center console computer?
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2006
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center console computer?
Just bought autoenginuity and decided to build a center console from the dash to the rear seat(crew cab) to hold two 15" mtx 9500 subs and a 17" lcd computer screen with all the computer guts to make it work. Thought it would be nicer than a laptop for reading the data and then i can have all my music right on the hard drive. Has anyone had any experience with building computers in trucks? I live in wisconsin so i am a little worried about the cold temps. Also the vibration from the subs worries me a little. I know they make 12volt power supplies for computers but i don't know how much or where they are? I have a inverter now so i guess i will try to use that and see if it works. Does anyone know how many watts a computer will draw. I guess i'll see. Thanks for any advice.
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Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Mount Vernon, Washington
There is actually a lot of equipment available on the market for mobile computer systems. Do a search for "12 volt auto computers" or similar wording. I don't have any specific sites for you since it's been a long time that I have looked into it.
One concern of having high powered speakers in close proximity to the computer isn't the vibration concern. I think the vibration would be a minimal problem for the computer, but the large magnets of the speakers would easily corrupt or totally wipe out the data on the hard drive. You will have to make sure you have VERY good shielding separating the two. I would try to put as much distance as possible between the computer harddrive and the magnets. Good luck with your project. When I was looking into it, there were some slick setups out there.
Marty
One concern of having high powered speakers in close proximity to the computer isn't the vibration concern. I think the vibration would be a minimal problem for the computer, but the large magnets of the speakers would easily corrupt or totally wipe out the data on the hard drive. You will have to make sure you have VERY good shielding separating the two. I would try to put as much distance as possible between the computer harddrive and the magnets. Good luck with your project. When I was looking into it, there were some slick setups out there.
Marty
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RockyMtn brings up some very important issues. The magnetic field from the speakers can very well wipe a hard drive.
Personally, I run one of these (or will, once the cradle mount comes in... grumble...):
http://www.motorola.com/governmentan...d_44i/id_1590i
These units are built for police service. They come in three pieces... the main CPU/HDD box, a backlit keyboard, and the display. My MW800 is a P4Mobile-1.7GHz, 1GB RAM, 80GB/7200RPM HDD, integrated GPS, WLAN, WWAN all with external antennas, integrated digital video capture card, etc. The unit has a heater for the hard drive, environmental monitoring to shut the machine down if things get too hot/cold, etc. Also, the common display is a 12.1-inch, ultra-bright/direct-sun-readable, LCD touchscreen with extra hotkey buttons.
Such a unit is expensive. Dealer cost on mine is about $9800. You can find some very similar units on eBay for about $3K. However, they're commonly found in police vehicles and fire apparatus... if you want something that will hold up, such a unit is the only way to go.
Personally, I run one of these (or will, once the cradle mount comes in... grumble...):
http://www.motorola.com/governmentan...d_44i/id_1590i
These units are built for police service. They come in three pieces... the main CPU/HDD box, a backlit keyboard, and the display. My MW800 is a P4Mobile-1.7GHz, 1GB RAM, 80GB/7200RPM HDD, integrated GPS, WLAN, WWAN all with external antennas, integrated digital video capture card, etc. The unit has a heater for the hard drive, environmental monitoring to shut the machine down if things get too hot/cold, etc. Also, the common display is a 12.1-inch, ultra-bright/direct-sun-readable, LCD touchscreen with extra hotkey buttons.
Such a unit is expensive. Dealer cost on mine is about $9800. You can find some very similar units on eBay for about $3K. However, they're commonly found in police vehicles and fire apparatus... if you want something that will hold up, such a unit is the only way to go.
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That heater is a good idea.
If the computer is left in the truck in cold weather, it should be brought up to room temperature before you turn it on. The processor and motherboard components become brittle when subjected to periods of low temperatures.
This applies for laptops that are left in the cold as well. Do not turn them on until they are warmed up!!
If the computer is left in the truck in cold weather, it should be brought up to room temperature before you turn it on. The processor and motherboard components become brittle when subjected to periods of low temperatures.
This applies for laptops that are left in the cold as well. Do not turn them on until they are warmed up!!
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Mount Vernon, Washington
Yes and no on what toddharry said. It depends on the computer used. In our patrol cars we use Panasonic Hard Books P25,26,27 and 28's. They are made for hard duty. We regularly get into our cars in the winter time that has been sitting all night in sub-sero weather and start them up. The only outward problems when they are that cold is a dim display until they warm up for a few minutes. Now I agree with toddharry that ultimately it would be better for them if they were warmed up. I wouldn't try this type of duty on a regular notebook. According to our IT department, they are not bothered by the extreme temps in the patrol cars throughout our seasons. Then of course our department has to pay over $4k each for this heavy duty use. This is one of the reasons I finally decided not to put a computer into my truck permanantly. Now if your over-the-road trucker, taxi driver or delivery type driver, then your vehicle will have long periods of use and the computer can remain stabilized heat wise, then I would consider permanantly mounting one too. Good luck and I hope we helped you out.
Marty
Marty
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Laughing Gas
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Thanks for the repleys. I never thought about the magnets. Is there a sheilding product that will help protect things or is distance the only thing. I know certian home speakers are magnetically sheilded and wondering how and if there would be a way to do this to my car subs. Thanks
Senior User
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From: Mount Vernon, Washington
Yes there are products that are lead lined (very thin) that is like self-stick insulation that will work. You will have to provide some air movement to help cool the processor, mostly in the summer months. I don't remember the different products out there but just do a search and you should find a bunch. If no luck, visit your nearest reputable audio store that should be able to steer you in the right direction. You could also remote mount the main computer behind the rear seat etc. and just use wireless controls for the keyboard, mouse etc. and USB for inputs i.e. DVD player and so forth. I think I would go this route if it was at all possible. A good USB cable should get you 16 feet distance unpowered and 32 feet with a powered extension. In a crew cab you shouldn't have to have a powered USB. Not sure how your setup looks, but just throwing out some ideas.
Marty
Marty
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Check out http://www.mp3car.com for just about everything imaginable to do with in-car (or truck, or boat) computers.
The amount of watts will depend a lot on what processor you use. Some of these newfangled umpteen bit processors use 10 times the power that an old Pentium one does, and a Pentium 1 is more than enough for music playback. The more power the processor uses, the bigger the power supply, the higher the battery drain, the more fans it'll take to get rid of that heat, etc, etc.
A good compromise is the VIA Mini-ITX form factor mainboards and processors: http://www.via.com.tw/en/initiatives...head/mini-itx/
and http://www.via.com.tw/en/initiatives...itx/car-pc.jsp
The amount of watts will depend a lot on what processor you use. Some of these newfangled umpteen bit processors use 10 times the power that an old Pentium one does, and a Pentium 1 is more than enough for music playback. The more power the processor uses, the bigger the power supply, the higher the battery drain, the more fans it'll take to get rid of that heat, etc, etc.
A good compromise is the VIA Mini-ITX form factor mainboards and processors: http://www.via.com.tw/en/initiatives...head/mini-itx/
and http://www.via.com.tw/en/initiatives...itx/car-pc.jsp
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Brett Foote
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I would *not* run a desktop processor in a vehicle. It's just asking for trouble. Look at the Pentium-M, Core Duo, Core 2 Duo, or the VIA EPIA/etc. processors. If I were building something, I'd go with the new high-end VIAs - they're quite fast and run very cool.
I don't even really like the Pentium 4/Mobile in my MW800, except that Motorola designed the unit to deal with the climate, so oh well.
One word of warning about mp3car: browse in moderation. You'll come up with way too many good ways to spend your money looking at that stuff!
I don't even really like the Pentium 4/Mobile in my MW800, except that Motorola designed the unit to deal with the climate, so oh well.
One word of warning about mp3car: browse in moderation. You'll come up with way too many good ways to spend your money looking at that stuff!
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Mount Vernon, Washington
Originally Posted by tvsjr
One word of warning about mp3car: browse in moderation. You'll come up with way too many good ways to spend your money looking at that stuff!
Marty
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From: Hewitt, Minnesota
I can't help you on the console. But here's what I can tell you about the computer part. They make "water cooling" parts for computers. You could just just hook it up to your Engine water. You have have to figure out a thermostat. Then of course there's the obvious. if you don't get it right or or it springs a leak and your computer's fried. It might be best to buy a desktop CPU and modify it to suit your needs. Then you know you have all the pats and you don't have to buy it piece at a time.
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=LC478K8&cpc=SCH
Use this kit but use it in reverse. Scrap the radiator and the fan and hook the water up to a thermostat set to room temperture (I'd recomend 60*-70*). Or you could put it on a manual valve but you risk your computer getting too hot.
Actualy this here is about all you need plus the lines and a shut off valve
http://www.pacificgeek.com/product.a...4&C=238&S=1142
Just route a splice off your heater. It runs hot water off the motor through the rad and the fan blows it into the computer box. It your case the computer box is the car console. It is reccomended that you figure out a vibration isolation system for the computer.
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=LC478K8&cpc=SCH
Use this kit but use it in reverse. Scrap the radiator and the fan and hook the water up to a thermostat set to room temperture (I'd recomend 60*-70*). Or you could put it on a manual valve but you risk your computer getting too hot.
Actualy this here is about all you need plus the lines and a shut off valve
http://www.pacificgeek.com/product.a...4&C=238&S=1142
Just route a splice off your heater. It runs hot water off the motor through the rad and the fan blows it into the computer box. It your case the computer box is the car console. It is reccomended that you figure out a vibration isolation system for the computer.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Hewitt, Minnesota
Originally Posted by tvsjr
Water cooling, for a mobile PC, tied into the truck coolant system? You're kidding, right? Talk about a fantastically bad idea.
