computers
 

okay i want to put a computer in my car. I got myself an old computer and a 5' inch screen. What i need to know is how do i get power from the car's engine to power the computer. i heard that there is some kinda cable that i can buy that changes the cigarette lighter into a power outlet like the house. however it's really costly, does anyone have any solutions ? :P



ICQ 8310110. can contact me there or leave a msg here but i'm dying to know ! LOL i'm very impatient and besides it's reading week :P thanks !

well, if you can find out the voltages on a power supply (what they are where they connect to the mainboard), and have a way of regulating the power going to the mainboard (ie, 12v, 5v, 3v etc) just tap right into the mainboard from a modified switch bank connected to the battery..

lotta work, but do-able..

It's easier just to use this.......
http://www.timberman.com/ELECTRIC/images/el10.jpeg

http://www.qkits.com/serv/qkits/icp/lowres/SPW400.gif

Just make sure you get one that can handle the power supply in the computer.....ie......power supply in the computer is 300w.....get an 12v inverter that can handle at least 500w......more is ALWAYS better.

If you try the way that Si Veloz said, you will run into touble.

A car batery NEVER stays at 12v. It varies.....up and down.

Thay carry them at Canadian Tire..........ie....a 175w one costs $39.99..........so can wager to think that a higher powered one like the one you need would be upwards of around $150 or more.

http://www.ammtech.com/images/portawattz.jpg

I like Si Veloz's Idea... plus I've built a supply like that ... electronics knowledge is fun.. however if you want to just do it the quick and dirty way there are 2 options...


1) power inverter like in the post above...

2) buy a power supply froma company that is deigned for the 12V in a car ... there are companies that make them I just for their name

if you go with number 1) back sure the inverter you get is rated 2 times the wattage of your computers power supply....I'm not going to get into the details of this just you don't need a fire hazard in your car...

take care

His idea has some flaws.....trust me.......It's hard to keep the thing at 12v like the computers board needs. Also, you have to worry about noise entering the system. Very bad for a computer.

The power inverters put out a modified 110v output. Even if the car battery falls to 10.5 v, the thing will still work. You can't say that about the car battery/direct hook idea. It also has a built in filter for noise/power spikes.

I look at it this way, these companies have already done the hard work in R&D....it's alot easier just to get the inverter, than try to make one that will have a constant voltage....filtering....and ease of use. You only have to plug the cord that you would normally plug into a home outlet.....you would just plug it into the inverter instead.

Trust me......in the long run, it's the way to go. Less headaches.

i never said it was a perfect solution..
he said an inverter was too expensive for him, ergo, my solution..

I understood what you were saying, but I'm not sure he understands the time/effort/cost of parts it would take to build it. I know whats involed, as do you........I just think in the long run, it would be to his benefit to speed the cash and do it the "inverter" way. :)

:shakehand :cheers:

By the way, do you have any hard drives lying around. I want something bigger than the 13GB I already have.

PM me any info you might have. :)

Whoring yourself out for drives again Alan..

I've been busy in the workshop...

Home today Monday...

Call me at home...

:D

hey Al..
all the ones i have are small (like 500meggers) with the exception of the 30 that's in one of the two i have listed for sale in classifieds (heh heh..i know how to self-pimp too :D)

hears ya too re: power-up..
ya, it'd be a lot of fookin' around to go the other way (right from the battery)..
an inverter would def. be the easiest..