Carputer Advice Needed

[dodes47]

Hi Guys!

After some time, i finally have enough moolah to start building my dream carputer.

Atm i'm just doing the research, gathering up ideas and collecting advices from veteran carputerers?

The purchasing, setup and install should be ok, but i need to know how to properly mount the touch screen LCD on the cubby hole on top of the A/C controls.

I've looked around on the net, and find that some G35 drivers have used a conversion kit to mount the lcd. I cannot for the life of me find this for sale anywhere.

I'd like to hear from anyone here who succesfully set up their carputer. Some pictures would be awesome as well especially the LCD part

[Arcos]

Hi Guys!

After some time, i finally have enough moolah to start building my dream carputer.

Atm i'm just doing the research, gathering up ideas and collecting advices from veteran carputerers?

The purchasing, setup and install should be ok, but i need to know how to properly mount the touch screen LCD on the cubby hole on top of the A/C controls.

I've looked around on the net, and find that some G35 drivers have used a conversion kit to mount the lcd. I cannot for the life of me find this for sale anywhere.

I'd like to hear from anyone here who succesfully set up their carputer. Some pictures would be awesome as well especially the LCD part

What about an iPhone / Touch (or maybe better still an iPad when released) and ODB2 interface with REVS app or similar;

. Edited April 2, 2010 by Arcos

[sethaiyaar]

talk to a member called g33k. This guy really knows his stuff.

[dodes47]

Actually, i've already got a double din setup. So playing MP3s. divx and dvds is no problem. But that iPhone obdII interface looks awesome! How much for the device?

I checked this website and it seems that this fella got the lcd mount and frame from a dude called 'god of cpu' over at g35driver forums. But he charges an arm and a leg for it. Over $600 with the lcd!

http://www.bluevalhalla.com/gallery/v/geek/g35carputer/

@ G33K can you post a few pics so we can see your setup?

@ Chris Would you have anything to mount the lcd for sale? Or maybe the touch screen itself?

[Chris Rogers]

ME?

I can get the stock popups easy enough. from there you can hang your own screen in it.

[Arcos]

This is interesting; http://www.geekmyride.org/wiki/index.php/Jon%27s_RX-8

Or;

Or;

The real thing;

[dodes47]

What's wrong with the 'Reply' function? The typing cursor vanished making it hard to reply or post a new topic? Is it just me?

@ Chris When you said that i could hang my own screen on the stock popups, did you mean actually removing the lcd from my current housing and snap it inside this one? Cause that would be a state of awesomeness! How much bro?

@ Arcos. Interesting links mate. Thanks

[Chris Rogers]

I have a spare frame here. $40 and its yours. I have the screen out of already. (it is my programming jig for the lang swaps.)

now bear in mind that if yours is non navi you will need the frame as well.

[dodes47]

Thanks for helping out.I'm interested. I've got a non navi v35. All i got is the cubby hole on top of the ac controller. Will this frame fit in it? Not too clear on how this frame actually looks like.Mind showing me a pic of it? Or a link to a website that has one will do

Cheers

[Chris Rogers]

ok then you will need the navi frame work as well. what you have I'm fairly sure is different and the screen mounts are not there. I'll have to look at one to be sure.

[Arcos]

This is the sort of thing I would like;

.

I doubt there is enough room on the V35 though... plus I wouldn't want to park it just anywhere!

[g33k]

@ Chris

I'd like a photo too for a non-navi edition? Are you suggesting you can supply the popup section of the navi edition minus the screen etc., i.e. just the fascia?

@ dodes47

This was my original post...let me know if you need a hand

http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/Ca...ml&hl=carpc

Video of my OBDII setup, this doesn't show you the GPS/Video/Movie setup but you get the gist - http://tinypic.com/player.php?v=oqaj5f&s=3

[dodes47]

<br />@ Chris<br />I'd like a photo too for a non-navi edition? Are you suggesting you can supply the popup section of the navi edition minus the screen etc., i.e. just the fascia?<br /><br />@ dodes47<br />This was my original post...let me know if you need a hand<br /><a href="http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/Carputer-Install-V10-t261099.html&hl=carpc" target="_blank">http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/Ca...ml&hl=carpc</a><br /><br />Video of my OBDII setup, this doesn't show you the GPS/Video/Movie setup but you get the gist - <a href="http://tinypic.com/player.php?v=oqaj5f&s=3" target="_blank">http://tinypic.com/player.php?v=oqaj5f&s=3</a><br />

<br /><br /><br />

@ Arcos, That looks wicked. Kinda beats the purpose of mobile computing a bit though, don't you think?

@G33K Thanks Tim, Nice setup. what is supporting your screen? Have you got some sort of frame or mount behind that lcd? Does it slide back into the cubby hole when not in use?

@Chris, you kinda lost me there mate. What does this navi framework look like? Excuse my ignorance.

[g33k]

@dodes47 Metal bracket in a sort of L shape.

It doesn't slide back in, as the casing wasn't deep enough to have it slide, so instead, i've made it removable. In that, i can take the whole screen out, put in my bag, close the lid and it just looks like a cubby from the outside.

Cheers

[dodes47]

Did you fabricate the bracket? I'd like to see this clever invention of yours, so i can copy it please

[g33k]

Luckily for me, the company i work for has a factory - metal and such

Its a thin, polished bit of steel, which i bent on a table, and then shoved in the "brace/slide slot" at the back of the screen.

Its a bit hard to describe, if you're at the next meet though, im happy to show you.

It all depends on the monitor that you decide to fill your cubby with, or if you go with double din, it vastly changes the setup.

[dodes47]

Thanks Tim

Looking forward to it. I'll post again after i start building the pc.

[dodes47]

Ok guys, i finally finished the carputer! In the end, i decided to use my eeePC that was lying around, just until i can build a proper one with enclosures and all.

I mounted the eeePC inside the boot and the cables run on the left side of the car. At first i was concerned about air circulation, but found out on max load the temp hovers between 21-23 degrees. Cool

There is a remote power switch under the dash to control the computer's power.

I had to cut a round hole behind the cubby box so the vga cable can get through. Not too happy about this, but it had to be done

I've set up the power option to hibernate 1 minute after the "ac" connection is lost so all i have to do is turn off the car and walk away. I push the button to turn it on.

I'm running windows 7 home premium (r7lited) cause the power option and stability is better. With Centrafuse 2.1 as the frontend. iGo 8 is my current gps software.

Took me 2 weekends and 8 cans of redbull to get the job done

Here's the parts breakdown and how much it costed me.

* eeePC 901 $275

* 7" touch screen LCD $170

* Gosget USB GPS $40

* Laptop car charger $8

* 5m Cigarette lighter extender $12

* Cigarette lighter 3 way splitter $5

* 2 x 5m USB Cable $15

* 1 x 5m VGA Cable Free

* 1 x 5m RCA Cable $10

Not to forget the hole cutter, glue gun, mounting strips and other stuff i needed to buy to get it done.

Total : $550

Here's some pics

http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/ab251/d...4390_377701.jpg

http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/ab251/d...4390_377701.jpg

http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/ab251/d...4390_377701.jpg

http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/ab251/d...4390_377701.jpg

http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/ab251/d...4390_377701.jpg

http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/ab251/d...4390_377701.jpg

http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/ab251/d...4390_377700.jpg

http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/ab251/d...4390_377702.jpg

Next project : Setting up OBDII and Voice control.

Tim, i was hoping you can point me to the right OBDII usb interface to use. There's so many out there!

Comments and suggestions are welcome Thanks guys and sorry for the massive post and pics! Too excited ;D

[g33k]

Good work!!

What did you use to brace the screen up?

Also, how do you power the PC up?

Do you have to go to the boot and push the power each time?

As for the OBDII - get the BlaZt.biz cable, it'll give you everything you need as far as cables are concerned

If you're after something more advanced, i sell an OBDII HUD with TPMS Speed/Rev/Battery Volt/Engine Temp and so on.

Cheers.

[dodes47]

Good work!!

What did you use to brace the screen up?

Also, how do you power the PC up?

Do you have to go to the boot and push the power each time?

As for the OBDII - get the BlaZt.biz cable, it'll give you everything you need as far as cables are concerned

If you're after something more advanced, i sell an OBDII HUD with TPMS Speed/Rev/Battery Volt/Engine Temp and so on.

Cheers.

Thanks

The screen came with a sliding mount at the back of it. I just reversed it and screwed it in to the cubby hole. There's already a hole on it anyways so i thought what the heck

As for the power, i opened up the eeepc and soldered two thin wires to the power button. If the cables get shorted, the computer turns on. So i just extended the wires and connected it to a $2 Jaycar button on the bottom of my dash.

The laptop is powered by a normal car charger with an 8 amp fuse just in case .

I saw that obd2 somewhere on the net. If i recall, they're selling it for $135 usd. Now i don't mind paying that much, but just curious, will this work? http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi...e=STRK:MEWAX:IT

If it does why the massive price difference?