My in-car PC project is on its way

[Daz155HGT]

I have been looking to install a PC in my car for a few months, and i have finally got round to doing it.

At the moment it is just for playing MP3's, but i am going to upgrade it by getting an LCD touchscreen, for GPS, DVD's, VCD etc.. at a later date.

To save some cash, i just used what i had lying around the house for the time being.

PII 300mhz (300w)
128mb RAM
7.2gb HD
64mb Nvidia G/card
32bit sound card
6 button Gamepad

So the only thing to buy is the 300w inverter.

I have also bought a 2x16 digit LCD display (i will change it for a 4x40 for the finished project), which i have stuck on the end of a Parallel printer cable which will displays virtualy any system info you want, such as temps, HD space etc.., along with the track which is currently playing and the TIME (something that i have missed since i installed my new head-unit)

Some pics:

Since taking the pic i added a resistor as the contrast of the display was too high.

I will try and take some pics during the install into the car, and write a little guide.

Daz

 

[Sy B]

I'm Jealous!

I'm still happy playing with my MP3 player though

 

[Dillinger]

a good start Daz.

how about LCD screens in the sun visors?

Dill.

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Re: My in-car PC project is on its way

Daz - i can get hold of LCD screens at reasonable prices.

If you are after anything let me know, and i can work you out a price.

Jonathan

 

[Daz155HGT]

Re: Re: Re: My in-car PC project is on its way

I seen a very nice one when i was looking around. It was 8x100 and 1.6 metres wide...it was only £4000

I would like a 4x20 or similar...

something like these would be perfect:

I would prefer any of the colours shown, but a standard one would be okay.

IMPORTANT: But it needs to be the Hitachi HD44780 or compatible chipset. (If you can get me the model number i can find out this info)

Let me know what u can do.

but i need to know ASAP as the place i get them off havent got many left in stock, and i will have to wait another 28 days until they get more stock.

Daz

 

[Daz155HGT]

Re: Re: Re: Re: My in-car PC project is on its way

or did you mean full size ones?

i am after a VGA one if possible, but i would settle for a non-VGA if the price is right...

5.7" or similar will be fine, i think anything bigger will be too much in the Bravo.

Daz

 

[Tom]

Re: Re: Re: Re: My in-car PC project is on its way

The crystalfontz ones are generally serial interface. You'd be hard pushed finding LCDs over here, very few places sell them.

Let me know if you find any gooduns!

 

[Daz155HGT]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: My in-car PC project is on its way

maplins do them, so do farnells.

I got the 2x16 one from maplins, but are very low on stock.

Look here:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/products/module.asp?CartID=031018133332945&moduleno=36389&Products=7

They only do the black on green, i was ideally after a some with the similar colours of the crystal fontz ones.

Daz

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: My in-car PC project is on its way

I have just looked through my catalogue, and they are all PAL/NTSC input, not VGA.

Im not sure how competitive these prices are as i havent looked around, but i can do a 5.6" screen for about £185. That is actually a headrest screen, make by cko.

Jonathan

 

[Daz155HGT]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: My in-car PC project is on its way

Thanks for looking but i can get them for much cheaper than that...around the £100 mark.

Daz

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: My in-car PC project is on its way

I thought as much - we will eventually go into selling screens, and when we do our prices will be competitive.

Jonathan.

 

[Ribzz]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: My in-car PC project is on its way

Daz I like it m8!

Where abouts did u put the mother board?

I quite fancy doing this my self m8

any chance of a litte DIY guide on how u did it bud?

 

[Daz155HGT]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: My in-car PC project is on its way

It isnt actually in the car yet..but i am building a false floor in the boot...something like this.

I'm going to turn my sub so its facing upwards, and with the false floor i can also put my amp under there to hide all the wiring...and a bit of perspex with some neons to highlight the computer.

Daz

 

[Tom]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: My in-car PC project is on its way

Someone has too much spare time!

 

[Daz155HGT]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: My in-car PC project is on its way

TOO MUCH SPARE TIME!!!...

I've been planning this since i had my Mk4 Golf about 3-4 years ago...lol

I am only now getting round to doing it...but its a bit easier these days as there have been good steps in technology

Daz

 

[Tom]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: My in-car PC project is on its way

Hehe!! I just scribble something on a bit of paper and then dissapear into the garage and build it. None of this fancy modeling stuff

 

[Alan]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: My in-car PC project is on its way

will you not get problems with the hdd when you go over bumps, ie taking big chunks out of the disks???

How do you get it to interface with teh lcd then? Do you have to run a piece of software to interface between the mp3 player and the screen. This is not something i've ever thought of doing to be honest! I don't think i'd have enough knowledge

Is the long term plan to have a keyboard etc in the front to control it? And without a screen do you have to plug one in every time something goes wrong?

What you need to do is put a wireless network card in it so you can load all your mp3's etc onto the car when it's on the drive and your in the house, now that would be good!!!

 

[Craig]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: My in-car PC project is on its way

and i thought you were jokin daz

 

[Daz155HGT]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: My in-car PC project is on its way

No i'm not joking

The LCD was very easy to do, someone suggested it a while ago and i thought it would be very complicated...but as long as you can solder, as the wires need to be soldered very close together. And you are correct, the data comes from software...I found that crystalworkz was one of the easiest and the best.

As for the hard-drives, i have been advised to mount them verticaly so that when you hit a bump it doesnt mark the discs.

As for controlling it from the front, i have a gampad, which along with a bit of software that can control the functions such as next track, previous track, stop, play, next playlist, previous playlist and space & enter (just in case(...i am going to get rid of the main part and just keep the buttons and mount them into the dash. I will also mount the power and reset buttons there too. So if i do get any problems, i can just reset the PC.

As for a wireless network card...i thought about that until i say the prices, i may get one at a later date, but for now i have got a hard-drive slot thingy (cant remember the name of it), which you can just slide the hard-drive in and out easily..without having to unplug the wires all the time.

Daz

 

[Daz155HGT]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: My in-car PC project is on its w

God look at my spelling and grammer...i only had 2 pints...lol

Daz