The fiberglass tv/monitor mount is finally done! pics inside

[Chuckt]

on that link you sent me, is it just a stand alone devide or waht, i may look into this more, i nees something permenant to use with my monitor. What all would i need to get a avi/dvd player from this motherboard? Can i just hook up a pc dvdplayer and a video card and a harddrive and run windows off my monitor?

 

[97GS-TSpyder]

if your gonna basically run a TV out card on a laptop or computer you BETTER have a BAD ASSES processor or its gonna look all messsed up with the colors and all

 

[Aikouka]

Ehhh I wouldn't recommend doing that or using windows. Especially if you're not using an outside battery source. I've conspired a couple of different ideas using VIA's Epia M motherboard (6cm x 6cm in size and almost replacing most of the center console and possibly moving the ECM around a bit. The biggest problem you'd have if you put the motherboard in the car is heat. Being a computer nerd/technician myself, heat is one of the most detramental elements to a computing device. So the VIA Epia M is a perfect solution, because they are low-heat motherboards. They also have onboard MPEG2 decoding for DVDs and will soon have onboard divx decoding, because the older core didn't do well with video, but the new Nehemiah is supposed to be more powerful.

Monitor-wise, I recommend xenarc ( www.xenarc.com ) All you need to do is rip apart the casing and just install it without the casing. Then you don't have to worry about using video instead of SVGA or even LCD. I'll need to actually take apart my center console if I plan on doing it to analyze everything for space and proper clearance. The power source I devised was lithium ion batteries used in laptops and I was thinking about how to recharge them. Another neat idea was connecting Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity, or wireless networking) to the computer and be able to transfer mp3s to a HDD without connecting a network cable or removing the HDD itself.

I'm not sure if I want to do this, I'd rather spend the not so little amount of money this will take on power mods . I might map it out for fun though.

 

[MNGSX]

For me its a coolness mod.

Being able to run full engine management software and dataloging at any time.

I was planing on... well see below.

You can do better than the zenarc. There are full vga kits. TFT LCD, controller and everything else. That way you get an open frame screen to slip in what ever you want.

I know how all the controllers and screens work. I just dont have experience laying up glass.

There is always more than one way to do things.

Flexible keyboard + touch screen and I'd be good.
http://www.digitalww.com/fx200_DarkGray.htm

The motherboards are cheap. What gets spendy are the LCDs which is why it will pull out.

This is'nt back a back burner idea anymore mostly middle burner.


There are some good DC/DC power supplies that run off the cars system.

I would'nt sit with the engine off and try to watch a movie or anything but for the purpose of MP3's tuning, and loging with the engine on it's perfect.

 

[Chuckt]

ok, what i want to do is run some kind of interface on my lcd monitor so i can play avi files and dvds. I would want some kind of storage so i can save avi and mp3 files and play them back ans all. Would it work to put a battery, power inverter and a pc tower in my trunk and hook up the dvd drive to the din slot? or would it be way easier somehow else? I really want to play avi files from disc and harddrive. How can i do that?

 

[InfamousEclipse]

wow thats so awesome, so clean..... How much to make me one? Seriously...

[email protected]

 

[MNGSX]

Originally posted by Chuckt
ok, what i want to do is run some kind of interface on my lcd monitor so i can play avi files and dvds.


What kind of monitor is it. Just a TV type, Do you have a spec sheet.

Some have direct VGA inputs.

I would want some kind of storage so i can save avi and mp3 files and play them back ans all.

Use a hard disk or CD ROM

Would it work to put a battery, power inverter and a pc tower in my trunk and hook up the dvd drive to the din slot? or would it be way easier somehow else?

It would "work" but poorly.

Your best bet would be a really powerfull multimedia small form factor mother board like the one I showed. There are many sites with people putting these in cars. It would not require an inverter at all. It uses a DC to DC converter to come up with the different voltages the board, peripherals and drives run on.

http://www.mini-itx.com/store/images/psukitL.jpg

This is not an inverter. The 110 adapter just sends 12v to the circuit board in the kit.
http://www.mini-itx.com/store/default.asp?c=9#p67
So just get the kit and wire 12v from the car to the board using appropriately sized wire.

You can get slimline drives. Basically notebook drives. I'll probably have a CD/DVD drive in the console too.
http://www.mini-itx.com/store/default.asp?c=5

I really want to play avi files from disc and harddrive. How can i do that?

Run win amp or media player and connect the boards built in audio (sound card) to the cars amp.



1. Motherboard and processor (ITX form factor)
2. Get a real VGA Screen, and controler
3. Get a flexible keyboard and touchscreen overlay
4. Get the power supply DC/DC/



As for your current monitor.
You can do this but TV's are bad computer monitors

http://www.mini-itx.com/reviews/nehemiah/?page=8#s16


Audio

http://www.mini-itx.com/reviews/nehemiah/?page=9

 

[EvilGav]

It would "work" but poorly.

I'm curious as to why it would work poorly?

wouldn't it run exactly as a desktop pc, except for the monitor being the lcd screen?

or is that what you meant? windows will look like ass through it or soemthing?

 

[Defiant]

I don't know if this will ever see the light of display shelves, but it sure looks like it'd be killer:

http://www.xenarc.com/product/cp1000.html

 

[MNGSX]

Thats only a 266
http://www.xenarc.com/product/cp1000.html

Power inverters are really ineffecient.


It's unecessary. Your turning 12v DC into 110 AC with one powersupply. Then you are turning 110 AC into mostly 12v outputs with the computer power supply.

Dumb right? ESP considering the cost of the DC to DC converter I showed you.

windows will look like ass through it or soemthing

VGA resolution is better than TV. TV resolution is'nt that great.
Your average TV LCD's for cars make bad monitors.

A SVGA active matrix LCD monitor will look just like a good desktop. If you hook a tc card to it its like HD TV almost.

 

[Chuckt]

this is some cool shit. i talked to a guy at work who jsut started his on pc store and he is gonna help me out with the whole think, and i should be able to get everything i need for under 300. Instead of buying a new headunit, im just gonna run a mini pc in my car and play my mp3s and avis and stuff from my monitor

 

[Aikouka]

TV Resolution is somewhere around 320x240 ... I can't remember the exact resolution off the top of my head. I would recommend the Xenarcs over some crummy VGA, especially if you're using the term correctly (VGA itself is an OLD graphics bed, SVGA and XVGA are the top two these days.)

I still don't recommend running it off the car battery. Have you seen UPCs that power computers when the power goes out, they pretty much use the same type of battery (most use lead-acid) as cars. They last for a good 15 minutes (if you buy a good one.) Now, they don't have alternators to recharge the battery, but still. And to put it bluntly, it sounds cooler if you say that you get your power from an external Li ion battery .

Also, I still recommend the VIA Epia. The power usage is VERY low and the heat output is also very low. Also why use windows? Why do you want BSODs in your vehicle! Go the way of linux and set it up using a low-profile distro like Slackware (very minimalistic.) Or I've even see DOS mp3 plays that were made for people to play mp3s in their car. Also load times, who wants to wait for a "carputer" (to use xenarc's term) to boot up the OS? You could still have an OS for checking error codes on the ECU and other things like transfering songs over a Wi-Fi network. I should diagram out my design and see how well it would work space-wise.

I'd recommend using a HDD over anything else, but then you need a way to get the songs to the car hard drive to play, which is where networking comes in, because who wants to disconnect the HDD, bring it to their computer, connect it and wait for the songs to transfer and then reverse for reinstallation.

 

[MNGSX]

Now, they don't have alternators to recharge the battery, but still. And to put it bluntly, it sounds cooler if you say that you get your power from an external Li ion battery

Hey a little L-ion is'nt a bad Idea. For what I want to use it for I'll never run it down.

Linux is another good one.

The zenarc uses, sony, toshiba or somebody elses panel.

If you know where to look you can get the same quality (or same exact thing) in a kit with the LCD and controller. Once you have that I's like pluging in a monitor.

I'm going for the built in look so I don't want anything with a case.

 

[Aikouka]

I read about something interesting in a review today for a VIA Epia M1000 motherboard that you might like. Using a compact flash card and installing Windows 98 on the compact flash card by using software to "cut the slack" off of windows. Then using another piece of software to make it look more Media PC friendly. Here's the link and the pictures and information you'd be looking for is on the bottom:

http://www.techseekers.net/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=60&page=3

And most people just take Xenarcs out of their cases. The main reason for using them is that they have a good selection of quality small LCDs and touch screen LCDs.

 

[MNGSX]

That is cool and good thinking on their part

One of the reasons I'm going non zenarc is that I want something a tad bit bigger.

 

[Aikouka]

Heh, are you planning on enlarging your console to fit something that big? I always thought of also building a nice slide-down cover for it, because if some robber sees a nice LCD screen in your car, I'd bet he'd be more apt to break into your car and steal that expensive LCD. So just build a slide-down cover for it with the Mitsubishi/Eagle/Plymouth logo on it (if you go through the trouble, might as well have it look good.)

 

[Chuckt]

i am looking for a battery terminal connector that fits 2 8 gauge wires. I found some on ebay, but how am i supposed to connect them to the battery. There are already 2 large wires connected to the battery so how am i supposed to fit a connector when they are in the way? Im trying to get my power inverter hooked up along with my monitor so i can finally get it in my car.

 

[MNGSX]

Originally posted by Chuckt
i am looking for a battery terminal connector that fits 2 8 gauge wires. I found some on ebay, but how am i supposed to connect them to the battery. There are already 2 large wires connected to the battery so how am i supposed to fit a connector when they are in the way? Im trying to get my power inverter hooked up along with my monitor so i can finally get it in my car.

Ring terminal.

Heh, are you planning on enlarging your console to fit something that big? I always thought of also building a nice slide-down cover for it, because if some robber sees a nice LCD screen in your car, I'd bet he'd be more apt to break into your car and steal that expensive LCD. So just build a slide-down cover for it with the Mitsubishi/Eagle/Plymouth logo on it (if you go through the trouble, might as well have it look good.)

I'll make it a pull out.

All they will see is a black panel and a connector.

The console will be stretched a touch but not radically.

I'm not going double a zenarc or anything.

It will get uploaded.

 

[Davidle]

Damn, that turned out really nice... Good job.. Keep up the good work..
Maybe if you can make a bunch and sell it, you can start your own business...

 

[Chuckt]

ive been working on the wiring the past 2 days and its almost done! ill finish it up and hook up a ps2 or something to get some photos. I have to go to radioshack and get some more wire tho first. Back later....

 

[logic]

Very nice fiberglass work. Does a person fit behind the mount comfortably, or is it a tight squeeze? Any plans for anything more radical with that side of the car?

This kind of thing is a project I've had in mind for quite a while; replacing the head unit with a PC (micro motherboard, laptop HDD and DVD-ROM) and touch screen, with a good on-board audio chipset. Thanks to a few links from this article, I can see most of the "hard stuff" is already handled with existing products (DC-DC conversion, etc), so building this doesn't look like it'll be any harder than building a decent set-top entertainment system. Wire up a few USB ports somewhere accessable for getting data in and out (and a keyboard) and for adding on things I didn't think of up-front, and arrange for wireless connectivity (a PCMCIA interface somewhere, perhaps?), and viola: instant in-car war-driving.

I just need to spend the time learning how to work with fiberglass. The geeky stuff is easy.

 

[Chuckt]

for me it wasnt really learing to work with fiberglass. I just tried it and it worked, . This was my first ever fiberglass attempt. But since my last post 2 hours ago. I managed to get the power, ground and av cables through the door and inside the glovebox area. It was one of the hardest things i have done yet. I finally realized i could just pull off the rubber stopper that connects the wires on the door to the passenger side. I decidd to take a break for today and finish it up tomorow since i work in an hour or so. I did plug it in to the power wire from my firewall and put the ground wire nest to the body of the car and got my monitor to turn on. Even though i dont have a picture, im very glad i got it to atleast turn on.

 

[Misundaztood]

Chuckt, I don't mean to swerve this thread off-topic but those are the exact same floormats I got my mom for her '02 Escape XLS. Nice.
Anyways, on-topic, great work. It's looks rally clean. I might consider doing it myself.

 

[Chuckt]

thanks Misundaztood, i finally got it completey hooked up, heres 2 pics

they are both in my gallery also...
its fun to drive around with a movie playing and seeing what people next to you do when they hear a loud noise come from your car all the sudden, hehe. Diring the day, there is little to no glare from the driver side seat cause the screen reflects directly to the passenger side headrest. At night, im expecting it to be way better even since there will be no lights other than the monitor. Ill try and get a night pic also.