This work log will detail how I resolve the install issues I have and hopefully finish up with a clean install that looks close to factory.

This is the design layout I had in mind for the trunk
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/imag...58bb470d5d.jpg

This is the mounting board for all the equipment in the trunk
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/imag...58bc73330b.jpg

Now that most of the planning is done, it is time to start fabricating!

EDIT: forgot about the docking station!

It looks as thought I will have a bit of a setback as I have a few problems that need to be ironed out before I start my carputer install.

Going to make a list here so when they are complete I can then get started.

Current list of repairs needed:
Replace front lower motor mount (Repaired 3-22-2010)
Replace drivers side power window switch (Repaired 3-22-2010)
......blows passenger window fuse
Replace HID ballasts (Replaced 3-27-2010)
......mauled left high beam ballast
......defective right high beam ballast
......defective right low beam ballast
Replace 12,000k HID lamps with 4300k brighter lamps(Replaced 4-02-2010)

Replacement Ballast:
http://www.hidcountry.com/product2.php?pid=19

Now that I received my CarNetix CNX-2140, I am ready to do some power supply testing.

First I double check the laptop brick output at 19.5v with 130W.

Using a spare power plug, I sliced the wire to find there are 3 conductors in the cable, Ground, V+ and ID wire, from left to right respectively
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/imag...3ed29b8dbb.jpg

Checking the main power input voltage:
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/imag...3ed6fb77bf.jpg

Finding out what the ID wire voltage is:
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/imag...3ed81bb239.jpg

When the computer gets 19.5v on the main V+, it returns 3.3v back to the AC brick via the ID wire.

Error screen when ID wire is not connected to the AC brick:
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/imag...3ed5d01279.jpg

The circuit that is contained in the power supply will have to be fitted to the laptop when it is installed in the car so I don't get the annoying verification messages when the computer boots up.

So now I have to find a way to integrate the brick ID circuit.

I apologize for the poor photo quality, as it is only a iPhone camera.

So it was pretty easy to put together a power circuit that would feed the correct voltage to the laptop and provide a power check circuit to the laptop telling it that it had the right power supply connected.

I first connected the primary red output of the CNX-P2140 to the laptop plug V+, then old brick ID to the laptop plug ID, and finally connected the laptop plug ground, brick ground and CNX-P2140 grounds together.

From top to bottom in this picture (ID, V+, and Ground)
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/imag...68708c74be.jpg

Here is a picture of the brick and all
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/imag...687501d25f.jpg

The test was a success, the laptop boots all the way into windows even without the battery installed and does not error. The next step will be to remove the existing components in the car and mount the laptop with docking station and amp to the base board.

EDIT: The AC Brick will NOT be connected to an AC source in any way when it is installed in the car

Question for ya about the wiring.

So you're using the 2140 as the primary power, and the to take care of the ID wire you're just connecting the centerpin(ID) to the adapter ID and then grounding it like so?

ACPlug + -------- 2140 19.5
ACPlug GND ------ 2140 GND
ACPlug ID ------- Adapter ID
Adapter GND ----- 2140 GND

Are you powering the adapter in any way?

I do not power the AC Brick with any AC power at all, as I am removing the inverter from my car. I am strictly using the Carnetix CNX-P2140 DC to DC regulator. Also I would like to note that I do not connect the CNX-P2140 primary output red line to the AC Brick at all, I only use the ID and ground wire from the AC Brick.

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/imag...946a4b8eb4.jpg

Awesome.. that's just how I was thinking, and trying to type. I'll have to give this a try with my HP, cause if that works that's an awesome find for anyone using a barrell plug unit

The best way to check to see if this will work for you is to check the voltage on the ID line with reference to ground when the AC brick is plugged into an AC source.

The next step would be to find where this voltage source is coming from, if it is coming from the laptop then your OK but if it is coming from the AC brick then this technique will not work, and you will have to find an external source that supplies this voltage from an external source.